Another...WHAT IS IT????

[galovsredsox]

I have a piece of live rock that has some sort of growth on it. It looks to be growing from the inside out. I will try to describe what it looks like. It is white...almost a clear milky color. At first I thought it was aiptasia, but ruled that out when it started growing more. There are large "clumps" where some have grown together. Whatever it is has long tentacles like things coming out. It almost appears as though it has small hairs that are capturing particles. So to put all of the descriptions together...it's growing out of live rock, has long white/clear milky tentacle like features with very small hairlike features. Any clue as to what it could be?? Or any advice as to how I can find out what it is? Thanks a lot

 

[sandman3467]

From your description it sounds like you have a Sea Squirt,and you've got nothing to worry about....Sea squirts belong to the phylum Chordata, which includes all animals with a spinal chord, a supporting notochord (backbone), and gill slits at one point in their lives--everything from fish to humans. Tunicates have all these features as larvae, when they resemble tadpoles. Usually within 24 hours of planktonic life, the tunicate larvae will settle down on a hard surface and attach itself with adhesive organs. The tunicate then undergoes a transformation, rearranging its organs (absorbing its notochord, nerve cord and tail) and becoming a full grown sea squirt. Sea squirts possess both sex organs, but are unable physiologically to self-fertilize.

I have those everywhere in my tank as well. I dont think they will cause you any grief. Take it as a good sign...Things are growing! Just wait until you see a coral growing on your rock that you didnt put in the tank yourself. Now thats something to get excited about!

 

[Manofathousandpolyps]

Id have to say it sounds like those little white sponges that seem to run rampant in my tank.