What is this?

[JeannineC]

What is this ?

 

[Reefing102]

I’m guessing you’re talking about the thing in the middle with the “appendage” looking things? Looks like a spaghetti sponge or similar.

 

[JeannineC]

Yes, thats what i wondering about. Is it harmful?

 

[griss]

Yes, thats what i wondering about. Is it harmful?

They are generally harmless filter feeder. It should survive as long as there's enough food.

 

[JeannineC]

I have another large sponge under my zoas. Its growing and getting big, but the zoas seem to be just spreading outward from it. It doesnt have temtacle looking things though.

 

[JeannineC]

I havent added anything in a long time, but my parameters have been very stable and my tank seems to be thriving
Crazy that these things sot there dormamt and then start growing!

 

[griss]

I have another large sponge under my zoas. Its growing and getting big, but the zoas seem to be just spreading outward from it. It doesnt have temtacle looking things though.

Yep, there are all kinds of sponges. Most are harmless. Do you have a picture of the larger sponge?

 

[Reefing102]

Generally most are harmless but there have been cases where they start to smother corals. It’s mainly a case of watching the coral for signs of stress (such as polyps not opening, etc)

 

[JeannineC]

Here is the big one

 

[Reefing102]

Definitely a sponge of some type. I’d just keep an eye on it and the coral. If it seems to smother the coral I’d look into ways of getting it to die back (I’ve heard simple air exposure is enough to kill some back)

 

[griss]

Definitely a sponge of some type. I’d just keep an eye on it and the coral. If it seems to smother the coral I’d look into ways of getting it to die back (I’ve heard simple air exposure is enough to kill some back)

Yep, air exposure will kill a lot of them and the Zoas should be fine.

 

[JeannineC]

So now i have a new question. I didnt notice them yesterday when i posted the picture of the sponge with the appendage. Today there are two anenome looking things on the disc beside it. I looked back at my original post and i think it was there then just smaller. The coral that was originally on that disc has moved off, but i cant pull it out. Looks like something i need to get rid of.

 

[griss]

The pics are a bit fuzzy but, those look like Majanos. Definite pest anemones.

 

[JeannineC]

That was what i kind of thought. How do i get rid of them? I tried pulling on the disk but its too attached

 

[Reefing102]

Was the mushroom what was originally on the rock? I see where @griss is going with mojano but it could be mushroom babies too. Any way to get a sharper pic of them?

 

[griss]

Was the mushroom what was originally on the rock? I see where @griss is going with mojano but it could be mushroom babies too. Any way to get a sharper pic of them?

lol, I did even notice the mushroom.

 

[JeannineC]

Yes the mushroom was originally on there but moved to the right. Still attached on the side

 

[JeannineC]

I will try to get a better picture. Im not great with the camera!

 

[JeannineC]

I think you may be right...they look more like the mushroom today. It recently started moving off the disc. Iis that how they multiply? Leave babies behind?

 

[Reefing102]

Those definitely look like mushroom babies to me.

And it varies. Some times they’ll move and leave a section of their foot behind that grows into a new shroom, other times they split at the mouth. I think it depends. Like in my experience, Ricordea Yuma, which appears to be what you have there, usually move slightly and leave a piece of their foot behind.