Strange White Intruder

[ghurlag]

I am seeing this white web/coral-like "stuff" on both of my GSP colonies, and on a zoa colony.  Any ideas?  My tank is in a state of disrepair that I am in the process of remedying (see my recent post on my Tank Profile). 

[Reefinmike]

It looks to be some type of sponge, probably thriving due to excess nutrients. I would just break off what you can, and since many sponges are air sensitive, I would just take the zoos and gsp and sit them out in the air for 10 or so minutes... this wont hurt them at all, as long as they stay damp. I have seen zoos and gsp rocks shipped 24 hours in just wet newspaper many times.

[ghurlag]

You know, now that you mention it, a sponge is probably the most likely candidate.  I scraped off most of what was on my GPS "island", and ripped out most of the other GPS that was in the tank.  See my Tank Profile for the "Immediately After" photo.  I did a hefty water change, removed a bunch of vegetation that was thriving in the nutrient sink that was my tank.  It looks like a whole new tank!

I'll try to keep everyone posted on anything I find out about this white "stuff".

[cyberwollf]

You know, now that you mention it, a sponge is probably the most likely candidate.  I scraped off most of what was on my GPS "island", and ripped out most of the other GPS that was in the tank.  See my Tank Profile for the "Immediately After" photo.  I did a hefty water change, removed a bunch of vegetation that was thriving in the nutrient sink that was my tank.  It looks like a whole new tank!

I'll try to keep everyone posted on anything I find out about this white "stuff".

if it is a sponge, its not bad.  Just eating extra stuff like Mike said.  Need to keep after the maintence now that the macro and stuff is gone.  Thats what was keeping your excess nutrients in check.

[ghurlag]

LOL, keeping it in check AND choking everything out 

There is still some left.  I couldn't clear it all out.  But, yes, you are right, better attention to maintenance will keep bad things like this from happening again.