Quick Identification (weird Growth)

[The-Raven]

spotted these things growing a while back, they've gotten pretty big and are all over the place.... Tomorrow is aquarium overhaul/cleanup/fixup day and I wanted to know if I need to remove this stuff or if it's safe - or even beneficial?

 

[Mr Miagi]

I dont recognise it, but it looks almost like a species porifera (sponge). If so, its beneficial.

Has it got a hard or soft exo-skeleton? Does it move?

 

[huntnikk]

is it only coming out of the rocks or is it growing on the glass also> It doesn't look like any kind of algea...

 

[Opcn]

I can't see that being a harmful thing.

 

[The-Raven]

is it only coming out of the rocks or is it growing on the glass also> It doesn't look like any kind of algea...

only on rocks

 

[steelhealr]

It IS weird....to be honest, I've seen lots of stuff so far, but, not this. I agree that it does not look invasive. Keep an eye on it...might be a sponge or ? tunicate? SH

 

[Aquascaper]

Looks like some sort of slime algae to me

 

[Navarre]

I got something very similar to this in our Nano tank. It was growing under the rocks and is a slightly different colour to yours. Its either a sponge or tunicate. Either way its not harmful and a good signs for the tank.

 

[bunjiweb]

Its a type of sponge, we have lots of it growing in the weirs of the tanks at work. It spreads nicely and looks awesome if it grows on glass. Theres no reason why it should be harmful to the running of your tank. It should survive if there is fairly good waterflow int the tank and lots of free floating detrius for it to feed off.

Ben

 

[Opcn]

Its certainly not a tunicate

 

[mikersx02]

Its definately a sponge. My dad has 2 125gal tanks and one of them has a rock with tons of it growing out of it. It started off looking white and pasty looking- and over a span of a few months- it turned a rich brown. Its branched several times and looks really cool. Never hurt anything.