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FAQs on Sponge Identification 19

Related Articles: Sponges in Marine Aquariums

Related FAQs: Sponge ID 1, Sponge ID 2, Sponge ID 3, Sponge ID 4, Sponge ID 5, Sponge ID 6, Sponge ID 7, Sponge ID 8, Sponge ID 9, Sponge ID 10, Sponge ID 10, Sponge ID 11, Sponge ID 12, Sponge ID 13, Sponge ID 14, Sponge ID 15, Sponge ID 16Sponge ID 17, Sponge ID 18, Sponge ID 20, Sponge ID 21, & Sponges 1, Sponges 2, Sponges 3, Sponge Selection, Sponge Compatibility, Sponge Systems, Sponge Feeding, Sponge Disease, Sponge Reproduction,

Sponge ID Help Please      3/27/20
Hi Wet Web Crew,
<Niko>
I had a Q on sponge ID and I was hoping you may be able to assist.
<Okay>
I found this in my tank, the rock has been around for five years and in this tank for two, but this is the first time I realized this was a sponge.
I thought it was coralline until tonight, when with normal lights off, it became apparent that the darkest splotches amidst the purple / near black were conules.
<All right>
Googling has given me the below possible similar IDs, but was hoping you may know more than me.
Thank you,
Niko
https://www.reeflex.net/tiere/3223_Chelonaplysilla_noevus.htm
https://www.reeflex.net/tiere/6265_Theonella_swinhoei.htm
https://www.reeflex.net/tiere/9041_Dysidea_sp.htm
https://www.reeflex.net/tiere/6256_Biemna_ehrenbergi.htm
https://www.reeflex.net/tiere/3964_Sarcotragus_spinosulus.htm
https://www.reeflex.net/tiere/3364_Theonella_sp_cf_invaginata.htm
<Can't tell from your pix; other than this does appear to be a Sponge/Poriferan. Bob Fenner>

Help identifying?      8/12/19
Hi!
<Ross>
I have a one-year-old, 180 gallon, cold, salt water tank. The only organisms in the tank are two baby chain Catsharks, 1 brittle star and 1 sea star. I use the Seneye reef monitoring system and all levels are
good. The other day, I saw the organisms pictured below growing on some the rocks and sand. I make my seawater so nothing hitched a ride there.
I don't even know where to begin to classify these. Are they algae? Some sort of invertebrate? Each is about 1 cm tall. Any ideas to what they are?
<Only a guess or two, based on the pix and the info. provided. My first is that these are sponges... Likely Silicate based... could be other invertebrate life, algae... Do you have a low power microscope? Maybe one w/ a USB connection that you could dissect some, send pix? Bob Fenner>
Thanks so much.
Best,
Ross Henderson

Re: Help identifying?      8/12/19
Hi Bob,
<Hey Ross>
We have some new microscopes that might have a USB port but I’ve never actually tried that. I’ll take a look this week and see what I can find.
Thanks.
Ross
<Thank you. BobF>

Re: Help identifying? Mar. invert.... spg?      8/16/19
Hi Bob,
No luck yet on getting a picture yet. Once the school year starts, I'll ask my colleagues if they have a camera attachment for the microscopes. If not, I'll acquire one. I'll get back to you in a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help and patience.
Ross
<Yeah mate. Do see here re my input on (the cheapy) scopes I have/use:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/microscopfaqs.htm
BobF>

Re: Help identifying?      8/22/19
Hi Bob,
I got a camera attachment that fits on the microscope and was able to get the pictures attached. (the attachment was inexpensive and it worked reasonably well) I think your guess that my mysterious critter was a glass sponge might be correct. Those sure look like spicules.
<Agreed>
The real question
- how did they get into my tank?
<Mmm; most anything wet, salty enough... Foods, any livestock introduced>
Should I be concerned - will they be a nuisance or just let them do their thing?
<For me, the latter>
Thanks again.
Ross
<Thank you for your follow up. BobF>


strange bags of something      5/20/17
Dear Wet Web Media, I hope you can help me identify whatever these bags are attached to a rock in my saltwater aquarium. I would like to know if they are bad stuff so I can remove them before anything comes out. I am mystified.
<These are sponges, Poriferans; no worries. Bob Fenner>

