What is it? Sponge? A mystery from the Raffle!

[mike1962]

Hi All,

Here is a couple of pics of an oddity that needs confirmation. I won this little cluster of zoa's at the Christmas Raffle, and when I brought it home saw this unusual white ball at the end. I'm thinking a sponge, but what do you all think?

Side view


Front view

[funman1]

Looks pretty spongish to me....

[pbetito]

It kind of looks like a dead skeleton of something like a brain coral or maybe a favia. If it is spongy however it is most likely a sponge and is good for a reef. If you have any angels they may go to town on it if it is in fact a sponge. Cool find

[mike1962]

Yeah, I'm thinking sponge too. When I touch it, it flexes a bit, so it is a soft tissue. I've just never seen a sponge like that before (in my very limited experience).

[nova67]

its a sponge i have some in my tank

[mike1962]

Cool! Okay, the support seems to confirm it's a sponge!

[nova67]

you can find them in other colors to. i have had yellow,lime green and oranges ones

[mike1962]

That's very cool Nova67. How did you end up with these sponges? Did they come on your LR or with Zoa's like mine?

[nova67]

most of them just showed up out of no where

[sagitariuscbc]

Sponge, but I would keep an eye on it, it may out grow the zoa's. You could always frag the zoa's away from it.
!-)

[mike1962]

This is a pretty substantial cluster of Zoas, (a very generous donation for the raffle), so I will probably frag these anyways...Thanks for the advice Sagitariuscbc!

[KMP]

it's a snowball

[dots]

Once thought to be a liability because once exposed to air they die, sponge used to be avoided. In recent years since water quality and stability has gotten better on average, they are a welcome sign of stabilty and biodiversity as well and filtration.

I have a large black sponge that I was going to offer pieces of soon if anyone would like. Its a good cover crop for the algae, stays jet black and is different to see. Right now it has some detitus on it, but in a few minutes it will slough it off and be black and shiny as new.

[mike1962]

Thanks for the info Dots. I am glad that as time has marched on, so has our understanding and equipment improved the overall success of reef tanks. It is my suspicion that while we understand a fair number of fundamentals in keeping reef tanks, there is probably a complexity that we still haven't yet appreciated. The Social Biologist E.O. Wilson has suggested that a rotting tree trunk contains a universe all to its own of fungi, mold, and bacteria working in complex ways, I don't see why a reef system would be any different.

That looks to be a large sponge that you have. Just curious, how long have you had it, and how big is it?

[dots]

I bought the rock over two years ago and it came all purple, with two anenome on it and the sponge about the size of a quarter inside one of the holes. It covers what you see, is now really starting to take off since I changed my water source and encrusting on the bottom of the tank. Streched out flat......I would say 8" square easily and up to a 1/4" think in places. You wouldn't think it, but its very fibrous and meaty.

But like my 4" diameter Astrea snail, could go bad fast and pollute the tank if I get lazy. I figure by the time that happens all my SPS would be dead anyways, so I figure I can keep it without worry.

Seriously, its getting big and will need to cut it back one of these days.....if anyone wants some let me know.

One word of advice with sponge: Do not expose to air as they are sensitive to it.

In the FTS shot, you can see the big black blob on the bottom to get a idea of how big it really is. I like it because no algae grows where it does. Its a black encrusting sponge, but other than that have not looked it up.......I always thought Marine Flora and Fauna would always be interested in it........who was that agian?

[kevin95695]

Marine Flora = bluenassarius = Sam.

[dots]

Thats it.....thank you.

[saltykelly]

I would like some of that black sponge. I have seen it at YR. John says it grows pretty fast and is tolerant to high lighting unlike most sponges.

[dots]

We will have to get you a hunk then.

[sagitariuscbc]

Hey if you have some left I would like a piece too, when ever really no rush!-)

!-)

[dots]

I have all kinds, its kinda taken over really. I'll wait a little to see who and how much I need to "farm" and we will figure out a time and place.