Sponge or Tunicate?

[Syoung]

A relatively fast growing sponge or tunicate has appeared growing in the shade of my euphyllia and montipora.

It appears to have semi-opaque white tube structures, but nothing similar to a feather duster.

Does anyone have an identification for this?

 

[Oldsalt01]

I'd say tunicates from the appearance of the siphons. Of course I'm looking at it on my phone so I may be in error. Whatever they are they're cool.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Looks like cryptic sponge, higher light or exposure to air will cause it to back down.

 

[Syoung]

Looks like cryptic sponge, higher light or exposure to air will cause it to back down.

Exposure to air, meaning increased surface agitation?

And is this likely going to be a nuisance, or something I'd ideally remove?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’m going with sponge. Should come off with a finger and def a toothbrush.
Might me reacting to carbon dosing or a coral food.

 

[Syoung]

I’m going with sponge. Should come off with a finger and def a toothbrush.
Might me reacting to carbon dosing or a coral food.

Thanks Salty. Would you recommend its removal?

Probably coming from Reef Roids. I've got plentiful Pineapple sponges as well.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks Salty. Would you recommend its removal?

Probably coming from Reef Roids. I've got plentiful Pineapple sponges as well.

Yea. Could be the roids.
I’ve had very very few sponges cause. Problems. But if it bugs you , yea. Lose it.

 

[madweazl]

Unless it is negatively affecting the coral, there is no reason to remove it.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Exposure to air, meaning increased surface agitation?

And is this likely going to be a nuisance, or something I'd ideally remove?

Literally taking it out of the tank for a few minutes.

It usually isn't too big of a nuisance besides being somewhat ugly to look at, I have it in several places in my tank but it only grows in the shaded areas with little to no flow.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Literally taking it out of the tank for a few minutes.

It usually isn't too big of a nuisance besides being somewhat ugly to look at, I have it in several places in my tank but it only grows in the shaded areas with little to no flow.

I’ve actually never been able to kill a sponge that way. I’ve always heard it too. But Moving rocks and sponges from tank to tank here, I’ve not had it happen.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I’ve actually never been able to kill a sponge that way. I’ve always heard it too. But Moving rocks and sponges from tank to tank here, I’ve not had it happen.

I dipped some of these in ME Coral Wash Off when I was dipping my sick Blasto and either the dip or exposure to air killed them within an hour, they sort of wilted/melted off of the rock. My money is on the dip but I've always heard that you never want to expose sponges to the air. I can see how it would be a case by case basis as is handling starfish out of water. It would be interesting to do a case study to see if there's some sort of limit to exposure with them.

 

[Cnidoblast]

Could try dipping the whole shebang in two little fishes coral dip perhaps?

 

[Syoung]

Sounds like a dip or air exposure would work.

However, the consensus seems to be that they aren't a problem, besides aesthetically. So for now, they stay.

If they make me mad I'll update all of you on the dip/air method ;Snaphappy