Black sponge?

[Hondo]

I started noticing a big black spot growing on the stalk of my trumpet coral.

I was told that it was a black sponge.

Are they good or bad? Will they kill the trumpet coral? How do I remove it if I need too?

Thanks.

 

[Reef Nutrition]

There's quite a few sponges that are bad. This one is in a poor location (but not a bad one IIRC), I'd scrape it off and scrub the area with a tooth brush (do both outside of the tank). The ones you really want to avoid, for the most part, you cannot tell they are there... they are boring sponge and live inside the coral matrix.

 

[JAR]

ugly

 

[Hondo]

It must have grown when I did the 5 day blackout last week. Hopefully, it will not grow any bigger with the lights back on.

Any shrimp that eat it?

 

[Finnaddict]

Sponges filter nutrients from the water and will keep spreading. No, shrimp will not eat it.