What is this growing below the mushrooms?

[Mary Jane]

Hi, I'm N1Husker's wife, Mary Jane. I'm posting these photos of something that is growing in the tank that we do not know what it is, and if it is harmful. It is a white ball thing, looks kind of fuzzy (like maybe an egg sack) and appears to have something coming out of the end that looks similar to feathery growth. Also thought I'd post a photo of our 36 gallon aquarium. We are both true beginners and just getting started.

 

[Mary Jane]

I give up, I'm not able to upload the photos. I keep getting a message that I have exceeded my limit, even though I have resized them down to 300 pixels and a resolution of 100 ?? Sorry.

 

[jrgilles]

Might have a post limit or something before you can attach photos, not sure.

What I usually do is put the photo on photobucket.com or picasa.google.com and then just add a link to the thread.

Hope that helps. Curious what you have growing.

Think it may be a sponge? Maybe google 'pineapple sponge'

 

[mojoreef]

You should be Ok now to post a pic

Mojo

 

[Mary Jane]

Ok that will work, thank you. These are the links to the photos I was trying to post:


on this one I drew the circle to big - but you can kind of see what it is
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z409/MJH-jingles/questiononaquariumgrowth.jpg

11saltwateraquarium.jpg picture by MJH-jingles - Photobucket

not very clear on this link - but under the red mushrooms on the left side (on the rock the mushrooms are growing on)
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z409/MJH-jingles/corals.jpg

If I had any idea what this was I could look it up, but I don't know where to even start - what keywords use.

 

[Mary Jane]

Yes, it does look like a pineapple sponge, going to go read up on it, thank you so much.

 

[jrgilles]

Nice looking tank!

Hard to tell from the pics, but definately looks sponge like. I have them all over in my tank, wherever there is some protection from direct light.

rob

 

[Mary Jane]

Thank you Rob, hubby is busy on his computer learning about sponges now The only place we have spotted these things are under the mushrooms - so far anyway. Really hard to get a good pic of them. Sure appreciate your help, I would have never thought of a sponge !

 

[jrgilles]

They are good for your system. Think of them as little water filters. Sure your pod population likes to use them for cover too

I've seen the pineapple sponges up for ID on this site many many times now (although never seen them in my tank. sponges I have are huge things encrusting the underside of my rocks)

 

[Scampy]

I agree...looks like a pineapple to me too. I had a bunch of them show up about 6 months after starting my tank. They were there for a month or two then started vanishing rather quick. Haven't seen any for a couple years now. Dont know what makes them come and go but they are harmless. Here is an old pic of a few of mine.

 

[Mary Jane]

Thanks scampy, sure glad it isn't anything harmful. Hubby is going to try to post some links of two of the worms we know we have. We thought they were bristle worms but in reading up - they look more like fire worms. Good thing is, according to what we can tell, they don't look like the "bad" one.

 

[NC2WA]

sponges are good...

this link might help you and your husband:

Saltwater Aquariums Sponge, Sea Squirt & Tunicate Photos & Pictures -

 

[Mary Jane]

Thank you NC2WA we appreciate all the info we can get. There is so much to learn but we are sure enjoying our aquarium.

 

[N1Husker]

Thanks NC2WA, appreciate the link, by the way nice looking regal angel.