Sponge attacking my Bubble Coral

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Alright alright.... I know the sponge isn't attacking my bubble coral but I've noticed that my bubble coral isn't inflating as much as it used to and this sponge has been growing on the side of the skeleton. There is another one growing on the other side as well.

The bubble is in low flow and lower light. Has been happy for nearly a year. No other real changes to the tank.

Any thoughts?

This picture was taken after light out so the bubble is deflated but it shows the size of the sponge.

 

[Bcrowe2012]

Maybe try checking your tank levels or try moving the bubble coral. If you think the sponge or sponges are irritating the coral try taking the sponges off. Pull it off or use a flathead screw driver or a razor and carefully cut the sponges off the skeleton.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I'll check the levels when I get home just to be certain they aren't crazy. But would you think maybe the sponge is most irritating the coral as opposed to suffocating it?

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Alright... I brushed off the sponge with a toothbrush yesterday (not mine, my wife's) and unfortunately I haven't been home to see if it opened up. I added new carbon just in case.

I came home tonight after lights out to find what look like amphipods "eating" at part of the coral? Not sure exactly what it was... But there was some stringy stuff hanging off the side and a couple pods were in/on it. And then there were pods all along the base skeleton and in it etc. Not sure if this has anything to do with me taking the sponge off or if they are what has been irritating the coral.

I did happen to notice the coral receding on one side a little. Not sure what to do about that.

Please tell me I am not going to lose this coral!

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

So now that I posted these pictures on here I notice all of the white dots on the leftover sponge. Could those be Copepods?

 

[mcginnisandrew]

Can you take a picture during the day with the lights on and the coral fully inflated? I don't see anything that resembles copepods or amphipods, but neither will harm the coral (they just might eat dead tissue).

The coral appears stressed but it could just be because it is retracted, i'm not sure and it's a bit hard to tell from the picture.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Can you take a picture during the day with the lights on and the coral fully inflated? I don't see anything that resembles copepods or amphipods, but neither will harm the coral (they just might eat dead tissue).

The coral appears stressed but it could just be because it is retracted, i'm not sure and it's a bit hard to tell from the picture.

Well this is it. It's about half inflated as normal (if that). Not sure if this is from the scrubbing I did on the sponge yesterday or not, but you can definitely see some recession since the bubbles are not inflated.

 

[Deftones2015]

The white dots look like small feather dusters growing on the skeleton, they're not a problem. If the coral was out of water for a while or if you accidentally hit the coral, it may be stressed. I would just give it time. It looks fine though to me, even has its feeder tentacles out looking for food.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

The white dots look like small feather dusters growing on the skeleton, they're not a problem. If the coral was out of water for a while or if you accidentally hit the coral, it may be stressed. I would just give it time. It looks fine though to me, even has its feeder tentacles out looking for food.

I did pull him out to get the sponge off so I'll be sure to give it a week and see where we are at. Not sure why there is receding but I'll keep an eye on that too.

I'll keep everyone updated.

Thanks again.

 

[Plantladykatie]

I would dip it in coral RX to drop off any other potential pests & to reseal coral tissue. That looks like a sponge (typically don't like being exposed to oxygen). After dipping it for 5-10 minutes, I would scrub off as much of the sponge as you can with a toothbrush or equivalent outside the tank as to minimize the spread of spores. You can do this as often as once every 4 days. Check the bottom of the coral for other pests, & watch/minimize peppermint shrimp from harassing it while it's stressed. Hope this helps! Good luck...remember bubble corals prefer low to medium light!

 

[mcginnisandrew]

I actually don't think sponges are anything to worry about. They do produce strong chemicals to kill off their neighbors but that should not be an issue considering you are running activated carbon. I would just give it time and avoid stressing it

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I only feel that it is necessary that I update everyone. This is what I did and seems to be working for now. I pulled the coral out and brushed the sponge off with a toothbrush. After a week and more recession I gave it a coral dip in Coral RX and I haven't touched it since. It got a little worse but does seem to be coming back. I will continue to keep an eye on it but I see this being a while before fully recovering.

As a side note... I do recall seeing a lot of amphipods roaming throughout the skeleton and along the edges of the coral. Didn't think too much of it but I just came back from a short vacation to find large amphipods chomping at my semi-fresh cuts of frags. Some were eaten totally white and they are slowly working on the others. I thought I was crazy but after researching and reading others' experiences this is what I am going with.