What is this sponge on my frogspawn? Much bigger than the pineapple sponge

[Sarah1990]

Hi guys I know there are pineapple sponges on here and they are fine but there is a large sponge with what looks like a little funnel in the centre, it's much larger than the pineapple sponges and I'm wondering what it is as I dont remember it being there when I bought the coral.
My pulsing xenia is near enough dead and my frogspawn hasn't been looking happy.
I've tried to address the fact that I've had go fallow so I put in extra bacteria and have fed a little every few days.
Ammonia is 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10ppm
Kh 8.5
Ph 7.6
Calcium 410ppm

 

[Hydrored]

Picture? Also what is your phosphates at?

 

[Sarah1990]

 

[badluckman]

I've been told those ate a type of sponge. I have them everywhere between my xenia stalks too and they don't seem to mind.

 

[Sarah1990]

Picture? Also what is your phosphates at?

Sorry I've put them on now, the kids were fighting and I accidentally pressed post haha.
I've not got a phosphate test I've got one coming Tuesday

 

[Hydrored]

Looks like a sponge to me that is harmless, I’m concerned over the phosphates due to the fact you are fallow and just making sure they are not bottoming out causing issues with the frogspawn and Xenia. Also, what is your salinity and when what the last time it was calibrated?

 

[Sarah1990]

Looks like a sponge to me that is harmless, I’m concerned over the phosphates due to the fact you are fallow and just making sure they are not bottoming out causing issues with the frogspawn and Xenia. Also, what is your salinity and when what the last time it was calibrated?

I've calibrated it today. I did a water change this morning and then the salinity was low so I've increased it and it's upto 1.024 now
I didn't have a CUC and I'm having a lot of brown/red sludgy algae

 

[Hydrored]

what Did it test at? You want to slowly increase your salinity.

 

[Sarah1990]

Looks like a sponge to me that is harmless, I’m concerned over the phosphates due to the fact you are fallow and just making sure they are not bottoming out causing issues with the frogspawn and Xenia. Also, what is your salinity and when what the last time it was calibrated?

I was going to post in the new to reefkeeping forum about the algae though anyway.
I mainly just wanted to know that the big sponge is ok to stay.
I've got the phosphate test kit coming and hopefully it will come early.

 

[fishface NJ]

It's a sponge and is harmless

 

[Sarah1990]

what Did it test at? You want to slowly increase your salinity.

It was 1.023, I usually have it at 1.025

 

[SHNICI]

It was 1.023, I usually have it at 1.025

You know, slowly raise the salinity, and keep it in the range good for you (24/24.5/25), but try not to fluctuate it much at once.

 

[Sarah1990]

I’m concerned over the phosphates due to the fact you are fallow and just making sure they are not bottoming out causing issues with the frogspawn and Xenia.

I've tested and it just read as 0 what should it be, I thought it should be kept to an absolute minimum but obviously I'm wrong ;Nailbiting

 

[Hydrored]

.03 is a good start