Identity- Pink mass in chaeto

[mphammer]

Does anybody know what this is? Found it in my refugium
Tried doing a search but no luck.



Its a little smaller than a golf ball.
Seems spongy and soft

 

[Shawn]

I’m thinking sponge. Haha.

 

[mphammer]

I’m thinking sponge. Haha.

Thanks man. So I guess nothing to worry about?

 

[Shawn]

Thanks man. So I guess nothing to worry about?

Depends on the sponge. Lol. Some can be harmful. Most aren’t. I wouldn’t sweat it.

 

[jvb89]

Do you carbon dose for nutrient reduction?

 

[mphammer]

Do you carbon dose for nutrient reduction?

Yep started about 3 weeks ago

Sorry I read that too quickly. Nope, no carbon dosing

 

[jvb89]

If its just standard granular carbon your good. Carbon dosing can cause some pink weirdness.

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[jcook54]

If its just standard granular carbon your good. Carbon dosing can cause some pink weirdness.

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Good point. The pic looks like a sponge but I've seen weird pink slimy stuff when I used to dose carbon. It's some sort of bacterial growth but it can be shocking when you first see it.

 

[silentdeath5]

Looks like a dead fish head lol. When I was QTing all my fish a disgusting pink blob floated up from a PVC. I later realized it was my flame hawk

 

[mphammer]

Looks like a dead fish head lol. When I was QTing all my fish a disgusting pink blob floated up from a PVC. I later realized it was my flame hawk

My first thought! Really freaked me out, but I haven't lost any fish

 

[saltwaterwannabe]

Is it stringy when moving it around or more sponge like? It looks a lot like the stringy bacteria I had when dosing too much carbon also. If it is a sponge it should be fine. I’ve just never seen a sponge in my chaeto but I haven’t seen everything either

 

[mphammer]

Is it stringy when moving it around or more sponge like? It looks a lot like the stringy bacteria I had when dosing too much carbon also. If it is a sponge it should be fine. I’ve just never seen a sponge in my chaeto but I haven’t seen everything either

Definitely not stringy, it keeps its shape when I move it around. It looks like a really big piece of chewed up bubble gum with strings of chaeto and holes throughout.
Just running some granular carbon in a reactor and beginning very light 2-part dosing

 

[mphammer]

While trying to get a better pic with more lighting, I discovered I have sponges everywhere lol My entire sump and remote refugium is covered in them. Not a single one in the display, that I see. Most of them are white and look like this-




Are sponges considered a nuisance? Any potential for them to mess up the tank or pumps or equipment?

 

[york1]

Those are pineapple sponges very common in newer systems. They are harmless

 

[saltwaterwannabe]

Sponges are generally good, some of them even look cool. My sump is full of sponges.