White slime with mini volcano's....

[frazin78]

I just noticed that I have this weird white slime like material growing on two pieces of my LR. The patches have been getting bigger but it's by no means taking over my tank and the patches are almost 2 feet apart. Under closer inspection this white stuff has little 1/4inch semi transparent volcano like shape "things" growing from the white base.

I really have no idea what this stuff is.. I have never seen it but I am wondering if I should wash off my LR before this stuff becomes a problem or if this stuff is actually something good.

TIA

Jc

 

[reefpicker]

Can you post a picture??

I had something similar in my tank but it usually grew under the rock or in the side of the rock where it was NO exposed to light.

I believe it was a tunicate. The easiest way to know is by looking at them closely. If they have two siphons per animal, it is a colony of tunicates.

Tunicates should not be a plague and even if they are not tunicates, I would not be too worried about whatever it is. It does not resemble anything that is dangerous...

Tunicates are closely related to vertebrates. They posses a primitive form of a spinal column. They are filter feeders and completely sessile (i.e they do not move).

If you post a picture, then we can try and find out what it could be.

 

[mogurnda]

Sounds like it could be a sponge or tunicate. There are some colonial tunicates that form a mat, so that's a possibility. Regardless, I agree that it's probably not anything to worry about.

 

[frazin78]

Here is a close shot of it.. that is only one little volcano, the bigger patch is impossible to take a good shot of.

 

[frazin78]

Here is a different angle of the same patch.

 

[reefpicker]

Hi

Sorry I took so long to reply... I have been busy with coursework at my school and I had to give a short talk, about fish of course Sex changing fish to be precise...

I took a quick glance at your pictures and what you have there looks exactly like what I saw in my 55g tank, except my animals where more opaque...

It looks like a tunicate or a sponge. Either way, it is a harmless invertebrate which will filter feed on your water....

Tunicates aka sea squirts, are very common in reef tanks. Several types of sponges are also common...

Hopefully, they will thrive in your tank....