Torch growing translucent tubes

[chimbo84]

My torch has been developing fuzzy growths on its skeleton. I have been dipping and scrubbing them off as they seem to be eroding the skeleton. Today I noticed that there are translucent tubes growing from the same fuzzy spots on the torch.

Disregard the retracted tentacles; I took this about two hours before lights out and my torch has a habit of retracting for a bit every day. It also just caught a piece of mysis.

 

[JGT]

Hard to see, could be pineapple sponges.

 

[PBnJOnWheat]

This looks like GHA, the fuzzy green stuff

 

[chimbo84]

Hard to see, could be pineapple sponges.

I just googled this. It looks extremely similar. I’m pretty sure that it’s eroding the skeleton though; is that normal? My torch skeleton has a flat spot where I previously scrubbed a large patch off.

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

I'd quit messing with it and worrying about it. Just control your parameters and everything will be fine..

 

[JGT]

I just googled this. It looks extremely similar. I’m pretty sure that it’s eroding the skeleton though; is that normal? My torch skeleton has a flat spot where I previously scrubbed a large patch off.

No, they are just sponges. Will reduce in numbers over time. They wouldn’t cause what you describe.

 

[MohrReefs]

+1 pineapple sponge :). Would be cool for a close up but it looks like that to me.

 

[chimbo84]

+1 pineapple sponge :). Would be cool for a close up but it looks like that to me.

Here is what it looked like when I first discovered it a few weeks ago. There was a large quarter-sized fuzzy growth on the side of the skeleton. It scrubbed off pretty easily but seems to be slowly growing back now.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-is-wrong-with-torch-coral.718883/#post-8617841

 

[JGT]

Video doesn’t work and pic isn’t clear but sounds like a sponge either way.

 

[KomsCorals]

Yeah looking like a sponge or maybeeee a tunicate. Brushed off with a toothbrush would do the trick