Dastest growing sponge or tunicate ever?

[matttaylor]

Here are the pics:

Ok, so i've had this doughnut brain for about 2 weeks. When i got it, the sponge or tunicate wasn't there. Now all of a sudden there is a massive growth that is apporximately 2" by 2". It's pure white and has obvious in and outcurrent siphons. Whatever it is, it is beautiful and impressive. I'll keep taking pics to show growth over the next couple of weeks.

Any ideas of weather it's a sponge of tunicate? I think it's a sponge, but i've been wrong before.

Matt

 

[corndogg]

looks like a sponge. I'd take the coral out of the water a pick the main part of it off. Sponges can't survive being exposed to air if you don't make sure there aren't any bubbles trapped in it

 

[dots]

"Sponges are no longer considered delicate, short-lived, dangerous life forms by reef aquarists. You should recognize that they are an important part of all natural tropical shallow marine environments and encourage them even if only as bioassay organisms, incidental food, and accidental filter adjuncts."

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sponges.htm


Though a massive sponge die off due to exposure to air could cause a spike from when say adding the new rock, I have found most to be a welcome sign of biodiversity within the system and a telltale sign of a stable one as well. Most people love to get the blue to grow.

However, could be considered a liability if you are concerned with it if you are not the best with keeping up with the tank as it will be the first to die off.

I could be a "six of one, half dozen of the other" situation, depending on the specie or the nitrate factory sanitation engineer....check the link.

 

[matttaylor]

After i took those pictures i started looking at the brain some more and discovered that the sponge has actually grown halfway around it. This sponge is massive! I'll try and get some pics up of the entire thing tonight after the brain closes.

 

[Underwaterparadise]

Looks like the typical sponge found on LR and corals. If it is growing that fast you have some sort of nutrient it is feeding off of. Check your Nitrates and Phosphate levels to start. IME it is harmless as long as it does not choke out the coral.

 

[matttaylor]

Actually i feed micro-vert daily for my alveopora, so i would assume that is what the sponge is feeding off of. I also stir a portion of the sand bed daily for the filter feeders. I have never had any problems keeping sponges and tunicates long term in this way. I'll have to get some more pics up soon of the others. I'm just amazed at the growth of this thing in such a short period of time.

 

[juaninsac]

I have to take a picture of this amazing sponge/Montipora digitata colony we have at work. Nice big colony of antlers, and the sponge has completely encrusted (and killed) the shaded underside of the entire coral. The upper part lives and grows just fine, and the sponge catches right up with it.

Do keep in mind that sponges can harbor toxins intended to kill off competitors for space, just like a neighboring coral. If you notice the coral retracting where the sponge is I'd take steps to remove it. You could always grow it in your sump and use it a living filter.