Sponges?

[e2thet1999]

Hey guys! So this tank has been set up for almost a year now and all of the coral is thriving! However for the past month or so these what I assume are sponges have cropped up EVERYWHERE that isn’t exposed to light. Are these indeed some sort of sponge? They aren’t worms or anything as they are completely see through and do not move at all, they are fleshy like a sponge as well but I’ve never seen sponges like this. Anyone have any idea on how to get rid of/ control these ugly things?

Tank parameters as of last I checked were ammonia-0, nitrites-0 and nitrates around 5ish, which is usually where I’ve been keeping them. Salinity is good and alkalinity among other tests from all for reef is also well within spec. Forgive me if I should know this answer as this is my first post on R2R I’ve just been a lurker for years

 

[Subsea]

OK. Turn on the white lights and off with the blue to help with identification.

I see short white threads.

More background information helps:

Where did your rock come from?
How did you cycle your tank?

Welcome to r2r.

 

[e2thet1999]

OK. Turn on the white lights and off with the blue to help with identification.

I see short white threads.

More background information helps:

Where did your rock come from?
How did you cycle your tank?

Welcome to r2r

I’ll be at work the next couple of days(I work long shifts on an ambulance) but will do when I get home! I have since taken a sample to several LFS and they all have said a species of tube sponge is what they are, none of them had any particular idea how to get rid of them or if anything eats them.

Rock in the tank was completely new dry rock(the purple life rock for looks) and tank was cycled fish-less for about a month with ghost feeding and small doses of bottles starter bacteria, which is my usual method for setting up a new tank. I’ve been in the aquarium hobby for years but I will admit this is my first salt tank and there are some nuances that I’m not accustom to. Especially with all the new pests and things I’ve never encountered. Thank you for your reply

 

[PolypPocket]

Google “spaghetti sponge” and see if that looks like what you’re seeing.

Possibly Leucosolenia sp like nautilia, variabilis or some similar sponge? It says they prefer shaded or low light areas and are harmless filter feeders.

 

[Subsea]

Hey guys! So this tank has been set up for almost a year now and all of the coral is thriving! However for the past month or so these what I assume are sponges have cropped up EVERYWHERE that isn’t exposed to light. Are these indeed some sort of sponge? They aren’t worms or anything as they are completely see through and do not move at all, they are fleshy like a sponge as well but I’ve never seen sponges like this. Anyone have any idea on how to get rid of/ control these ugly things?

Tank parameters as of last I checked were ammonia-0, nitrites-0 and nitrates around 5ish, which is usually where I’ve been keeping them. Salinity is good and alkalinity among other tests from all for reef is also well within spec. Forgive me if I should know this answer as this is my first post on R2R I’ve just been a lurker for years

“Anyone have any idea on how to get rid of/ control these ugly things?”

@e2thet1999
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Take solace in the fact that these spaghetti sponges are bioindicators of a healthy ecosystem.

“Functioning as a passive, natural water-polisher, this filter feeder is highly beneficial to reef tanks, extracting excess nutrients, phytoplankton”