White sponge covering zoas

[Mightyfish]

I have a niece piece of zoa rock but the white sponge on it is growing out of control. It is covering fair a bit of zoa heads and so zoa dont seem to open anymore. Is sponge considered a type of irritants for zoa? Should i tear off the sponge?

 

[650-IS350]

It can smother them. You can use anything to rip off the sponge. You can even dip to kill it.

 

[stscream4187]

It can smother them. You can use anything to rip off the sponge. You can even dip to kill it.

+1 on using a dip to kill them if you can take the rock out.