White stringy growth on shaded rocks and bio media

[thesassyindian]

Any idea what this white stringy stuff on my bio media is?

It’s also growing on some of my shaded rocks.

Thanks!!

 

[Rostato]

Some sort of bio film or maybe sponge. I dunno

 

[Meshmez]

Ya, looks like sponge on the media and bio film on the rocks.

 

[thesassyindian]

Thanks both! I cleaned up the back chambers and return pump yesterday. Siphoned out a TON of these white fibers from the chambers, the return pump piping.

Is there any livestock that feeds on these sponges?

 

[Rostato]

Sponges are a good thing. Leave them alone.

 

[Coral reefer]

Sponges are a good thing. Leave them alone.

Not always.
It is likely a sign of high dissolved organica. Are you using any carbon? It should absorb a lot of things the sponges are eating

 

[Rostato]

Not always.
It is likely a sign of high dissolved organica. Are you using any carbon? It should absorb a lot of things the sponges are eating

How can they be bad? I’ve not seen any ill affects from sponges. I have tons growing around my rocks in low light areas.

 

[Coral reefer]

There are a lot of different kinds. Some can be invasive. Some can irritate corals. I believe some can even produce compounds you don’t want in the tank.

 

[thesassyindian]

Not always.
It is likely a sign of high dissolved organica. Are you using any carbon? It should absorb a lot of things the sponges are eating

I do have a small bag of chemi pure elite in one of the back chambers.

I have a big BRS bottle of Rox0.8. Should I add some of that in a separate mesh bag?

 

[Coral reefer]

One or the other should be fine.

 

[thesassyindian]

One or the other should be fine.

I’ve always had the chemi pure elite in the sump all it’s while (I change it every 2 weeks).

The sponges shows up anyway.

Will the addition of a bag of ROX0.8 help?

 

[max_nano]

I’ve always had the chemi pure elite in the sump all it’s while (I change it every 2 weeks).

The sponges shows up anyway.

Will the addition of a bag of ROX0.8 help?

I use rox.8 for my carbon. I still have sponges, but I want sponges as a part of my nutrient control.

Why do you not want sponges?