Colonial Hydroids!!!

9supratt4 · Nov 25, 2009

I believe I have colonial hydroids on a piece of Live Rock. I have heard that a Hydnophora will kill them...is this true?? Any other ways of getting rid of them??

Also, will a Hydnophora kill aiptasia??

Dave · Nov 25, 2009

I do not have any real world experience with colonial hydroids, but this article talks about them in depth and sites some top shell snails and nudibranches eat them.

http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/1097/1097_2.html

Nudibranch learchis poica is reported to be one of them, but I have not experience with them and do not know what else they may eat.

GregW · Nov 25, 2009

I don't think Hydno will kill them. Aiptasia X can control them but doesn't seem to eliminate them completely. Best thing to do is take the rock out (if you can) and blast them with a torch for a few seconds. If you do nothing they will take over your tank.

GregW · Nov 25, 2009

Is this the kind you have?

qwik · Nov 25, 2009

Take it from me they will spread . Mine did not spread at all so I left them and then they went crazy . I am actually using tweezers adn small siccors to try and get rid of them . If you can get that rock out do so, you can then burn them off . If you find a cure please let me know.

GregW · Nov 25, 2009

I killed off every one of them using a dog dewormer called Panacur. It's very potent stuff and it also killed the xenia and star polyps. Several people told me never to use it in a reef tank but I was desperate. I used about 1/4 of the recommended dose that people use to kill them in seahorse tanks. I think I used maybe 1/64th of a tsp on a 20 gallon tank.

http://www.seahorse.com/Frequently_Asked_Questions/Seahorse_Meds/Fenbendazole_%28Panacur%29/

9supratt4 · Nov 25, 2009

GregW said:
Is this the kind you have?

They are similar....not exactly. They have been in the tank for about 2 years...never spread of anything. Then I saw a post on another site about them and got worried. I just blasted them this afternoon with kalk paste. So far there aren't anymore "tentacles" out....so we will see. It's a very very small batch of them. And of course the rock is one of the rocks that holds everything else up, so getting it out isn't going to happen.

Gonzapa · Nov 25, 2009

While its is contained on a small spot you can use reef epoxy to encapsulate them.

As long as you completely cover them on the first shoot you are almost guaranteed no to see them again

9supratt4 · Nov 25, 2009

Gonzapa said:
While its is contained on a small spot you can use reef epoxy to encapsulate them.

As long as you completely cover them on the first shoot you are almost guaranteed no to see them again

Good idea....i'll do that now!!