Yellow Sponge Takeover!

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by crank2211, Oct 6, 2010.

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  1. crank2211

    crank2211 Purple Spiny Lobster

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
    460
    I've got a ton of small yellow sponges beginning to grow just about everywhere in my tank now. Most of them are small - about the size of a bubble algae as you can see ;D I've actually got some bubble algae that is much bigger than a lot of these. Most of them like growing out of direct light and in nooks and crannies. As such, they're kind of hard to photograph. My understanding is they're generally a good thing to have and they haven't been too much of a nuisance or issue to look at since they're mostly tucked away. But they seem to grow just about anywhere though -

    Around mushrooms:
    [​IMG]

    Around Bubble Algae:
    [​IMG]

    Through A Zoa Mat:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    In A Cave:
    [​IMG]

    Under Rocks and Between Rocks:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    And here's an unrelated, yet kinda cool picture I took today just for fun :p
    [​IMG]

    Just thought I would share
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. ingtar_shinowa

    ingtar_shinowa Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    Messages:
    7,072
    Location:
    Billings Montana
    i wonder who will win that battle, the zoas or the chalice. Cool pic though!
     
  4. brandon429

    brandon429 Fire Worm

    Joined:
    May 21, 2009
    Messages:
    158
    --

    those are colonial tunicates.

    filter feeders, indicates a range of particulate sized matter in the water usually resulting from the use of a dsb, refugium or both as compared to a bb tank or non refugium, larval populations in the water are lesser in the latter tanks.

    these also have to be lucky hitchikers, on live rock as spores or progrowths they can't just pop up on anyone's live rock. sponges will that look similar but they don't have those raised siphons as a central vent like yours do, thats really striking. harmless, and you are lucky if you can keep them all there for a year. they aren't impossible, they are uncommon. usually its sponges and those look like tunicates.

    I know large aquariums that won't sustain live rock sponge growth of any kind even with refugiums, etc
    they were using binder pads for phosphate and we read online where that may prevent their growth, but either way do you find it fascinating thats a notochord animal, a larvae with a primordial spinal cord, evolutionists claim we are directly evolved from what you photod lol
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. crank2211

    crank2211 Purple Spiny Lobster

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
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    Wow, that's really cool. Thanks for the ID and great description, Brandon. I'll research these guys a little bit more, they seem really interesting. Can I expect them to grow bigger, or do they usually stay pretty small in size?

     
  6. smoove0054

    smoove0054 Plankton

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2011
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    I have the Same thing going on here!!!!!!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Is that what it is???
     
  7. Tohni Nicoll

    Tohni Nicoll Plankton

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2016
    Messages:
    1
    I also have several spongy type things growing in my tank maybe someone could help me ID them and are safe. Thank you 14803725494471665188867.jpg 1480372606934474779767.jpg 14803725494471665188867.jpg 1480372642461554740281.jpg 1480372667602-253774115.jpg