what is this?

[acroporanl]

Hello All,

Last week i see few strange animals which appear to increase radidly,

the max size of them is about 0.5 inch.
Does anyone know what this is and how to get rid of them?:uzi:


thanks!

 

[billsreef]

[welcome]


It's a Pineapple Sponge. They are a silicate based sponge. A simple filter feeder, harmless and quite common. Removal is simply to scrape them off if you want.

 

[acroporanl]

Hello Bill,

Well thanks for the answer ! great to read its not somekind of planaria.

Ok so am i correct that you mean with silicate based that there is to much silicate in the my reef aquarium?


Thanks!

Pete

 

[coralreefdoc]

The syconoid sponges typically multiply rapidly within the first few months off a reef being setup, as silicates from the sand/rock/etc are usually elevated during this timeframe.

Once all of the bioavailable silicate are assimilated by the sponges/other organisms, and/or filtered out through the use of GFO, the syconoid sponge population decreases rapidly ...

 

[acroporanl]

Ok thanks a lot for your answer! I will further check where the silicate comes from then since i use ion exchanger and water which comes out has 0,02 ppm.

 

[billsreef]

Silicate is rather common ion in SW, so you'll never really get that to 0.

 

[justadivebum]

Thanks for the info. I have these in my aquarium and always wondered what they were....no I know.

 

[coralreefdoc]

Your welcome, justadivebum ... I like the name ! Cheers

Well noted, Bill ... The original "justadivebum" :thumbsup:

 

[acroporanl]

ok thanks again :beer: for the help installed silicate filter material 4 days ago and i see the sponges are already much smaller.

thanks,

Pete

 

[coralreefdoc]

Acroporanl. There really is no need to do that, unless you're continually fighting diatoms well past the first few months mark ...

Sponges are filter feeders, inevitably contributing to overall water quality, and systematically causing their demise can/will be counterproductive.

Some ReefKeepers, including myself, actually dose small quantities of Silicates in order to facilitate sponge growth within our systems, especially when a cryptic zone filtration section/system is employeed.