Hydroids or feather dusters????? Pics inside

Octoberfest · 09/12/2006, 03:42 PM

Well on a couple pieces of my live rock I have something that I don't really care for that I would like to get rid of unless they prove to be reef safe.

I have seen Aiptasia in other tanks before and had one in mine and these by no means look ANYTHING like it. They look like tight groups of feather dusters but at the same time they are a bit different. The color is just as it is in the pictures, a redish brown. These are the best pictures I can get for now so hopefully someone can give me a positive I.D. on them now.

In this picture they are pretty much centered in the picture, one of the groups I have on that rock.

cropped close up same group same picture

Second picture there is a tight group in the upper right and a couple scattered groups throughout.

The third groups is next to a group of my Zoas so you can get an idea of the size. My Zoa heads are smaller than a dime. There are several groups in the picture but they will only look like small brown fuzz.

Octoberfest · 09/12/2006, 03:43 PM

They are very tiny, which is the reason the pictures aren't the greatest.

Seconds part of the question is if they are harmful, short of pulling the rock what are the methods of removing them? The two pices of rock they are on happen to be the nicest ones in the tank.

DSMpunk · 09/12/2006, 03:58 PM

Hydroids I believe.

I got rid of mine with good 'ol kalk paste. Then I removed the tubes with tweezers.

Octoberfest · 09/12/2006, 04:03 PM

any natural predators for these?

barjam · 09/12/2006, 04:27 PM

I had something that looked just like it that I never could get an ID for.

My yellow tang ate whatever it was.

dc · 09/12/2006, 04:32 PM

They are athecate hydroids and can take over. I'd kalk them.

chrismunn · 09/12/2006, 04:36 PM

you heard the woman. give 'em the kalk!
omg i cant believe im posting that

please dont kick me off RC!

Octoberfest · 09/12/2006, 04:44 PM

ok, school the idiot (me) on Kalk and what you guys/girls are talking about....a link would be fine too.

DSMpunk · 09/12/2006, 04:59 PM

Kalkwasser AKA Calcium Hydroxide AKA limewater. You can get the stuff made for reef tanks

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=TL1151

or get the same thing way cheaper at the grocery store. Its called Mrs Wages Pickling lime.

http://mrswages.stores.yahoo.net/mrswagpiclim.html

To make a kalk paste just mix a little bit of RO water with the powder and spread it on the hydroids. A syringe works best for this.

dc · 09/12/2006, 05:03 PM

And a turkey injector has a larger needle so you make it thicker.

rkelman · 09/12/2006, 06:09 PM

Or you could take a turkey baster and some boiling water and nuke em that would work too.

Octoberfest · 09/12/2006, 07:05 PM

now this doesn't get into the tank water and hurt any of the other live stock? what about the hydroids that I don't see?

LobsterOfJustice · 09/12/2006, 07:36 PM

I agree that they are hydriods, but I have had some on a rock for over 2 years and they have not hurt anything.

09/12/2006, 03:42 PM	#1
Octoberfest Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 1,350	Hydroids or feather dusters????? Pics inside Well on a couple pieces of my live rock I have something that I don't really care for that I would like to get rid of unless they prove to be reef safe. I have seen Aiptasia in other tanks before and had one in mine and these by no means look ANYTHING like it. They look like tight groups of feather dusters but at the same time they are a bit different. The color is just as it is in the pictures, a redish brown. These are the best pictures I can get for now so hopefully someone can give me a positive I.D. on them now. In this picture they are pretty much centered in the picture, one of the groups I have on that rock. cropped close up same group same picture Second picture there is a tight group in the upper right and a couple scattered groups throughout. The third groups is next to a group of my Zoas so you can get an idea of the size. My Zoa heads are smaller than a dime. There are several groups in the picture but they will only look like small brown fuzz.

09/12/2006, 03:43 PM	#2
Octoberfest Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 1,350	They are very tiny, which is the reason the pictures aren't the greatest. Seconds part of the question is if they are harmful, short of pulling the rock what are the methods of removing them? The two pices of rock they are on happen to be the nicest ones in the tank. __________________ 29 gallon bio-cube with 150w metal halide sunpod fixture, stock 14 gallon bio-cube

09/12/2006, 03:58 PM	#3
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	Hydroids I believe. I got rid of mine with good 'ol kalk paste. Then I removed the tubes with tweezers. __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

09/12/2006, 04:03 PM	#4
Octoberfest Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 1,350	any natural predators for these? __________________ 29 gallon bio-cube with 150w metal halide sunpod fixture, stock 14 gallon bio-cube

09/12/2006, 04:32 PM	#6
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	They are athecate hydroids and can take over. I'd kalk them. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/12/2006, 04:27 PM	#5
barjam Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,695	I had something that looked just like it that I never could get an ID for. My yellow tang ate whatever it was.

09/12/2006, 04:36 PM	#7
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	you heard the woman. give 'em the kalk! omg i cant believe im posting that please dont kick me off RC! __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

09/12/2006, 04:44 PM	#8
Octoberfest Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 1,350	ok, school the idiot (me) on Kalk and what you guys/girls are talking about....a link would be fine too. __________________ 29 gallon bio-cube with 150w metal halide sunpod fixture, stock 14 gallon bio-cube

09/12/2006, 04:59 PM	#9
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	Kalkwasser AKA Calcium Hydroxide AKA limewater. You can get the stuff made for reef tanks http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=TL1151 or get the same thing way cheaper at the grocery store. Its called Mrs Wages Pickling lime. http://mrswages.stores.yahoo.net/mrswagpiclim.html To make a kalk paste just mix a little bit of RO water with the powder and spread it on the hydroids. A syringe works best for this. __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

09/12/2006, 05:03 PM	#10
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	And a turkey injector has a larger needle so you make it thicker. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/12/2006, 06:09 PM	#11
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	Or you could take a turkey baster and some boiling water and nuke em that would work too.

09/12/2006, 07:05 PM	#12
Octoberfest Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 1,350	now this doesn't get into the tank water and hurt any of the other live stock? what about the hydroids that I don't see? __________________ 29 gallon bio-cube with 150w metal halide sunpod fixture, stock 14 gallon bio-cube

09/12/2006, 07:36 PM	#13
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I agree that they are hydriods, but I have had some on a rock for over 2 years and they have not hurt anything. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles