Next Hitchhiker

[Clownfish518]

Okay, next batch. And yes, my rock seems to be old enough to start producing things



I have these popping up all over the tank. Looks like a plant sprouting, but this is as big as it gets

I know what the algae and snails are lol. Is the orange stuff a sponge, or a montipora? It is growing in many spots in the tank. Can't think what else it might be, not big enough for me to tell for sure yet

[Lynn]

Hey Dean! Keep 'em coming! What's in the first pic looks like Neomeris, a calcium loving macro. I've got some of that growing on one of my rocks too - kinda pretty, isn't it. More basic info at the following link: http://www.melevsreef.com/id/annulata.html

The orange stuff in the next photo might be either an encrusting/boring sponge, or it could be something like Lobophora variegata (aka "brown wafer" algae). If it's Lobophora (color varies widely), you'll want to get rid of it - it can be a real pain for some. There's a photo of some at the top of the following FAQ's page
More photos here
Really good photos here just before half-way down the page

Hope that helps!

-Lynn

[Cronamator]

if itsn a boring sponge, it shoulf have at least the beginnings of a tubal opening. i dont see any on there at the moment.

[Clownfish518]

If it is lobophora, why is it unwanted?

Yes, I like Neomeris. I thought it looked like an algae, but it grows just so long and stops. I don't make any assumptions anymore - so many things look like different than what they are

[Lynn]

Yep, I think it looks more like a macro-algae, but I could be wrong. Boring/encrusting sponges do have openings/pores but they can vary in size, structure, and concentration - enough so that if there aren't all that many, and there are other factors obscuring them, it can throw you off. I don't see any in your photo but ?? Try lifting up an edge of the stuff. If it's rubbery, it's a macro.

Here are a couple of sponge photos showing larger, or more obvious, openings: here
and here

One where there are a bit fewer, with more open terrain between. Btw, the yellowish stuffon the left is a tunicate colony...the orange red stuff to the right is an encrusting sponge (reportedly Microciona):
Link


As for Lobophora, I just remember reading some FAQ's related to people having had the stuff go crazy on them. Of course, who knows what other factors they had going on at the time...too many nutrients, no refugium with a competing macro, etc. I do remember something about Naso tangs eating it and maybe a Diadema spp. urchin but (bummer) those wouldn't be good in a smaller tank. If you find out the stuff is definitely a macro and not a sponge, and the rock is in a place that you can fairly easily get it out, I'd put it in a bucket of water and try to get the stuff off. Also, find more photos of Lobophora and compare it to what you have. Maybe that's not it at all!

-Lynn

[Clownfish518]

I won't worry about it being algae then. This is a sea grass tank. When that stuff takes off, there will be all sorts of competition for nutrients and I am betting the grass will win.

I am dosing with Iron, Magnesium, and Potassium so I bet I will have algae growth. But since I added my ATI lights back into the tank, I am seeing pearling on the grass and noticeable growth on the turtle grass, so I don't think, it will be a problem. It adds color anyway.

If I get too much growth will think about an urchin. Fits into the biotope. Any sort of tang is right out - my grass would be gone in a day lol.

[Wetplants]

Be careful...the common name for that is Caterpillar weed, I think. Only thing that eats it is a mithrax.

[Lynn]

Sounds good, Dean. Oh, and Will...just saw your signature regarding being a mantis fan - me too! I don't keep any, but I darn sure love 'em!

-Lynn

[Wetplants]

Heehee! Danyal and I have been having some fun lately. Welcome back, by the way.

[Wetplants]

Dean: dug up an old article. It is a calcified macro. Mithrax have been occasionally reported to eat it, but, well, they are crabs. Definitely hit or miss. Be careful with this one. Don't just go picking at all of it. Try a kalk paste; some reports have been positive on using it. Apprently this stuff grows like crazy and chokes out corals. Don't know how this will play out in a grass tank, but do keep an eye on it.