Hydroids and aminos? (Also do they use silicate)

[Spare time]

Does anyone know if branching hydroids are capable of using free form amino acids, fatty acids, and carbs such as reef energy? If not, what EXACTLY do they eat? Everyone I have seen says they eat coral food and that is not helpful. They normally stay on one rock in my tank but recently have spread greatly. I haven't done anything different recently except heavily feeding reef energy to help a sick pearly bubble coral and some frags that got stressed. I normally feed this and phyto so I am not sure what is making them thrive compared to before. I do soak food more in what are basically fish oil additives (continuum omega 3 and hufa).

Also, do they use silica? My DI resin is nearing its end and I have noticed some sponges starting to grow a lot more or coming back so I am curious if my meter needs calibration (no clue how often that is needed)

 

[Spare time]

I also want to add that I have previously used reef energy heavily when my tank kept bottoming out phosphates and they were not a problem then.


My main concern is that I think they are killing of my palys on a rock. That rock is also being completely smothered by sponges that seem to have taken off lately for some reason.

 

[Jaden9933]

I’m having the same problem and would love some advice! I’ve got a couple different kinds of hydroids and the colonial ones are starting to cause some damage

 

[karsie]

Wondering the same

 

[sixty_reefer]

Can you share a picture of the hydroids

 

[Spare time]

They ended up not being much a problem at some point and the paly's came back. I am not home with the tank now and won't be for a period of time but I can share a pic in a month

 

[sixty_reefer]

They ended up not being much a problem at some point and the paly's came back. I am not home with the tank now and won't be for a period of time but I can share a pic in a month

Hydroids of some sort?

Can anyone id these? Lots in my tank. I think some might have stung corals, but not sure. The zoomed in pics are after their 'tentacles' retracted back in, but the tank shots kinda show more what they look like normally. Thank you!

www.reef2reef.com

This one’s?

 

[Spare time]

Hydroids of some sort?

Can anyone id these? Lots in my tank. I think some might have stung corals, but not sure. The zoomed in pics are after their 'tentacles' retracted back in, but the tank shots kinda show more what they look like normally. Thank you!

www.reef2reef.com

This one’s?

More translucent/white at the bases if I remember correctly.

 

[elysics]

I had success in keeping them at bay with a blue line Hermit (Calcinus elegans). Someone else here recommended them and I think it worked. Changed from me pulling finger sized bushes out all around the tank to maybe seeing a few polyps here and there.

Not sure if it's eating them, but it's ripping them out

It's definitely a hermit doing hermit things though, so glue down your corals properly