Name this thing...I sure can't

[pvtschultz]

I have been around here for about 2 years now and I have never come across what I have growing in my reef now. This guy first showed up about 2 months ago and now there are about a dozen of them spread all over my tank. Ihave been unable to figure out what the heck it is. I must appologize though, it was quite difficult to photograph clearly, but I think that this might give you a good idea.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f308/pvtschultz/DC400028.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f308/pvtschultz/DC400029.jpg

Wow, the pics worked from photobucket. Anyways, the color is true. It looks like a bunch on small bubbles and then there is a distinct syphon looking thing in the middle. Sizes range from about 1/4" to just under 1/2". So do you think that it is a sponge or some other type of critter or what?

The funny thing is that I only have about 5 lbs of LR in the whole tank, the other 120 lbs base rock. They appeared during a time that I wasn't adding anything to the tank for like 6 months so it kind of has me baffled.

[graveyardworm]

Looks like a sponge. Sponges (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rs/index.php)

[Brandon's Reef]

To me this looks like a Tethya or a ball sponge
small ball shape sponge, usually not more than 3 inches in diameter, colors range from yellow, orange, green or red. The surface is smooth or bumpy. This sponge reproduces by budding off hundreds of tiny individuals. Some species may walk by means of extended hairlike appendages that attach to adjacent substrate.

[sparks56]

looks like a sponge of some sort./ i had a couple show up in mine a couple months ago too/ nice lime green huh!!

[ufchristyb]

First pic looks like a sponge. 2nd pic looks a little like a tunicate colony. Hard to tell for sure from those pics.

[pvtschultz]

Thanks for all the ideas so far, but I have not found a pic as of yet that matches what this is. The closest that I have found was locatedHERE (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/invert.htm) and is the pic of the green sponge. The ones in my tank have a single very defined syphon looking thing in the middle with the pores or bubbles sourounding it. I'm going to keep looking and see what I come up with. Any other ideas or experiences?

[sruiz]

The first looks like a sponge I got the same one growing in on my rock

[pvtschultz]

Well, glad that I'm not the only one with these things and I guess the good news is that sponges are fairly docile. I do get quite of bit of suspended particles in my water, I must, I have a lot of the tube snail things that emit filiments everytime I clean the glass, I have lots of the small orange feather duster worms, and now I have these sponges. THere is never a dull day in the marine aquarium hobby, that is for sure.

[Ebisan]

I have these also. I have one that's pretty big growing around the base of my torch coral.

[petenheather]

I also have one growing on a rock, are they harmless?

[pvtschultz]

Hey Heather/Pete, how are the nitrates coming? I am guessing that these sponges (if that is what they are) are harmless for all that we know. I am suprised that I haven't heard of them until now here in RC as everything gets discussed here. Let's see some pics of these things if you can get 'em. I am going to turn all the lights on in my tank so I can try and get a good shot of them this afternoon.

[petenheather]

hey PVT dude, well read my post about my skimmer....then chat back, seems things are still a little crazy here

[petenheather]

Igot photobucket and took some pics with my dig camera, but i cant seem to get the picture small enough to post it????????

[petenheather]

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e350/ppnhh/DSC00033.jpg[/IMG]





bare with me, this is my first:D

[orionsmamma]

Hmm..I Have several of these things in my tank...Ill go try to get a macro shot of one of them.

I just assumed they were sponges; and didnt really think twice about it :)