Hydroids-HELP!

BCOrchidGuy · #1 01-27-2009, 08:13 PM

Can you starve them?? IE stop feeding the tank or remove the rock and just let it be for a couple weeks?? I'm of the mind set you get them from over feeding but I may be wrong (again).

Douglas

Whatigot · #2 01-27-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCOrchidGuy

Can you starve them?? IE stop feeding the tank or remove the rock and just let it be for a couple weeks?? I'm of the mind set you get them from over feeding but I may be wrong (again).

Douglas

I have had some in a basement cooking tank with no heat and no food going on 7 months...
There may be a lot of stuff in the water column in that tank though, so maybe a poor example.

Overfeeding will not cause hydroids, though it will contribute to their success in your tank.

And if you do a little dd on Hydroids, which are distant relatives of jellyfish you'll find that a common natural solution to get them gone is to put some zoas nearby, which will naturally try and outcompete the hydroids (and vice versa) for light and space.
If you don't think they sting, touch one.
I dare ya.

here's some reading to get you started.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoanfaqs.htm

trilinearmipmap · #3 01-28-2009, 01:21 AM

I wouldn't use a blowtorch. The water within the live rock will turn to steam, then the rock will explode in your face.

I have a small patch of hydroids which not by coincidence is right under my feeding area. IME they grow with excess nutrients and recede when nutrient level go down.

I find the suction hose/filter sock in the sump trick while trimming the hyroids with scissors keeps them in check. I have some Aiptasia-X but I haven't tried it on my hydroids yet.

Whatigot · #4 01-28-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

I wouldn't use a blowtorch. The water within the live rock will turn to steam, then the rock will explode in your face.

I have a small patch of hydroids which not by coincidence is right under my feeding area. IME they grow with excess nutrients and recede when nutrient level go down.

I find the suction hose/filter sock in the sump trick while trimming the hyroids with scissors keeps them in check. I have some Aiptasia-X but I haven't tried it on my hydroids yet.

although you would have had to introduce the hydroids before they could take advantage of your excess nutrients.
They do not just come out of nowhere.

hockey nut · #5 01-28-2009, 11:06 PM

Hi Mike,

Depending on what type of rock they are attached to, they can be rooted very deep. I would remove the rock then chisle/bore/dig out the hydroid colony. Then I would fill the hole/gap with frag glue or epoxy in case I missed some of the root system. It's a pain in the *** but seemed to work well.

hth

Cheers

Frenchie · #6 01-30-2009, 02:32 PM

Mike, looks like im in the same boat. I found two paches of hydroids in my tank last night.

I filled a syringe with boiling water and tryed to burn them out. It seemed to help, but well see what things look like once the lights come on today.

My plan is to keep up with the "burn em out" technique and see what happens.

Let me know if you have any success.

justinl · #7 01-30-2009, 04:49 PM

i have quite a few patches of thecate hydroids (i was trying to wait them out but it's getting kind of silly now). when i get a chance, Im going to try "surgical strike" burning with a soldering iron. that way i won't bleach half my rock with boiling water; i usually apply boiling water by pouring a fresh kettle onto the infected patch (i like to be thorough).