Sponge or something?

[Stepho725]

Anyone know what this stuff is? It reminds me of a soy bean as far as how it looks but it has barbs on it. It has been growing in the back chambers in my biocube. It grows in a weird patch when on the walls. These were on my heater.

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[rssjsb]

Looks like some kind of sponge. I wouldn't worry about it unless it's interfering with the function of your equipment or growing over a coral you want.

 

[Stepho725]

Someone told me it was dinoflagellates? Think so?

 

[rssjsb]

I don't. Dinos form a slimy brown coating on sand and rock and trap air bubbles. It's disgusting looking. The things in your photo look solid.

 

[Stepho725]

Yeah thats what i was thinking. These are very solid and when in the water look like tentacles. I will have to try to get a pic of them in the water.

I do however have a couple of "weeds" coming out of my sandbed. I recently siphoned them and increased the flow. I dont have nasty snot or air bubbles on my sand, rock, or walls. I do have diatoms from time to time though. I will have to keep manually removing the "weeds" and see if that helps. I am in the process of lowering excessively high nitrates so Im sure that will help as well.
Wish me luck!

 

[Stepho725]

Here is a pic of it in the water growing on my walls of my BC.
It looks alot like a bean sprout except its spikey and it branches.

 

[Stepho725]

Bump...been googling like mad to no avail. I keep hearing sponge but...its not spongey....so....?

 

[Dmorty217]

I believe it is some sort of sponge, not harmful to tanks I'm pretty sure! I have it in my sump so that's why I believe it is a sponge. Been there for 4 months now

 

[Adetia]

I had the same thing (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2126438). It was growing everywhere for a while but then one day it started receding then finally disappeared and I haven't seen any since.

 

[J2T]

Yep, have that stuff in my sump and overflow box. I just always figured its some kind of sponge, doesn't seem to harm anything.