Nightmare before Christmas

[DJF]

this used to be a cyphestrea xmas rock- all worms are fine but you can see there’s a lot else going on. I want to get rid of the black sponge. In the past sponges have been no match for rodi but I don’t want to harm the worms- my question is it safe for the worms to remove the rock to scrub the outside with rodi with a toothbrush avoiding direct contact? I imagine the rock to be out of the water for a couple minutes. If not- how can I address the sponge without harming the worms. (Or spreading the sponge)

 

[Kasrift]

this used to be a cyphestrea xmas rock- all worms are fine but you can see there’s a lot else going on. I want to get rid of the black sponge. In the past sponges have been no match for rodi but I don’t want to harm the worms- my question is it safe for the worms to remove the rock to scrub the outside with rodi with a toothbrush avoiding direct contact? I imagine the rock to be out of the water for a couple minutes. If not- how can I address the sponge without harming the worms. (Or spreading the sponge)

It'll be fine. I removed my Christmas tree worm rock to scrub some algae off, they survived just fine. Black sponge is a scourge, it just grows over and suffocates things. I had it cover a nice acan, was a constant battle pulling it out and trying to kill the black sponge. Did it for a year and then gave up and let it cover the acan tile and just pulled it.