Killing Hydroids?

nanO352 · 05/11/2008, 09:01 PM

How do you kill hydroids is it like killing an aiptasia?

sabazerehi · 05/12/2008, 12:02 AM

i have them too and was told to just use tweezers and pluck them out, haven't tried it yet though, otherwise i don't believe there's any other way of killing them.

buffalo123 · 05/24/2008, 07:55 AM

Don't wait get rid of them now, if not you will wish you did.

O-man21 · 05/24/2008, 08:32 AM

DO NOT use tweezers! They just spread from the base because you can never pluck it all out, and create more because they reproduce when they're stressed.

Chibils · 05/24/2008, 01:09 PM

Ask the seahorse forums; hydroids are a common problem over there as they sting and kill seahorses.

buffalo123 · 05/28/2008, 12:23 PM

will check it out

rjsilvers · 05/28/2008, 01:14 PM

I inherited some on a rock... Took the rock out and scrubbed it with steel wool in fresh water and put it back in the tank.

It didn't help. They just came back the next day...

Someone gave me the suggestion to just chip the rock away where the hydroids are and I am beginning to think that's the only way to remove them...

buffalo123 · 05/28/2008, 03:19 PM

I've come to the conclusion that hydroid have the potential to defeat the reef hobbyist. Causing them to toss out thousands of dollars in reef rock in an effort to get rid of hydroids. No reef safe predators fish or invertebrae, No chemical that will not kill your other coral. Sure some suggest panacur but thats definitely not reef safe although it will kill the hydroids.
Unlike the problem with flatworms no one has come up with a remedy for hyroid pest. Scrubbing boiling and using tweezer is fine if you have a few but if per chance they get away or you fail to see them behind the rock for a few months you got problems.
Lets hope some one out there is seriously working on bring in a reef safe predator or a target chemical. For those who have never had them, you will sooner or later as they hitch hike on rock shells etc

buffalo123 · 06/05/2008, 01:37 PM

We even have those who breed ans sell nudibranch specificaly for eating aptasia. Where is the hydroid reef safe predator. Who is working on it?

phenom5 · 06/05/2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

How do you kill hydroids?

Aquabucket · 06/05/2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by O-man21
DO NOT use tweezers! They just spread from the base because you can never pluck it all out, and create more because they reproduce when they're stressed.

Not true. If you keep plucking away and siphoning at the same time eventually what's left will starve and die off. Its a tedious job but I've done it many times. Diligent manual removal is the only way I know to get them eradicated.

xtopher_vw · 06/05/2008, 02:32 PM

Blow torch is about the only method that REALLY works

kiknchikn · 06/05/2008, 02:34 PM

I had great success getting rid of hydroids by plucking them off as best as I could and then covering that spot with a very healthy dose of super glue gel. Haven't seen one since

buffalo123 · 07/05/2008, 04:06 PM

So far this is an observation no feeding the tank phyto as they seem to grow faster. I notice that low calcium make them easier to pluck off or syphon. However when they open they still look quite healthy. I did not add calcium to the aquarium for about 3 weeks.
I notice sometimes they close up for days; have not figured out why yet, then they open and of course look healthy.

buffalo123 · 07/14/2008, 04:00 PM

Losing the battle with them ,hoping for a die off.
Thinking of giving up on this one.

kiknchikn · 07/14/2008, 04:07 PM

Sorry to hear that

buffalo123 · 07/19/2008, 07:55 AM

Tried raising calcium now, so far they seem to like it.
And looking healtier than ever.

buffalo123 · 10/16/2008, 09:43 AM

Extra high magnesium with a rise in calcium not a good idea the hydroid did not look too healthy but neither did the corals. I lost the few stoney corals i had. ( montipora) only a small piece survived & not looking too good. Did water changes things improving. Will have to start liking them i guess. lol

psteeleb · 10/16/2008, 10:03 AM

I had a small patch that was stinging a coral. I covered them in some kalc paste, they never returned. It was a long time ago so I don't recall if I hit them once or a couple times. HTH

Drakis · 10/16/2008, 10:19 AM

I have had many battles with them, I kalk paste seemed to work the best.

