Sponge?

[metalhead]

Anybody know what this is?

Sponge?

Also have some kind of patchy grass growing...

Grass?

[Ninong]

A red 'x' in a box.

[metalhead]

A red 'x' in a box.

Sorry guys... Try it now and we'll see if the links work instead.

[Ninong]

Neither photo is clear enough, sharp enough or close enough to identify. However, since you're looking at the tank, you should be able to see what it is that you're looking at. In the case of the green "grass," just google Bryopsis and Derbesia and see if you recognize anything. In the case of the gray patch on your live rock, see if it has typical sponge pores. You would have to be very close to it or have extremely good eyesight.

[metalhead]

Neither photo is clear enough, sharp enough or close enough to identify. However, since you're looking at the tank, you should be able to see what it is that you're looking at. In the case of the green "grass," just google Bryopsis and Derbesia and see if you recognize anything. In the case of the gray patch on your live rock, see if it has typical sponge pores. You would have to be very close to it or have extremely good eyesight.

Right on Ninong, thanks!

I'll do some research and try to get some better pictures too. This may be the excuse I've been looking for to shell out a bunch of $$$ for a new macro lens... need a good external flash too.

[Ninong]

I can tell you what I did in a couple of instances where it was possible to lift a sample piece of rock that had the unidentified object on it. I turned off the pumps so that the water would be still and I lifted the subject piece of rock close to the surface and examined it with a magnifying glass without removing it from the water.

I did that when I had the nasty unidentified red turf algae that nearly drove me crazy for at least ten months. I never did positively ID it. At one time I thought I did but then a few months later I changed my mind. And I'm still not sure how I got rid of it. I know what I did to get rid of it but I can't be sure if that's what did it because a couple of people told me that I was mistaken. However, once it was gone it was really gone. And it didn't come back.

It's possible to have stuff turn up in your aquarium several months after your last addition of any rock or anything with a small piece of rock attached to it. My red turf algae either came in on the original live rock and took several months to pop up or it came in as spores on the tiny foundation of one of the few Indonesian maricultured frags that I purchased. Apparently that's how the little Collonista snails found their way into my tank.

Those little things just about took over the tank for a time. They were strictly nocturnal. About an hour after the lights went out, they just above covered all available glass surface or live rock surface in the aquarium. And they were all back into hiding well before the lights came on in the morning. Dozens of them ended up going over the overflow and down into my sump.

The problem with them was that their population seemed to explode to the point where they removed all available food for the other snails, the ones I paid money for. At their peak I probably had at least 800 and at their minimum, probably 200. You never saw them in the daytime, except covering the floor of the sump, but you sure did see them at night. The shells of those little snails were gorgeous under a magnifying glass. The pattern was amazing and there were irridescent highlights of green and pink.

[My2heartboys]

Speaking from experience, when that happens it can be quite unnerving. You wind up walking around the house shaking your head and asking yourself "What the....Where the did it come from?" It can literally drive one a little (or quite) crazy. It can also be quite exciting as well....after the intial reaction.

Anne
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It's possible to have stuff turn up in your aquarium several months after your last addition of any rock or anything with a small piece of rock attached to it.

[My2heartboys]

Metalhead, the first picture looks like it could be a liver sponge. While not very actractive, it is a good thing to have.

Anne

[metalhead]

Metalhead, the first picture looks like it could be a liver sponge. While not very actractive, it is a good thing to have.

Anne

Thanks Anne!

That's very good to know and it does look quite cool IMO.

Speaking from experience, when that happens it can be quite unnerving. You wind up walking around the house shaking your head and asking yourself "What the....Where the did it come from?" It can literally drive one a little (or quite) crazy. It can also be quite exciting as well....after the intial reaction.

Anne

I feel your pain!!!