what is this? (2 things)

[5.0Stang]

okay first is this white-tube looking algae stuff, does anyone know what exactly it is and how to get rid of it? it started about 3 weeks ago and is just spreading like crazy.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/mustanggt950/terrorofthesea007.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/mustanggt950/terrorofthesea003.jpg





then theres this green bubble thing, i tried popping it but its no soft like i thought, its hard.. theres only one, but does anyone know what it is how to get rid of it or if it will spread fast?

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o242/mustanggt950/terrorofthesea011-1.jpg

[caferacermike]

Remove the bubble alage whole. If you pop it it will spread all over your tank.


The white stuff, i'm saying sponge and or tunicates. If you part with it let me know cause I will take it.

[JimD]

Cool sponge, a good thing and bubble algae (Valonia) a bad thing...

[5.0Stang]

j/w whats good about the white stuff and how do i get rid of the green one do i just take the rock out then pop it?

[caferacermike]

You might be able to just pluck the bubble.

Sponge is a sign of a healthy reef. It is a filter feeder, like a clam, and can help purify the water. But if you don't like it that's totally up to you and what you want in your tank. If so give it to me and I'll split it with Jim.

[caferacermike]

Bring them by. I have green, yellow, pink, orange, red, white, black liver, and blue. I want more diversity though.

[JimD]

The smaller ones arent mature enough to contain spores, its the larger ones you need to be concerned about, if you can grab it, try spinning it to brake it loose from the rock. The white sponge is a good thing because it will act as a filter to help clean the water.

[5.0Stang]

ok so say i leave this green thing in my gf's tank will it harm anything or will my snails and hermits pop it? If not i just twist it off when it gets bigger? How big does it need to get?

[caferacermike]

From what I've seen, I ended up with some after a frag trade, my hermits and snails won't touch it.

[5.0Stang]

so i should just twist it? wont some of the liquid or something get on the rock and spread?

[safeuerwehr]

you should pry it off from the rock....i used a knife and just pried it off....don't leave it in the tank as it will eventually burst to spread its spores. if you can get the rock out and remove the bubbles outside the tank that would be better, followed by a quick wash.

[Darth-Tater]

Emerald crabs like bubble algae. I had some last year added 3 emerald crabs and it is gone. Besides these crabs are also so cool to watch.

DT

[brewercm]

I usually just kind of pick the bubble algae off carefully like you're picking a grape. Sometime they come off if you just puh on its side and it'll pop off.

[stoneroller]

I'd bet on colonial ascidians (tunicate). Those tubes look like siphons rather than a sponge osculum. If you pulled the rock out and started to play with them they'd likely squirt water out. Mine are slimy to the touch but leathery if you tried to rip it. They peel off with a little effort. (good at holding rocks together too, lol) And, they might start to get pigment (from algae?) like these in my tank:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r10/stoneroller/colonialascidian.jpg

You can see how the leading edge of the colony isn't pigmented but is opaque white (like the first photo posted). I have lots!

If it were a sponge, you could soak a piece in bleach (overnight) and look for spicules under a scope or possibly a magnifying glass.