Weird orange growth on hammer coral base?

[604reefer]

So I have a euphyllia addiction and got this hammer coral for a great deal at JL a few weeks back because it was bleached and I said as long as it's not green I'll take it (was told it's yellow/orange/goldish). Fast forward and the color is slowly coming in and I believe it's splitting and there's 2 buds on the base coming up.

I moved it today as it was getting tipped over into the sand by my inverts and noticed this with my flashlight.

Any thoughts what this orange goopy looking stuff is under the skeleton in the center of the photo? It looks kind of shiny in the light. Tried googling the world wide webs, but can't find anything!

[F.H]

looks like a sponge, harmless. Actually helps filter the water. Just make sure it doesn't go over the tissue of the hammer as that might irritate it (it shouldn't but keep an eye on it).

As long as the hammer is puffy and happy, nothing to worry about.

Does it look like the "orange encrusting bath sponge" in this link?

http://www.reeffarmers.com/farmsponge.htm

[straightrazorguy]

+ 1 for sponge. Goo d for you!

[604reefer]

Originally Posted by F.H

looks like a sponge, harmless. Actually helps filter the water. Just make sure it doesn't go over the tissue of the hammer as that might irritate it (it shouldn't but keep an eye on it).

As long as the hammer is puffy and happy, nothing to worry about.

Does it look like the "orange encrusting bath sponge" in this link?

http://www.reeffarmers.com/farmsponge.htm

That looks like it! Another link to save for the future. Thanks! I'm still only 7 months in, all this stuff is very interesting - always something new.