sponges or not

I had a really ugly gray mass (possible sponge) that was covering a large portion of a rock so I figured I would peel it off and trash it but when I scraped it there was like a cloud of dust came out and it scraped off in small peices and are noe being blown around the tank from the PH's. Did I kill this stuff or just spread it around and make things worse?

 

I don't guess anyone knows..??
I really don't think you'll have any problem.. And at the worst you'll have millions of them.

Just joking about the millions.....

I do have the same stuff on one of my rocks I bought some mushrooms on..
It is a sponge for sure.. I done alot of searches on mine, which is grey..
It also comes in blue, and other colors.. real nice.. But not the grey..
Mines starting to get to close to my good corals.. So I think I'll take my rock out of the tank.. After what you went thru.. And scrape it off...
But I'm sure things will be OK..
Talk to you around the 3rd..

Later Bro..

 

I too had a small grey sponge on a rock with some mushrooms, it was growing and outdoing the shrooms, so i took the rock out of the water and cut the sponge away, i must of left a very small piece on there because now it is nearly back to original size around 1" sponges are not supposed to be out in the air, but just goe's to show this one must be hardy, was out for about 3 min, so you may find it settleing and re-attaching elsewhere in the tank...

 

Dude, I have so many sponges all over that it s not even funny. The only reason that I would scrape/trim it off if its growing over any corals. I believe that they are beneficial so I dont remove them. As for what you did by scraping it off, not to worry, the only thing that will come about is it will grow again. No big deal.



Luna

 

Hmm. I am suppose to be in a tax meeting but it was delayed – so lets talk about sponges.

A sponge is made up of loosely bound cells that are basically rather simple to shake apart (which is what you did). When the “dust” settles you would have spread the spores around and yes – they will begin to grow in the new area’s.

Here is a wonderful site with all the data you will require:

Reefs.org: Where Reefkeeping Begins on the Internet - Aquarium.Net June 1997 Sponges, out from under the counter...Ronald L. Shimek

 

That being said, they pose no threat to our systems. Luna

 

Absolutely concur, I love having sponges in my tank – add’s color and I find then rather attractive.

 

All thats true, I have some yellow sponges that grow very good, love them..


The type of sponge Danny and I have is a grey blob.. looks almost like leather..
The only reason I have to remove mine is, that stuff spreads and is going to kill some of my beautiful mushrooms.. If not, I would just leave it..
It doesn't look like a sponge, just a grey mass. and I have seen a round opening
like a mouth, that would open and shut at times..??
Strange..

Larry