zoas and weird growth

[Kovdad]

hey I noticed this few days ago what is this been trying to search but cant fine an answer weird growth between my zoas???

 

[Puffyluv]

Looks like a mobile invert...sure it doesn't move? Possibly a zoa eating asterina?

 

[Kovdad]

have noticed that it has not moved however I poked it and it did kind of shriveled up

 

[Kovdad]

just took a peak that them now and there are 4 small bristle worms on or near the zoas some options would be cool

 

[Puffyluv]

Oh, lol...u mean the sponge! Yellowish glob? A sponge. The sponge isn't causing this...I was looking at the small star shape above the sponge.

If that is just a spot on the camera, then...water parameters? Because it definitely isn't the sponge.

 

[Kovdad]

why do these grow?? and how

 

[Puffyluv]

Why do sponges grow? They just come in on your liverock and begin feeding...not sure I understand the question?

Do you not test your water?

 

[Ron448]

I've read that sponges can kill polyps so I would try to remove it if it were that close to one of my polyps

 

[Puffyluv]

Most hitchhiker sponges are harmless. This is one of those.

 

[Ron448]

Sponges are harmless for the most part but when they get too close to corals they can start causing problems. In these pictures that sponge looks like it's making contact with at least one polyp, not a single one of them is opened and I'm seeing red algae growing on two of them which is not a good sign. If it were in my tank I would remove the sponge just to be safe.
Here's a link to other people sharing their sponge experiences on a different thread:
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/zoanthids-and-palys/sponges-good-bad-and-ugly-17493/#.VPq7W4m9K0c

 

[Puffyluv]

Agreed with the folks in this thread...the only type of sponge I have run across that seems to be a problem is the slick black sponge...