golden fluffy algae or sponge?

[level65druid]

This stuff has gotten a hold of the right side of the tank. Its only on rocks and is slowly spreading. I need to know if its algae or some type of sponge. Its not easy to scrape off and it comes off in little chunks and is fluffy.
<a href="http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/level65druid/media/IMG_0094_zps6mb68i3s.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h406/level65druid/IMG_0094_zps6mb68i3s.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0094_zps6mb68i3s.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/level65druid/media/IMG_0093_zpsbj53duyt.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h406/level65druid/IMG_0093_zpsbj53duyt.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0093_zpsbj53duyt.jpg"/></a>

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Looks like sponges to me. I've just never seen them take over like that. Many Angel fish love to eat sponges might want to check into one of them to help control it. What fish do you currently have in your tank?

 

[semperfi102582]

It's not sponge. From what I've read it is part of the live rock curing process. It's removing silicates. Trochus and cerith snails eat it but it will also need blown off with a turkey Baster.

 

[Chrisjbarry]

Wow never seen anything like that in my 15 years in the hobby

 

[semperfi102582]

Yep, me either until I set up a 125

 

[level65druid]

It's not sponge. From what I've read it is part of the live rock curing process. It's removing silicates. Trochus and cerith snails eat it but it will also need blown off with a turkey Baster.

This stuff does not blow off with a turkey baster, it has a firm hold of the rocks like an algae and doesn't crumble like a sponge when i try to scrape it. No snails will go near the stuff and i have trochus and magarita and cerith.

 

[level65druid]

These are not live rocks i used, they were carib sea bacteria infused life rocks. So far its not had any adverse affect of the closest coral which is still not too close. The thing is, it is ugly as sin in my tank and impossible to scrape off as it comes apart in little pieces.

 

[level65druid]

no way this stuff got into the tank, i only have 3 corals in it and they were transferred fromn a 5g pico that i had for 6months and that tank did not have this stuff and i started the new tank with dead rocks and dead sand.

 

[level65druid]

Means this stuff just grew out of nowhere like algae. Still would like to id it and see if its algae or a sponge.

 

[MARINECRITTERS]

I have this stuff too. It seems to dissipate as the tank becomes more mature.
I believe that it is bacterial or fungal.

 

[level65druid]

do you think the carib sea bacterial infused life rock is causing this?

 

[BigJohnny]

That's a fungus

 

[level65druid]

doesn't fungus grow in the dark? This stuff is only on the surface of the rock where there is light. If it is fungus, how do I get rid of it?

 

[concert_tom]

I have this too, my tank has been running since may. Definitely only grows in the light and with the exception of a small amount on my frag rack, it has only grown on rock and frag bases.

Would love to get an ID and a method to rid the tank of this stuff.