Sponge on Hammer?

[Spyro_UK]

Hey all,

Just wondered if anyone can ID something that's growing on my hammer...

I'm guessing it's a type of sponge, will it cause any problems to my hammer? And if so how would you go about removing it?

Thanks

 

[Macsreefs]

I just had a sponge on my hammer that grew similar to this… this seems like a different type possibly. I just used a toothbrush with a hydrogen peroxide bath/soak. Rinse after of course. Might need to do 2x.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I'm guessing it's a type of sponge, will it cause any problems to my hammer? And if so how would you go about removing it?

Definitely a sponge - it probably won't cause any problems if it hasn't already:

Most sponges are completely harmless/beneficial, but some can be invasive and/or harmful to corals (thankfully, these are rare).

To tell if a sponge is chemically harmful: if a healthy, established coral starts closing up or looking to be in bad shape on the side closest to the sponge as the sponge grows closer to it, and nothing else has happened (lighting changes, parameter swings, pests, etc.) that could explain it, then the sponge is probably chemically harmful.

Chemically harmful sponges are very rare.

For invasive sponges: unless it shows signs of being chemically harmful or starts actively growing over and smothering a coral's flesh/polyps, it's harmless. These can grow over the skeletons of corals, around the base/stalks of corals, even up into the water column above corals (where they're over the coral but not growing on the flesh or polyps themselves), etc. without harming the coral at all - as long as the coral flesh and polyps can get food, light, and flow, the sponge is harmless.

Invasive sponges are moderately rare.

Invasive and chemically harmful sponges are incredibly rare.

For removal if wanted:

For removal in case it is a sponge, my post linked below has some ideas you can try - you may also be able to try smothering it using DIY reef snow or similar, but there's no guarantee there:

Is this a pest?

Dear friends, Tonight i recognised that one of the polyp was closed and saw something weird on it? What do you think it is? Should i worry? Thanks, Ozgur

www.reef2reef.com

If you decide to try the Fenbendazole or something similar, then please post back here and let us know how it goes - while harmful sponges are rare, a more effective treatment to eliminate them would be appreciated by the unlucky few who have them show up.

 

[Spyro_UK]

Definitely a sponge - it probably won't cause any problems if it hasn't already:

For removal if wanted:

Thanks @ISpeakForTheSeas & @Macsreefs

I think I'll leave it be for a little while longer and keep a close eye on it.

I kinda like the look its got going... but not at the expense of losing my hammer... First signs of the hammer being affected and its gone

 

[Macsreefs]

Thanks @ISpeakForTheSeas & @Macsreefs

I think I'll leave it be for a little while longer and keep a close eye on it.

I kinda like the look its got going... but not at the expense of losing my hammer... First signs of the hammer being affected and its gone

It won’t/ shouldn’t harm the bigger heads…. The smaller ones it will harm tho … you can see the bigger heads don’t mind but it did kill off my tiny babies …. (Photo taken at night with lights turned on)