Some sort of sponge? ID help needed please.

[targaboy78]

Hi gang,

I picked up 200lbs LS and 200lbs LR about 2 1/2 weeks ago and my tank is still cycling. These things were on the rock when I put them in the tank. Originally, they were flaccid (looking like silly string) but now they seem to be thriving. (I say thriving because they are growing and reaching towards the light - but what do I know... maybe they are trying to escape?)

Parameters;
Temp: 80F
pH: 8.1
SG: 1.024
NH3: 0.1 mg/L
NO2: 0.1 mg/L
NO3: <5 mg/L

I am thinking they are some sort of blue encrusting sponge (Haliclona sp. ?) In the bottom of my photo (six o'clock) there is a patch that resembles the Haliclona sp. on page 334 of The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. However, these sponges encrust rock and nowhere can I find a photo of one branching out.

OK, now my questions;

What are they?
Are they good or bad? I like the color and wouldn't mind keeping them.
If they are bad, what should I do next?

TIA,

Paul.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/783Blue_Sponge_small-med.jpg

[Cap'n]

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/showphoto.php

What!? Why didn't that work!

[Quinn]

Because that's just the URL of a PHP page calling a JPEG, not the URL of the JPEG itself. :mrgreen:

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/783Blue_Sponge_small-med.jpg

[monza]

Looks bad I would not risk it! Send it to me I'll dispose of it for you.

[Bob I]

I have that crap too. It came in on my original zoanthid rock. I have been trying to get rid of it ever since. It has spread everywhere, and scrubbing the rock has not helped. I would suggest you try get rid of it now, as later you won't be able to. :mad:

[targaboy78]

My setup is going to be a reef tank one day but it is starting life as Fish Only (with LR). It would be nice to have some colour and movement on the LR so I actually don't mind having one fuzzy rock ( for now ) but I don't want it to spread.

Any thoughts about what it is? Ideally, if I can figure out what it is, I could find something that would eat it... Looks tasty enough.

Thanks for the feedback so far.
Paul.

Hi teevee, thanks for the tip about posting images. :lol:

[Bob I]

I think it is some kind of encrusting sponge. You will be very unhappy in the future if you don't get rid of it now. :eek:

[AJ_77]

Sponge-like, yes. I had some of these in the smaller tank under PC lights, but they didn't really spread much - mostly under ovehangs. In the new tank, under halides, they seem to pretty much have gone away - don't know if that helps you.

[monza]

Sponges are some of the best filtering things there are, that one looks cool. I have some in other colors in my sump. IMO keep it and just see what it does.

Dave

[dirtyreefer]

I would probably trust Bob's reply, it may look cool now because it's the only thing in your FOWLR, but once you get other corals in and stuff, it may become a pest that you may have a hard time to get rid of.

Even though I've never had that, it kinda reminds me of people that say that they have aiptaisia in their FO tank, and they think it's kinda cool and are wondering whether they should keep it :lol:

[Quinn]

If you're keeping any of the typical FOWLR fish, some of them may eat the growths.

[Bob I]

You may find this interesting. I put a rock with some of that stuff in my tank with the new Three Spot Angel, which is a sponge eater. He does not pay attention to it. FYI. :eek:

[targaboy78]

After more research, I think that it is not Haliclona sp. but more like Leucosolenia sp.

http://www.biosci.ohiou.edu/introbioslab/BIOS173/images/lab1/leucosolenia.htm
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&q=Leucosolenia&btnG=Search

Bob_I, AJ_77, monza, dirtyreefer & teevee; Thanks for the feedback. It has given me some ideas about how I want to proceed from here.

The photo I uploaded was from my feature rock which is 22" x 10" x 10" weighing approximately 40 lbs. That is going to be in my main display, so the sponge has got to go.

Some of the smaller rocks with sponges may end up in my sump, maybe the biodiversity will be beneficial. I can deal with it there.

Thanks again. I'll let you know how my experiment works out.