What are these? ID if possible?

PitViper

New member
My wife noticed these the other night they just started growing out of no where. Can someone maybe identify or maybe give me an idea?



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It looks like sponge to me as well. Does it come off if you lightly spray it with a turkey baster? Also, are they growing in dark areas or directly in a lit area? Most sponge that I've ever had grew in darkness but there are exceptions.
 
The rock came from a well established curing tank from a fish store that is about an hour away. I don't exactly know what kind of rock it is.

There's that one to the left which is slightly covered. And then the one to the rear is also slightly covered as well. Since we are saying hitch hikers ... there are little white things running around I noticed it the other night and I'm wondering if they are some sort of pod of some kind.


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Yep, most likely sponge. Do the turkey baster test if you want to be sure, or you pull one off with some tweezers to get a closer look (don't worry, more will grow).

Yep, things running around sounds like pods. Copepods are tiny, like smaller than a small grain of sand. Amphipods are bigger and look like tiny shrimp. Both are good. There's also isopods which can be good or bad depending on the type. Some latch onto fish and are parasites. They're generally bigger and pretty easy to see. Without pictures, my guess would be copepods. Look closely at your tanks glass (especially if there's an area with some film algae or diatoms) and use a magnifying glass if you have one. There are different types of copepods but they one's I had the most of are small white ones and some have a little string/tail thing coming off their backend. They just kinda run and hop around like little fleas. You're fish/corals will love them.
 
Yep, most likely sponge. Do the turkey baster test if you want to be sure, or you pull one off with some tweezers to get a closer look (don't worry, more will grow).

Yep, things running around sounds like pods. Copepods are tiny, like smaller than a small grain of sand. Amphipods are bigger and look like tiny shrimp. Both are good. There's also isopods which can be good or bad depending on the type. Some latch onto fish and are parasites. They're generally bigger and pretty easy to see. Without pictures, my guess would be copepods. Look closely at your tanks glass (especially if there's an area with some film algae or diatoms) and use a magnifying glass if you have one. There are different types of copepods but they one's I had the most of are small white ones and some have a little string/tail thing coming off their backend. They just kinda run and hop around like little fleas. You're fish/corals will love them.



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Nice. And I didn't introduce them to the filter or anything. That's awesome. Sorry just excited to see I'm doing something right.


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:) I understand man! They generally just show up. I don't think I've ever bought any to add to my tank. They just appeared one day from live rock, frags, even snail shells.
 
:) I understand man! They generally just show up. I don't think I've ever bought any to add to my tank. They just appeared one day from live rock, frags, even snail shells.



It's just. The possibility of sponges which are growing on their own. Then this. It's like holy cow. This is great.


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Haha! I remember when I first added live rock to my little 12G nano. I sat in front of that thing everyday waiting to see something. Then boom! I see an amphipod dart out of a little hole, hang around a bit, then dart back in. I was excited, but also convinced it was a mantis shrimp after all my research prior to getting the LR. Enjoy it, it's the best part of this hobby IMO.
 
Haha! I remember when I first added live rock to my little 12G nano. I sat in front of that thing everyday waiting to see something. Then boom! I see an amphipod dart out of a little hole, hang around a bit, then dart back in. I was excited, but also convinced it was a mantis shrimp after all my research prior to getting the LR. Enjoy it, it's the best part of this hobby IMO.



I've waited a long time to do a salt water tank. And now that we have it we have sat in front of the thing every day just staring and admiring. I've been more interested in what the turbos have done as far as cleaning goes. It's crazy how much they can get done. But I think what I'm more excited about is being able to have a tank like I see on YouTube. The beautifully designed and scaped tanks that others have... now I'll be able to have. If that makes sense. I know I can't put a lot in by way of live stock. But I do know that I can put some decent coral in and have it thrive. And be able to sit back and enjoy it with the wife. My wife says I did good because the kids enjoy it a lot. And that's my biggest accomplishment I think.


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