Anyone know what this is?

well it used to be a candy cane coral years ago that clearly I have since lost, but some of my mushrooms had attached themselves to it so I left in it the tank.. Over the past 6 months I have notived this black coating starting to grow on it. It's weird looking.. its black but it almost looks like it has hair growing out of it.. In anycase, I broke of the piece that the mushrooms were attached to as it was not infected and have removed the rest from my tank..

Just looks like something that can't be good.

Let me know what you think.

 

Looks like it could be a sponge of some sort. Not totally sure though because it is out of the water. Im sure someone else will chime in with a better answer.

 

It's sponge, mostly harmless unless it starts growing faster then the coral it's growing on.

Most do take a huge hit when you expose to them air.

 

that's what I thought at first too. but it is more like a coating. I thought sponges grew out more. This was almost like a rubberized coating. weird.. anyway it's out!