Sponge? and Tunicates?

[steelhead97]

In reshuffling some rock work around I pulled out a rock that I expected to come off real easy as it appeared to sit loosely on top of two other larger rocks. It turns out there's some sponges on the bottom of the rock that caused it to really bind to the larger rocks. I did manage to pull it loose but the sponges are still attached to the smaller rock. My question is I'm sure this sponge is a good organism for the reef but when I've pulled it from it's snug fitting home and now it's just sitting loosely with exposure to some of the light will this kill off the sponge?

 

[Jabrams]

got a picture?

 

[Elysia]

It is much more likely that ripping the animal killed it than exposure to light will kill it. Some animals are able to regenerate themselves, so it is hard to know for sure if the animal in question is dead, "mostly dead," or alive. Some sponges can survive having algae grow on them, others can not. Welcome to the nebulous world of sponges!

 

[ebording]

ive got some weird bright pink sponge in my tank that likes the dark but does fine in the light

 

[3D-Reef]

Chances are you didn't hurt it by ripping it apart.In fact some sponges can be thrown into a blender with some seawater,blended and then poured back into the tank so it will find a nich too grow.

They are a filter feeder.I've read where a 1/2"x 4" sponge can filter 5gal of seawater in 24hrs.

 

[steelhead97]

Thank you for your inputs, the sponges themself and there are two of them are still whole. They are still attached to the smaller rock and I guess they were flush up against the big rock and there were some little feather dusters tha had grown around them. So in short the sponges themself have not been broken up. They look sort of like wet unpeeled potatoes and they are about 2 inches in diameter and 3 inches long.

 

[BLKTANG]

i have Yellow sponge(my gf named it Bob) that does well in the light