Hydroid bloom! [emoji24]

[Idaho Mojo]

Sorry for beating a dead horse with this topic.
Over the past 2 weeks I have noticed an explosion of digitate hydroids (yes I am sure that's what they are)
There are countless numbers of them all over the base substrate. I have had an alarming number (hundreds) of medusae appearing on the glass.
I believe my lawnmower blenny tried to eat one that was in some algae, and has since disappeared along with 3 chromis and 1 firefish. I have seen my 6 line try to peck at the hydroids. But loses interest immediately.
I have attempted manual removal, boiling water, lemon juice, starving the tank, etc. Nothing is working.

My question is, should I totally tank this tank and start over?
OR
Can I stock something that will kill or eat the hydroids?
OR
is there a confirmed way to treat the tank?

If so, at what cost/risk?

100 gal DT stock is currently:
1 blenny (missing)
3 firefish (1 missing)
3 chromis (missing)
1 damsel
1 6 line wrasse
Various zoa colonies
1 branching hammer coral
2 gsp colonies
1 daisy polyp colony
1 spiny sea rod
1 pink pincushion urchin (named Steve)
1 black rock urchin
20+/- various hermits
6 med-large turbos
Hundreds of baby caulerpa slugs everywhere
1 sand conch
1 live muscle (under zoa colony)
1 money cowrie
1 marginella
1 small porcelain crab (havent seen in 2 weeks)
Countless baby turbos, possibly colonistas
Some peanut worms
Cluster dusters
A couple spots of bubble algae (decreasing)
Diatoms (isolated to one rock, fluctuates as night time grazers appear after lights out)

30 gal Sump contains some hermits, one very well hidden emerald crab, chaeto, some hair algae and pods... so many pods

Calcium 450ppm
Salinity 1.025
Nitrates .25
Nitrites 0
Ammonia 0
Phosphates less than .25
Carbonate hardness ~140ppm
PH 8.0


Please help me with some advice on what to do! I'd hate to start over, but I understand that sometimes it's part of the hobby!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I assume it’s just a new tank bloom. Usually better filtration, feeding assembler and some coral snow will slow thier roll. But if it’s that bad.

Here’s something.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/here-it-is-fenbendazole-use-against-hydroids.214950/

It will kill Xenia , clove polyps and a couple other things. So research.

 

[Idaho Mojo]

I assume it’s just a new tank bloom. Usually better filtration, feeding assembler and some coral snow will slow thier roll. But if it’s that bad.

Here’s something.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/here-it-is-fenbendazole-use-against-hydroids.214950/

It will kill Xenia , clove polyps and a couple other things. So research.

The tank itself is about a year old where it sits, but it was relocated when I purchased it. It had been setup and neglected by previous owner for several years.

I will definitely keep this in mind as a last resort! My only worry with fenbendazole is the killing off of all the snails, which I cant even count how many, and in turn causing a severe ammonia spike from the die off.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Understood.

Try the steps above and see if it helps. The coral snow is a binder. It binds organic particles so it’s easier to remove with mech and skimmers.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kora...MI2Mnhr-zt3AIVD7nACh0FcgP4EAQYASABEgIngvD_BwE

Folks use it to make the water crystal clear. But a lot of folks have reported it’s helped with vermatid snails. Same problem , food availability.
Coral snow , skimmer socks , polishing cloth or floss on the return pump. No coral foods.
Some have also tried , with some reported success , hydrogen peroxide. Works similarly save it dissolves the particles.

 

[Idaho Mojo]

Understood.

Try the steps above and see if it helps. The coral snow is a binder. It binds organic particles so it’s easier to remove with mech and skimmers.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kora...MI2Mnhr-zt3AIVD7nACh0FcgP4EAQYASABEgIngvD_BwE

Folks use it to make the water crystal clear. But a lot of folks have reported it’s helped with vermatid snails. Same problem , food availability.
Coral snow , skimmer socks , polishing cloth or floss on the return pump. No coral foods.
Some have also tried , with some reported success , hydrogen peroxide. Works similarly save it dissolves the particles.

I will definitely follow your recommendations.
I have a 3 stage canister filter I could run as well. Which media would you recommend running to help with filtration? And what about a UV sterilizer?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Sure , UV is fine if you have it. Not a need. I’d just put floss and some carbon in the can. Check it in a week and see what you get. Check it again in another week.

I know having the can set up is generally awkward in the House. So you know , the starving out might take some time. Like a month or two.

 

[eatbreakfast]

What size tank? You could try some butterflies. Pyramid and longnose are some of the more reef safe species.

It is unlikely that the hydroids had anything to do with the missing fish.

 

[Mortie31]

Completely random answer, but I have colonial hydroids that plagued me for a year or more, they were driving me mad.. by a complete fluke I added a load of hermits and they ate the lot in a few months... I added red legged, blue legged and algae eating...