Purple sponge VS GSP

[RayAllen]

I have two colonies of GSP side by side.

Ive noticed that my smaller colony has not been opening up fully. Upon further inspection its being covered in purple/pink sponge.

Really cool looking sponge but this is a first to me. A sponge smothering a coral colony.

Anyone else have this happen to them?

[BSJF]

Yes they can. If you can take the rock out, brush it off carefully with a toothbrush, then rinse it before you put it back.

[CoryDude]

A quick freshwater dip takes care of most sponges I've run across.

[Kristy]

Some sponges might be cooler than the GSP! We have definitely had a couple of occasions where the sponge killed off the coral. One is a GSP rock that is now covered in a funky yellow sponge. Other was a beautfiful zoa rock that was overtaken by this dark purple / black sponge. Someone saw it in my tank (Mizeny maybe?) and commented that she's had problems with that same kind of black sponge killing coral. So yeah, it definitely happens.

[Europhyllia]

pink/purple sponge seems way cooler than GSP! GSP can be kind of wimpy anyway. I've had it get overrun/encrusted with coralline algae...

[kkiel02]

Some sponges might be cooler than the GSP! We have definitely had a couple of occasions where the sponge killed off the coral. One is a GSP rock that is now covered in a funky yellow sponge. Other was a beautfiful zoa rock that was overtaken by this dark purple / black sponge. Someone saw it in my tank (Mizeny maybe?) and commented that she's had problems with that same kind of black sponge killing coral. So yeah, it definitely happens.

You beat me to it. As soon as I saw the topic I thought of your yellow sponge. lol

[allan]

I have a yellow sponge that lives with my orange zoos. I've pulled off frags of the zoos and had just a bit of the yellow go with, which would grow again with the frag.

Hasn't harmed the zoos but you can see the breathing tube sticking out among the zoos.

[RayAllen]

Thanks guys that answered my question.

Kristy I also have the black sponge in my tank, so far its only on rock.