Black sponges?

[Fish4Me2]

I have what appear to be black sponges growing on my live rock. They look almost like black hair algae, only they're much more dense/compact, and sponge-like/squishy in consistency. Originally, there was only one on a rock, and when I noticed it, I ripped it out and threw it away. Since that first time months ago, it keeps growing back, and it's spread to other rocks.

Any ideas on getting rid of it? It's not as invasive as hair algage (yet), but it's not very pretty, either!

 

[luther1200]

Do you have a pic? I've never seen a sponge look like hair algae, maybe it's something else. I have black sponges in my system, but they aren't ugly IMO. Unless they are out of control or something.

 

[Fish4Me2]

I ripped it all out during my weekly water change yesterday. It is different from hair algae because is grows in distinct clumps, and the clumps gain height if you leave it alone, as opposed to spreading all over the rock. It looks like a blob of black/gray hair, though.

If you remember those ugly troll dolls from the 1980's, picture the hair on one of those, colored black. :eek1:

 

[luther1200]

Did you get a pic, I was curios what it looked like?

 

[Fish4Me2]

Sorry, I didn't get pictures before I ripped it out yesteray. My point & shoot camera probably wouldn't have been able to get anything. Next time it grows back enough I'll try again with a picture. It really does look like a tiny fluffy mountain of gray/black hair.