Looks more like tunicates to me because of the elongated finger like branches with the typical tunicate like intakes. Also, it's semi-transparent like color, and your initial statement that it began as a clear mass and not a colored mass also furthers the likelihood of it being a group of tunicates and not a sponge. Sponges are generally colorful (although not always) but sponges usually appear and begin to grow with the same color that they end up as at any size. I've had several tunicate colonies in my reef tank, usually appearing as clear to begin with, and slowly growing with size, develop a greyish hinge to it as it grows. But hey, thats just my guess. I've yet to see a sponge look like though. |