Id please?      10/31/16
Hi, can you please id this white substance? I thought maybe a type of sponge but could not find it on your site. Thanks! Liana
<This is almost assuredly sponge/Poriferan material. To extents, assurance of good system conditions here. Bob Fenner>

Brown Growth Under and Around Zoanthids    12/25/15
Hello crew at WWM,
<Hey Jas>
I hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas!
<And to you and yours>
In the attached
photo, I’m trying to identify the substance that is spreading on the rocks near the Zoanthid in the middle of the picture. It is brown, translucent and looks like it has tubes with open holes in spots.
<Yes; my first guess is that this is a sponge of some sort. Second would be an encrusting brown algae (like Ralfsia); third... oh, I see you mention this below>
It has spread to some surrounding rocks and has grown on top of some green macro strands that are attached to the rocks. I am thinking some kind of Tunicate or Sea Squirt but all the pictures I have seen look more defined than what I have. I have also considered some type of Sponge or even Cyano but I don’t think a Sponge
would be so see through and I think that Cyano would be elsewhere in the tank and would look more slimy.
<The only real way to tell here is to cut a piece off, look under a microscope... use a reference. Not likely harmful... and will die back given conditions that favor other life here>
Could it be somehow related to the Zoanthid being they are the same color?
<Mmm; not likely>
On a side note does the polyp on the white frag plug in the bottom left of the picture look like Corynactis or Pseudocorynactis?
<Possibly the latter>
It’s hard to see but it has a reddish base, clear tentacles, and white balls on the tips.
Thanks in advance for all your help and for the great service ya’ll provide in answering questions and giving sound advice with all our aquatic needs. It is GREATLY APPRECIATED!! Jason
<Cheers! Bob Fenner>



Re: Brown Growth Under and Around Zoanthids    12/25/15
Bob, Thanks for the quick reply especially since it's Christmas Eve.
<Heeee! Done shopping, and cooking!>
Re: Brown Growth Under and Around Zoanthids    12/25/15
Since you think it's probably harmless, whatever it is, I'll just enjoy what I have. I don't readily have access to a microscope or I would love to cut a slice and look underneath one. Jason
<Oh! Do look into the QX series 'scopes.... think they're still about: Amazon?
Yikes; just looked. There's a BUNCH!
Here's the one I have/use: http://www.amazon.com/ThinkGeek-P510002-Digital-Blue-Microscope/dp/B000059TF3
BobF>
Re: Brown Growth Under and Around Zoanthids    12/25/15

Thanks again Bob, Thanks for the link. I like that it is blue and that you can hook it up to a PC.
<Yeah; and it has two light sources..... AND you can remove the optical bit and place it where you want!!!>
Maybe I can talk my wife into getting it for me. Once again have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! Jason
<And you and yours Jas. B>

Mystery Sponge ball    12/12/15
Hello! Just gotta say your pages have helped me ID at least 20 critters in my tank, but this one finally has me stumped. I picked it up at a LFS, which believes it was collected in south Florida.
<Ah yes; both sponges are from there>
I've spent probably 6 hours last night going through species pages and your website to try to ID it, with no luck. There are two sponges pictured, but mostly interested in the one with the large visible oscules. I just cant find a sponge that has oscules like that, but is still an amorphous blob like this thing is.
That's the only part of the sponge with those oscules as well. I guess my biggest question is.. is this one of those sponges that if it dies it'll poison everything in my tank?
<Mmm; no; on the lower end of the scale here... to Nudibranchs a bit; but I doubt you stock these>
It's growing pretty fast and I'm concerned it could deplete it's food source in my reef tank (only 30g).
<Don't think the latter is likely (I would def. keep all here); oh, and my guess on the ball sponge is that it's an Aplysina species. Bob Fenner>


Re: Mysterious Life Form      12/13/15
Thank you, gentlemen, for your quick and insightful response.-Bob
<Cheers! The other Bob>

ID; SW         5/6/15
Do you think you can possibly tell me what this is in this picture?? It's growing all over some live rock that I bought a couple weeks ago, it seems to start out as a maroon colored spot and gets bigger and turns into these.
Is it some sort of sponge?
<Likely a sponge; yes. Next much less likely guess is some sort of Red Algae (Rhodophyte); either are fine; indicative of good conditions. Bob Fenner>

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