Blue Sponge?

[Stickboy97]

I've got what I think is a blue sponge of some type growing on my live rock. It is kind of taking over a section of my tank and is even growing over some of my zoas. Is that what this is? Is there some way to control it? Is there a fish that will eat it? It has been in my tank for a few years but only recently took off and is growing like crazy.

Also, yes I know those are manjano, I am in the process of getting a fish to try to eliminate them. I have hundreds!

 

[Stickboy97]

No one knows what this is?

 

[NeilFox]

It is a sponge. Take the rock out of the water and expose it to air. It should kill it (they normally aren't a nuicance though). It will start turning white if it is dying. Try to manually remove it. You should wear rubber gloves though. The sponge skeleton has tiny glass type fibers in it that can seriously irritate your skin. Some types of Angels eat sponge as well as some Butterflies I believe. Unfortunately they aren't reef safe. Good Luck.

Neil

Just thought I would point out that growing this kind of sponge is usually an indication of excellent water quality. Dou you have some Atlantic rock in your system?

 

[Stickboy97]

Not that I know of. It was supposed to all be Fiji or Marshall Island. I like the sponge it's just starting to take over about 5 rocks & 2 of them have colonies of zoos. The sponge is growing right over the zoos, I guess when they are closed at night & it's headed for my Frogspawn.

Guess I'll expose it to the air and see what happens.

Thanks!

 

[Bernie21]

I would keep it! Its a natural look thats hard to be replicated. Not many people get to have that grow on their rocks. I used to have a type of greenish sponge growing on mine, but my angels found out about it & so it disappeared.

 

[anbosu]

I think it looks awesome - maybe just move your frogspawn if you're worried about it?

 

[stevedola]

I have a purple/orange sponge growing over a few of my rocks and around corals...its nothing to worry about. leave it unless you dont like it.

 

[Stickboy97]

I'll leave it on a bunch of the rock. It is cool looking, just don't want it to smother & kill my zoos.

 

[hando562]

I wish I had your problem! I've always wanted to try a blue sponge, but I hear they are hard to keep. I would let it grow.

 

[thebkramer]

try to chisel the rock away that the sponge is on.. or break rock in half (or what works) to get your zoas away from it???