What is this?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Photography
Forum Description: A place to discuss photography.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=69730
Printed Date: November 23 2024 at 4:14pm
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Topic: What is this?
Posted By: JimSmith
Subject: What is this?
Date Posted: February 17 2014 at 9:37pm
I'm trying to figure out what is creating these small tunnels in my live rock. I tried to look in it, but couldn't see anything. If you look in the top right corner of the picture, inside the shaded area you will see a small hole. It is white and it feels like cartilage, smooth and soft.It covers the bottom part of some of my rocks. If you have any ideas, let me know. Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: February 17 2014 at 9:47pm
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They look like tunicate siphons to me...single tunicates will have a dual set while colonial ones may share. ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: JimSmith
Date Posted: February 17 2014 at 9:59pm
| Should I be concern about these tunicates? |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: February 17 2014 at 10:02pm
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In most cases, no. Most of them are harmless filter-feeders. Their population will wax and wane with the nutrients in your tank. There are some species that are invasive and/or toxic, which can damage corals. But, those are rare. Just keep an eye on it. If it stays on the underside of rocks, then it is probably harmless. ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 18 2014 at 8:26am
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Tunicates and Sponge are awesome. We want these animals to grow in our tanks. They filter the water. The growth of these is what makes a tank more mature and stable. These are some of the Benthic organisms that make the ocean so diverse with life. Not only will it grow on the underside of LR, but Sponge will grow between rocks, holding them together, making the aquascaping more stable. Sponge comes in many colors - black, white, blue, pink, purple, green, etc. Sponge usually grows in darker areas. A piece of LR that is repositioned which then exposes the colorful Sponge may seem to lose that sponge over time. Not to worry, usually this induces the sponge to spread to many other dark places in the tank. I gather sponge from other hobbyists. Until I sold it all, I used to grow and share pieces of Blue Barrel Sponge that grew from a small cutting freely give by another hobbyist(thanks Tileman). Currently, I have some yellow-green sponge which grows in the light and looks so good that, like coral, I frag it, attach it to rock and spread it around to other tanks. Fragging Sponge is easy. Pull it apart with fingers and use an elastic to hold it to a small rock. When it has grown to the rock and around the elastic, simply snip the elastic with scissors, then pull the snipped elastic through and out. Aloha, Mark  "color changing" Sponge grows dark green or black in lighted areas and white in shaded areas.   Pineapple Sponge is common in many reef aquariums   ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: JimSmith
Date Posted: February 18 2014 at 7:49pm
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That's awesome! I didn't know that.
Thanks for the info!!!
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