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Hydroids?

C

concept3

Guest
what-is-this.jpg




I originally thought they were some kind of feather dusters, but after a 3 month growth explosion in my tank, they seem to be making the SPS they touch aggravated to they point where the polyps recede. (thanks Francis for pointing that out, lol- I was oblivious)

It looks like they are harming the corals, how do I rid my tank of them, and any suggestions on natural control? (fish/inverts) I've already taken a lot out with a pair of tweezers, there are a lot more out of reach~ thanks in advance!
 
panmanmatt

panmanmatt

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Yup, colonial hydroids is what they are. As you can tell, they pack a potent sting for such a small creature.

Only thing I can tell you is to try and manually remove them. You may have to actually cut away the part of the rock they are on to remove them. I am unaware of any natural predators of them.

And the only chemical treatment is NOT reef safe.
 
M

mladencovic

One thing you could possibly try would be a Copper Banded Butterfly fish. They are supposed to eat small featherdusters and similar tube building worms on LR and sometimes even aptasias, so you might be lucky. Of course they are notoriously finicky eaters and not so hardy fish, so it is not a sure thing.
 
J

JerseyWendy

Merv, bear in mind this is coming from me - the newb. :-[

I had 1 rock that "had" colonial hydroids, but unfortunately it was the rock that had my Candy Cane and 4 rather pretty Zoas/Palys attached to it, too. I researched until I was blue in the face, and became more and more discouraged since those suckers appear to be extremely resilient and a royal PITA. I resorted to extreme measures by removing the rock and putting a flame thrower to it. :eek: I was sure I was going to lose the attached corals, but to this date have not. Of course I burnt off all the coralline algae, but who cares, that's going to come back in time.

It's been 3 weeks since I took those drastic measures, and so far I've yet to find a single hydroid. (knock on wood) :)

---
Wendy
 
panmanmatt

panmanmatt

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
JerseyWendy said:
Merv, bear in mind this is coming from me - the newb. :-[

I had 1 rock that "had" colonial hydroids, but unfortunately it was the rock that had my Candy Cane and 4 rather pretty Zoas/Palys attached to it, too. I researched until I was blue in the face, and became more and more discouraged since those suckers appear to be extremely resilient and a royal PITA. I resorted to extreme measures by removing the rock and putting a flame thrower to it. :eek: I was sure I was going to lose the attached corals, but to this date have not. Of course I burnt off all the coralline algae, but who cares, that's going to come back in time.

It's been 3 weeks since I took those drastic measures, and so far I've yet to find a single hydroid. (knock on wood) :)

---
Wendy
Click to expand...

I would definitely classify that as drastic measures.
 
J

JerseyWendy

AnDom1 said:
Wow!!!! Gentle Wendy Blow Torching Corals!!! :eek: LOL Perhaps I should do the same on my aptasia!!! :p

Dom
Click to expand...

ROFLMAO. I tried really, REALLY hard to keep the heat away from the corals. ::) Oh, and I had Alex going crazy at work, knowing I was "playing" with a torch. ;D

Hey, as long as it did the trick, right?

---
Wendy

PS. Here are two VERY crappy picture of said rock BEFORE irradicating those hydroids.
Hydroids1.jpg


Hydroids2.jpg
 
S

sinkingbeach

It was actually Merv who introduced me to the Creme Brulee Torch
2588213057451P.JPG

so I don't think he's going to have any difficulties using this method ;D ;D
 
jimroth

jimroth

I suffered a lot with the other kind of hydroids, that look like dandelions, myronemia. I never found anything that would eat them --copperbands won't -- and the only thing that works is physical removal or total darkness for a couple months.
 
C

concept3

Guest
RichT said:
A face full of Kalk slurry won't do it?
Click to expand...


Too close to the corals' bases.... kinda want another fish too, lol



Thanks guys, manual it will have to be then *sigh* unless someone want to make hydroid brulee for me....
 
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