Sponge problem?

[EDJFA]

Sorry for the poor pic, but my iPhone is all I've got.

I just moved this rock, so the coral isn't too happy. But as this sponge has grown, the coral doesn't open very much anymore.

Is this sponge basically killing the coral?

 

[ebius]

Hard to tell from just this pic, but I had some awesome looking sponge that I thought was just irritating some zoas as they would not open. Fast forward about a month or so and I wanted to trim it back. I simply reached in and started pulling it. At first I thought I had a small cut on my hand that I missed and the saltwater was making it burn a little. About a minute later my entire hand was on fire and it was quite apparent that the sponge was stinging the ever loving ^&#! out of me. I would guess the same thing is happening/happened here with what you have said.

 

[EDJFA]

I wasn't thinking about the sponge being able to actually sting the coral, but it makes sense.

At this point I have to make a decision about whether to keep the cool looking sponge or save the coral. It would be an easier decision if the sponge were a bright blue or yellow.

Thanks for the info.