Hydroids?

BC1906 · Dec 20, 2016

Are these hydroids or just a type of filter feeder? The ones in the picture have a green head and I have another patch that have red heads but are identical.

cloak · Dec 20, 2016

Yep, Colonial Hydroids.

Click on the Photos icon for more pictures.

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhikers-guide/hydroids-colonial/

TheEngineer · Dec 20, 2016

cloak said:
Yep, Colonial Hydroids.

Click on the Photos icon for more pictures.

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhikers-guide/hydroids-colonial/

+1. Get em out before they spread and you have a real problem on your hands

BC1906 · Dec 20, 2016

What's the best way to get rid of them? Super glue/epoxy or kalk paste?

TheEngineer · Dec 20, 2016

BC1906 said:
What's the best way to get rid of them? Super glue/epoxy or kalk paste?

Can you get that rock out? I wouldn't risk it with a colony that size. I'd just pull it.

BC1906 · Dec 20, 2016

Yeah but it's a pretty big rock. I also have some smaller patches on some other rocks

TheEngineer · Dec 20, 2016

BC1906 said:
Yeah but it's a pretty big rock. I also have some smaller patches on some other rocks

@twilliard has some recommended approaches for killing them. Febendazole (spelling?) is one, but it means you can't keep inverts in your tank anymore.

BC1906 · Dec 20, 2016

Could I take one rock out at a time and boil it? I don't really want to have to get 60lb+ of new rock

TheEngineer · Dec 20, 2016

BC1906 said:
Could I take one rock out at a time and boil it? I don't really want to have to get 60lb+ of new rock

Don't boil it! The issue with treating one rock at a time is you can't put it back in the tank with infected rock.

Breakthecycle2 · Dec 20, 2016

TheEngineer said:
@twilliard has some recommended approaches for killing them. Febendazole (spelling?) is one, but it means you can't keep inverts in your tank anymore.

No it doesn't. You can keep inverts. Only turbo snails and starfish will need to be taken out for a few days,

cloak · Dec 20, 2016

You could just smother the colony with some epoxy. It would be like putting chewed up bubble gum over them. You'll have this big white spot for awhile but eventually Coralline algae will take over and you'll never even know they were there.

BC1906 · Dec 20, 2016

I think I will try some epoxy first. I am not sure how my anemones and other corals will fair with the Febendazole. Should I take the rock out and try to get as much off of the rock and then put epoxy over it or just put it over the whole thing?

cloak · Dec 20, 2016

I would just put it over the whole thing. Start down by the base and then work your way up & around. Piece of cake.

meir · Dec 21, 2016

I have some colonies and they haven't bothered anybody, the baby jellies just get sucked into the back compartment so I don't understand what the problem with them is if u guys cld help me

Nebraska Reef · Dec 21, 2016

meir said:
I have some colonies and they haven't bothered anybody, the baby jellies just get sucked into the back compartment so I don't understand what the problem with them is if u guys cld help me

They overgrow your tank, pack a potent sting, and ruin everything. Get them out ASAP.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 21, 2016

meir said:
I have some colonies and they haven't bothered anybody, the baby jellies just get sucked into the back compartment so I don't understand what the problem with them is if u guys cld help me

Nebraska Reef said:
They overgrow your tank, pack a potent sting, and ruin everything. Get them out ASAP.

yup they can be bad. every tank is different. some get absorbed and eaten. some not so much. Im strting to get too many on obe rock in one tank, gonna dry it. The other tank I just glued puttied it. didnt spread etc.
I had fish rock and coral in a holding tank during a transfer once. and yes the sting will kill a small fish.

happyhourhero · Dec 21, 2016

I have a blenny that eats them. If you are around the gulf coast, they are plentiful.

Baldguy · Dec 21, 2016

The Lynx Nudibranch supposedly eats them. I never have found a place that sells them. I've read that emerald crabs will eat them as well as peppermint shrimp. Peps don't eat them in my tank.

gbr · Dec 22, 2016

I had white ones and they were in many locations on the rock when I had poor water conditions. I improved conditions and they virtually disappeared... only a few were visible. Over time I noticed my water condition getting more poor again and started to see more. Improved it and they went away. So for my tank and the white hydroids it seems that there could be a relationship to water quality.