Sponge ID Please

This sponge has been growing in my sump for some time now. It started fairly small and now covers an area at least the size of my hand. It's very, very soft and slippery to the touch. It kind of feels like jelly.

I'd like to get a positive ID on it, as I've researched and found a few things like it, but nothing exact yet.

The "appendages" are approximately 7-12 mm thick.

Thanks in advance!




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Whatever it is I like it! bump for luck! hopefully someone knows

 

Thanks, yeah, it looks cool... not sure if I'd want it in my display or not, but I might try it there if I can figure out what it is... it is a cool contrast because it is stark white.

 

me too the Wannabe-Acro Sponge

 

Ciocalypta penicillus (White pencil sponge) ... Maybe? It is the only thing I can even think of that looks similar. The thing that gets me though is it appears to be growing in a chuck of LR, however if this sponge was to grow in these conditions it could end up looking like yours. The base is usually in sand or gravel, but since it isn't it could have caused the tubes to be more stout to steady it more. They generally don't get that wide of tubes but it is possible. I have seen a couple of pictures of some that do. Things like this usually end up looking different in different environments so that can make ID difficult. Hope that helps.

 

That's interesting, it does look somewhat similar to that, however, this seems to grow in clumps with "fingers" on the clumps while the pencil sponge seems to be many individual "fingers". Also the sponge I have is not as translucent as the pictures of pencil sponge online...

It is attached to live rock, but there is also a substrate/ sand bed in my sump, so it could be originating there.... it's hard to tell without me digging around, but I'd rather not disturb it too much...

 

There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, you can't ID a sponge based on growth form. Growth form is determined by flow, turbidity, water temperature etc...

 

Possibly a type of tunicate?

 

That's what I was saying when I was talking about the environment in which it grew.

Also if it is on LR and there is a substrate of some kind it could be that way because it usually grows that way under the sand. I'm not saying you're wrong and that I'm right but it could explain it.

Sorry it's probably going to stay the mystery sponge but just basing it on looks I'd like to have one myself. It looks cool but in reefs nothing is usually good to pick cause it looks cool lol. Good luck

 

Thanks for all of your input!