WHAT IS THIS? White cloud at base of Zoas...

[Pelagikos]

I've been noticing this for a while, but today it seems to be almost overtaking the heads.
My first thought was to try to blow it away (that is why the colony looks that way.)
It doesn't budge.
I'm assuming I need to improve my flow in that general area but first... I need to figure out what this is and how to treat it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[FreshSaltH2o]

Sponge, sometimes they can grow over zoas. not harmful to tank and can be brushed off if you don’t like them

 

[Pelagikos]

Sponge, sometimes they can grow over zoas. not harmful to tank and can be brushed off if you don’t like them

I was hoping that's what it was!
I was reading that there were some types of fungus that will attack colonies...
was hoping that wasn't what they're dealing with.

 

[FreshSaltH2o]

Check out cryptic sponges

 

[rahre1]

I’ve got stuff growing through my zoa too. This started looking like sponge, but now appears to be overrunning my colonies. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

 

[mfinn]

Most likely a sponge.
I've had very similar growth on my zoanthid colonies.
I usually just use tweezers or a soft toothbrush to remove it. If you are gentle you can remove it without hurting the zoanthids.
It's also important to remove it before it starts crowding out the zoanthids.
Seems like once a colony of zoanthids starts going down hill it can be terminal.

 

[rahre1]

Thanks mfinn. I’ll carefully brush it and see how it responds. Pics in a few weeks on results.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I’ve got stuff growing through my zoa too. This started looking like sponge, but now appears to be overrunning my colonies. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

Just to add to mfinn's response: yes, it's a sponge; as long as the sponge isn't growing over the polyps themselves or causing the polyps to stay closed, it's probably a harmless sponge - the caveat here is (as mfinn sort of mentioned) that if the zoas start going downhill far enough, even a harmless sponge may overgrow and smother them.

As long as the sponge is of the harmless variety and the coral is relatively healthy, though, there shouldn't be a problem.