What is this slimy film growing on branching hammer?

[rnaber]

I've had this branching hammer for a while, and I recently noticed a semi clear slimy film growing on it's branches. Does anyone know what that is? Anything to worry about?
Also some of the new heads are almost detaching from the main branches. See attached pictures. Not sure if related to the slimy film!

 

[ryanjohn1]

Got do white light pictures. It’s impossible to see under the blues bud

 

[rnaber]

Got do white light pictures. It’s impossible to see under the blues bud

Sorry about that! I've added better pictures to my original post.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Have you tried taking a toothbrush to it and see if it comes off really easily? It’s tough to make out what it is. Sorta looks like a sponge

 

[rnaber]

Have you tried taking a toothbrush to it and see if it comes off really easily? It’s tough to make out what it is. Sorta looks like a sponge

Yes, a couple of weeks ago I upgraded my tank, and before I placed the hammer into the new tank, I did brush some of this stuff off with a toothbrush. It does come off and it feels a bit slimy. It's not hard at all. But more seems to be growing back, and I'm worried that it'll spread to the heads. In my old tank, some of it was also growing on the back glass and it had some interesting pattern. I wish I had a picture to share but the tank is gone now.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, that looks like a sponge to me (I also see some vermetid snails); as a general rule of thumb, if the coral is still opening/doesn't seem upset near where the sponge is growing, and if the sponge isn't growing over and smothering the polyps of the coral, then the sponge is probably harmless.

It generally (understandably) scares people a bit when they see a sponge growing on the coral skeleton/stalk, but if it's not bothering the coral chemically or actively smothering it by overcoming the coral's own chemical defenses, then it's probably not a bad sponge.

That said, it's always a situation where I'd suggest keeping an eye on it just in case.

 

[Isaac Alves]

The texture reminds me of sponge growth too. I don’t know whether sponges and the soft tissue of euphylia do well touching.

Hopefully someone chimes in.

 

[rnaber]

Yeah, that looks like a sponge to me (I also see some vermetid snails); as a general rule of thumb, if the coral is still opening/doesn't seem upset near where the sponge is growing, and if the sponge isn't growing over and smothering the polyps of the coral, then the sponge is probably harmless.

It generally (understandably) scares people a bit when they see a sponge growing on the coral skeleton/stalk, but if it's not bothering the coral chemically or actively smothering it by overcoming the coral's own chemical defenses, then it's probably not a bad sponge.

That said, it's always a situation where I'd suggest keeping an eye on it just in case.

Thank you for the information! I need to research the vermerid snails as I'm not familiar with them.

For the hammer, I have a small piece that had broken off with the sponge on it as well. It doesn't look happy as the polyps are not opening much. I'll take it out tomorrow, brush the sponge off and see if it improves. If it does, then I'll need to figure out how get rid of the sponge from all the branches without breaking the new polyps that are forming. Thanks!