What in the world is this?

[azreefkeeper]

This is in the overflow box of my drilled tank. It showed up only a couple of weeks ago but has been growing steadily. I don’t believe I have seen anything like it. It doesn’t seem to be a hydrozoan. Almost like a kind of sponge. I don’t see any calcification. Maybe a type of soft coral I am not familiar with. ChatGPT seems to think this is a colonial bryozoan or a branching sponge.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

This is in the overflow box of my drilled tank. It showed up only a couple of weeks ago but has been growing steadily. I don’t believe I have seen anything like it. It doesn’t seem to be a hydrozoan. Almost like a kind of sponge. I don’t see any calcification. Maybe a type of soft coral I am not familiar with. ChatGPT seems to think this is a colonial bryozoan or a branching sponge.

A sponge perhaps?

 

[Reef Jedi]

Did you start with live rock? If so my best guess is a type of sponge.

 

[azreefkeeper]

Did you start with live rock? If so my best guess is a type of sponge.

I did not! And this tank was broken down and moved to a new house. Very possible I picked it up from a coral frag. Whatever it is, its resistant to coral dip if that’s the case.

 

[ogtumblruser]

can't see in the pic, but if the tips/spikes have holes at its point then it is indeed a sponge

 

[EnterName]

Sponge, maybe Clathrina sp.

 

[azreefkeeper]

can't see in the pic, but if the tips/spikes have holes at its point then it is indeed a sponge

The tips are pretty small. I can’t make out holes. I did find a “baby” about 5 inches away…

 

[azreefkeeper]

Sorry, clicked reply to myself

 

[azreefkeeper]

That looks like it! Especially the smaller specimen. Sounds like a good hitchhiker.

Sponge, maybe Clathrina sp.

 

[EnterName]

That looks like it! Especially the smaller specimen. Sounds like a good hitchhiker.

Yes, beneficial keep it!

 

[Privateye]

Definitely going with sponge. It looks different from all of the bryozoans I've seen.

I once had a boss who insisted on using the old term for bryozoans ("ectoproct"). I couldn't help but ask him what a person who studies ectoproct is called...