Is this a very bad sign?

[madrefkepr]

As per my previous pos, I got a mushroom rock today. I didn't notice it until I got home, but there is what I thought was some type of yellow encrusting sponge on it. Within an hour of putting it in the tank, it started turning a deep shade of purple. Checked pH, ammonia, nitrates, nitrite, everything is excellent. Any comments?

 

[Anonymous]

IIRC, sponges do not commonly survive exposure to air.

 

[stlfishguy]

Yes, my LFS told me not to ever expose a sponge to air. They said if you do, they will die in your tank and foul your water. That's why I would recommend a water change.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think this is a problem unless it is a very small tank. Yes sponges often die after exposure to air, but hitchhiker sponges on corals are not large enough to impact water quality, andf if your ammonia, nitrates, nitrite look great, I wouldn't worry.

 

[stlfishguy]

good point----I actually read the original post wrong. I thought the WATER was turning purple.

 

[Anonymous]

It is common for sponges to dieoff after exposure to air. Unless it is a large sponge and/or a small tank I wouldn't worry. I had a yellow sponge that partially died, but it didn't take long for the sponge to grow back where it had died. The encrusting sponges grow pretty quick. The sponge actually grew over some of my star polyps.

 

[madrefkepr]

Thanks, everyone. The sponge is no longer turning purple, and what was purple is becoming yellow again. Looks like I may have panicked over nothing .

Dave