Sponge ID? Are they an issue?

[SaltyFoxfish]

Rescue tank has some sponges and... things? growing in it that I'm trying to determine if they need to be removed or at least controlled. They're mostly sponges, though the stringy ones on the back of the tank seem to be something else. Any ideas on them? I know to keep sponges out of my equipment, but I don't mind too much if they're growing in the dark corners of the rock, as long as they're nothing dangerous to the corals or livestock.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Harmless filter feeder Cool find

 

[SaltyFoxfish]

Harmless filter feeder Cool find

Awesome. Thank you.

 

[Shootermcg]

I have a similar situation. I found what I think is yellow sponge attached to the side of my of my elegance coral. Reading up on them (if that is what it is) I think they release toxins which harm corals. So I hoping someone on here could help me out. Will it hurt or smother my coral over time? Should I keep it or stop it before it's to late.
Thanks Dougie

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not an issue. I have a few myself and as Crabs indicated- no harm

 

[Shootermcg]

Thanks just worried because it is on the coral itself. And I only noticed it because the elegance coral wasn't fully extended for a few days. And when I saw that I thought that could be the reason.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks just worried because it is on the coral itself. And I only noticed it because the elegance coral wasn't fully extended for a few days. And when I saw that I thought that could be the reason.

Do note that if you feel it’s irritating coral and especially elegance- don’t be afraid to cut or snip it. Nothing will leech out or cause issues with water quality . It’s just sponge

 

[Shootermcg]

Do note that if you feel it’s irritating coral and especially elegance- don’t be afraid to cut or snip it. Nothing will leech out or cause issues with water quality . It’s just sponge

Thanks for getting back to me. That good to know I'll keep an eye on it and if the coral still hasn't opened fully in the next week or so I'll remove the sponge. On that note can it be scraped off and placed elsewhere in the tank away from my coral. Or do us think that it will just die off if moved?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for getting back to me. That good to know I'll keep an eye on it and if the coral still hasn't opened fully in the next week or so I'll remove the sponge. On that note can it be scraped off and placed elsewhere in the tank away from my coral. Or do us think that it will just die off if moved?

Yes you CAN RELOCATE the sponge if desired

 

[Shootermcg]

Yes you CAN RELOCATE the sponge if desired

That's great. Thanks again for the replies I've been worried about this for about a week now. And researching like mad but struggling to find the same situation as mine. And I'm on forms all the time but this I the first time I've registered and posted so thank to the reef2reef community for being so welcoming and helpful. (I'm not alone anymore)

 

[Coralreefer1]

Sponges can be a good thing and they can also pose a danger to neighboring corals as well. They are filter feeders and add an unusual and diverse variety to a reef tank. However, they can grow and consume, irritate or hinder the growth and expansion of certain corals such as Zoanthids and Palythoas.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I have a similar situation. I found what I think is yellow sponge attached to the side of my of my elegance coral. Reading up on them (if that is what it is) I think they release toxins which harm corals. So I hoping someone on here could help me out. Will it hurt or smother my coral over time? Should I keep it or stop it before it's to late.
Thanks Dougie

Don’t think the sponge is your issue, elegance can sometimes be tricky to keep and they do best in a mature stable tank.. just going by what I can see in the pictures your tank looks to be very young.

 

[Shootermcg]

Thanks for the reply it's much appreciated. I've had the elegance for about a month or 2 and it usually open and happy looking or curled up like half pipe to direct flow to its mouths. Having said all this I forgot to mention I think one of the mouths split into 2 about a week and a half ago maybe that's way it's not been open as much (just a thought) I'll attach some pics I have on my phone. I also have some baby feather duster worms (I think fill me in if I'm wrong) attached to the other side of the cone. I have a nassarius snail which I caught moving the coral to lol. Cheeky we snail.

 

[Shootermcg]

Thanks for the reply it's much appreciated. I've had the elegance for about a month or 2 and it usually open and happy looking or curled up like half pipe to direct flow to its mouths. Having said all this I forgot to mention I think one of the mouths split into 2 about a week and a half ago maybe that's way it's not been open as much (just a thought) I'll attach some pics I have on my phone. I also have some baby feather duster worms (I think fill me in if I'm wrong) attached to the other side of the cone. I have a nassarius snail which I caught moving the coral to lol. Cheeky we snail.

The first pic is how it usually is and on its side was how I found it one day then realised the snail was moving him

 

[Retro Reefer]

The first pic is how it usually is and on its side was how I found it one day then realised the snail was moving him

That will keep it angry for sure, with sand dwelling, cone bottom corals I will typically epoxy them to a large frag tile or use a section of PVC pipe as a stand to keep them upright.

 

[Shootermcg]

Great idea I'll be moving in a couple of weeks so I'll mount him on some pvc. Just to double check cone pointing directly down and mouths pointing up?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Great idea I'll be moving in a couple of weeks so I'll mount him on some pvc. Just to double check cone pointing directly down and mouths pointing up?

That is correct. My elegance has its cone in a PVC pipe and it slightly angles the flesh just a bit when expanded. It will need to be noted, you will need to up the PVC pipe size after a while. It will slowly push the cone out of the pipe as the cone grows.

 

[Shootermcg]

That is correct. My elegance has its cone in a PVC pipe and it slightly angles the flesh just a bit when expanded. It will need to be noted, you will need to up the PVC pipe size after a while. It will slowly push the cone out of the pipe as the cone grows.

Great advise thanks especially about the uping the size I wouldn't have thought of that lol