Any idea what this spongy stuff is?

[bubblegurl]

Have just noticed this white spongy stuff growing underneath a rock, it seems to be spreading and have noticed HUGE bubbles sitting on it. We just treated for red algae and completed a 20% water change last night. With my hydrometer, my salinity was at 1.025, but I bought a refractometer tonight and tested and its reading at 1.030. I have not tested other parameters but will do so over the weekend. Also, I'm attaching a pic of what I think is majano. We are currently debating whether to get rid of it as its came with our uncured live rock when we started the tank in April. Thoughts?

 

[teresaq]

First thing is a sponge, harmless
second, how big is that?? prob is majano -- touch it and see if it retracts into the rock - get a pic

 

[teresaq]

did you calibrate your refractor??? you need to bring the sg down if its really that high. dont do it all at once, though, little at a time over a day or so

 

[bubblegurl]

The fellow at the store did it for me and showed me how to do it, so its fine. I'm shocked at the difference in readings. I will start pulling water out tomorrow.
The anenome thing does not pull into the rock at all, just curls up on itself. Will go take a pic of its reaction and post

 

[bubblegurl]

 

[1guydude]

calgary alberta...canada?
anyways...1st pic is a sponge..simple filter feeder! This is a good thing

2nd one to me looks like a bubble tip anemone!
i dont know how long ur system has been going but the nem looked okay in the 1st pic!
where are all the bubbles from btw?

 

[bubblegurl]

Yep Canada! Not sure where the bubbles have come from. Tank has been going since April this year so very young. The anenome showed up right after we cycled the tank so was on our live rock.
Showed a pic at the lfs and he thought it was majano, it's the size of a quarter and hasn't grown bigger than it is now. It's tips have started to get stubby at certain times of the day.
Yay about the sponge, it's spreading but we only have 3 corals in the tank at the moment and not near it.

 

[al&burke]

Welcome to the site Calgary Alberta

 

[bubblegurl]

Thanks Al in Ontario! Definitely the site with the most pics and info!

 

[florida joe]

As for the bubbles, they form in our tanks as the results of photosynthesis the good by algae the bad by an out brake of cyanobacteria. Are you using RO water and what are your nitrate readings?

 

[bubblegurl]

Using ro water and nitrates/nitrites have been 0. We just treated for cyano last week, 2 doses and then water change. The bubbles cleared this morning off the rock but still on the sponge.