Sponge with tubes?

[anonome]

Good evening all, I have a very interesting question. I have had this sponge for quite awhile, about 10 months, and I have never seen tubes coming from it. What are these? Feeding tubes? Also can anyone help to identify it. It has been in the same spot for all this time. Has grown some. Any ideas will be helpful. Thanks!
First picture was taken when I didn't notice the tubes. Second one is of the tubes.

 

[poniegirl]

Check out my post in Photography forum, title is Getting There. I think we are trying to ID something similar.

 

[anonome]

Thanks ponygirl, I did check yours out. The tubes are very similar. I have done some research and I have found out that my sponge is a Stylotella Aurantium in the Halichohondrida family. I love Wetwebmedia.com it has a wealth of info in it!! I put a question into Robert Fenner to see if he can tell me what the tubes are.
Anyone out there know? I checked on the sponge tonight and the tubes are still there. Maybe it is getting ready to grow and this is how it does it?

 

[mudplayerx]

It looks like a common white sponge imported from live rock is growing on your yellow sponge.

 

[anonome]

You might be right about the white sponge idea, mudplayerx. I recently bought 6 beautiful pieces of buna branch live rock for the tank. I got a few wonderful hitchikers with it also. Two, that I know of, reddish orange brittle stars, a colony of green zoo's, and what looks like some sort of mushroom. :joy:

 

[stanlalee]

normal

 

[xdave]

Sorry to get a bit off the topic, but I just had to say your tank looks awesome! The colors are really spectacular.

 

[anonome]

Originally Posted by xDave
Sorry to get a bit off the topic, but I just had to say your tank looks awesome! The colors are really spectacular.
Thanks for the compliment! I really appreciate that.
I have found out that yes, the tubes are normal for a healthy sponge. :cheer: Yeah, all my hard work on the tank has paid off, this is a sign that the sponge is happy and better than that... thriving. Stanalee thanks for sharing your awesome picture! You too have a happy sponge.