Spongebob???

[jimbob4755]

Hi everyone, can anyone help me to identify what I think is a species of sponge/tunicate?
I have tried searching the web with little success. I have under a shady part of live rock, an white-ish but mainly opaque growth with a few short tubes about 1/8th inch long and 3/8 inch diamiter protruding. Through the opaque 'skin' there is some white growths which I can only think may be some internal organ(??). Have I got anything to worry about this being in my reef tank? Can anyone identify this please?
Thanks Jim - (anxious) reef novice!

 

[Elysia]

It would help if you had some photos, but if it is a sponge or tunicate, you often don't get much in the way of an ID other than "its a sponge" or "its a tunicate."
A small sponge or tunicate shouldn't cause any problems in your tank.

 

[jimbob4755]

sponges

sponges

Thanks Elysia, it covers an area on a rock of about 3* x 3*. This has been hidden from view by xenia and I have now discovered on a separate rock another possible sponge about 1/4 inch diameter but a sort of yellowy orange! I started this hobby about 8 months ago and it is really absorbing and interesting - better than TV!

 

[Elysia]

From what I have read, sponges are difficult to identify by sight. I think taxonomists also consider a sponge's chemical make up. And apparently there isn't a lot of funding for work on sponges (or taxonomy work in general) so it can be difficult to find out what you have in your tank.

Sponges are usually only a concern if A) you are buying a large ornamental one; then you want to be sure you keep it alive -- its death would simply be too much bioload on your good bacteria, or B) you have a boring sponge (a species that bores into either a coral skeleton or a clam shell) that would potentially harm another animal in your tank. Every picture that I have seen of boring sponges shows them to grow... don't know how to describe it... Did England ever have a useless product called "Silly String?" It was foam stuff in a can under pressure that kids would spray all over each other or someone's car. Pictures of boring sponges that I have seen usually look like someone has conservatively used silly string over an object.