What the heck is this?

[k7iou]

I found this in my nano and I never seen these yellow pod looking things before.:hmm2:

 

[scapes]

they're sponges. they're good to have

 

[k7iou]

Thanks!

 

[muppet]

I can't tell, but it looks like you took the rock out of the water to take that shot? If you did, you may have just killed those beneficial sponges. They can't be exposed to air and survive.

 

[scapes]

+1. you live and learn. Can't take them out of water

 

[k7iou]

15 seconds tops, took pic over tank.
Guess I will find out when I get these items transplanted into new tank in about 1 month.

 

[noahm]

Many sponges are a lot tougher than is rumored. Some are very sensitive if too much are gets into the pores, but most can handle a pretty good exposure. A lot of sponges just don't do well in captivity, so I think people like to blame exposure. There is limited knowledge on their requirements, and orientation to the flow can also be a big factor for some species. If they are growing there on their own, they will probably continue to do fine.

 

[smoyer]

definately sponges

 

[k7iou]

Many sponges are a lot tougher than is rumored. Some are very sensitive if too much are gets into the pores, but most can handle a pretty good exposure. A lot of sponges just don't do well in captivity, so I think people like to blame exposure. There is limited knowledge on their requirements, and orientation to the flow can also be a big factor for some species. If they are growing there on their own, they will probably continue to do fine.

Thank you for your thoughts. I can say they weren't there before I started a DIY algae scrubber. I still have a algae problem in the tank but the phosphates & nitrates are 0.0 with my test kit.
I also think I have a protein problem causing an abundance of food for all the organisms as I weekly have to clean out my sump on the nano cube with a turkey baster due to the tank design and trapping it in the sump. Since the algae scrubber I am seeing allot of feather dusters and the clown fish seem healthier.
After reading an article here last night about starting a new tank, the authors opinion about protien scrubbers I think on my new 55 gal tank I just started I will follow his suggestion and put it on a timer and keep cutting the time back on the scrubber until the best result is found, allowing the food proteins to feed the reef without an excessive growth of algae.
Thank you again for your thoughts.