05/11/2008, 09:01 PM	#1
nanO352 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 564	Killing Hydroids? How do you kill hydroids is it like killing an aiptasia?

05/24/2008, 01:09 PM	#5
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	Ask the seahorse forums; hydroids are a common problem over there as they sting and kill seahorses. __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning

06/05/2008, 02:34 PM	#13
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	I had great success getting rid of hydroids by plucking them off as best as I could and then covering that spot with a very healthy dose of super glue gel. Haven't seen one since __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

07/14/2008, 04:07 PM	#16
kiknchikn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 1,556	Sorry to hear that __________________ I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society (CMAS). If you're in the Maryland area check us out! Current Tank Info: 30g nano reef

10/16/2008, 10:03 AM	#19
psteeleb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 5,249	I had a small patch that was stinging a coral. I covered them in some kalc paste, they never returned. It was a long time ago so I don't recall if I hit them once or a couple times. HTH __________________ A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner Current Tank Info: 110g Mixed Reef, LED's & T5's

05/12/2008, 12:02 AM	#2
sabazerehi Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, 90049 Posts: 2,491	i have them too and was told to just use tweezers and pluck them out, haven't tried it yet though, otherwise i don't believe there's any other way of killing them.

05/24/2008, 07:55 AM	#3
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	Don't wait get rid of them now, if not you will wish you did.

05/24/2008, 08:32 AM	#4
O-man21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 141	DO NOT use tweezers! They just spread from the base because you can never pluck it all out, and create more because they reproduce when they're stressed.

05/28/2008, 12:23 PM	#6
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	will check it out

05/28/2008, 01:14 PM	#7
rjsilvers Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 537	I inherited some on a rock... Took the rock out and scrubbed it with steel wool in fresh water and put it back in the tank. It didn't help. They just came back the next day... Someone gave me the suggestion to just chip the rock away where the hydroids are and I am beginning to think that's the only way to remove them...

05/28/2008, 03:19 PM	#8
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	I've come to the conclusion that hydroid have the potential to defeat the reef hobbyist. Causing them to toss out thousands of dollars in reef rock in an effort to get rid of hydroids. No reef safe predators fish or invertebrae, No chemical that will not kill your other coral. Sure some suggest panacur but thats definitely not reef safe although it will kill the hydroids. Unlike the problem with flatworms no one has come up with a remedy for hyroid pest. Scrubbing boiling and using tweezer is fine if you have a few but if per chance they get away or you fail to see them behind the rock for a few months you got problems. Lets hope some one out there is seriously working on bring in a reef safe predator or a target chemical. For those who have never had them, you will sooner or later as they hitch hike on rock shells etc

06/05/2008, 01:37 PM	#9
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	We even have those who breed ans sell nudibranch specificaly for eating aptasia. Where is the hydroid reef safe predator. Who is working on it?

06/05/2008, 02:32 PM	#12
xtopher_vw Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 195	Blow torch is about the only method that REALLY works

07/05/2008, 04:06 PM	#14
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	So far this is an observation no feeding the tank phyto as they seem to grow faster. I notice that low calcium make them easier to pluck off or syphon. However when they open they still look quite healthy. I did not add calcium to the aquarium for about 3 weeks. I notice sometimes they close up for days; have not figured out why yet, then they open and of course look healthy.

07/14/2008, 04:00 PM	#15
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	Losing the battle with them ,hoping for a die off. Thinking of giving up on this one.

07/19/2008, 07:55 AM	#17
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	Tried raising calcium now, so far they seem to like it. And looking healtier than ever.

10/16/2008, 09:43 AM	#18
buffalo123 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,092	Extra high magnesium with a rise in calcium not a good idea the hydroid did not look too healthy but neither did the corals. I lost the few stoney corals i had. ( montipora) only a small piece survived & not looking too good. Did water changes things improving. Will have to start liking them i guess. lol

10/16/2008, 10:19 AM	#20
Drakis Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vancouver, WA (the Couve) Posts: 241	I have had many battles with them, I kalk paste seemed to work the best.