Colonial hydroid eradication. Expert advice needed

[NY_Sea]

Throughout my reefing journey I have always used the principal that a natural approach to problems was the way to go and have always found a way to get my tank back in check. Bubble algae =mithrax crabs. Hair algae=tuxedo urchin other algae’s snails and tangs. Etc

My new issue has me at a loss and am looking for some guidance.

My tank has recently exploded with what I believe are colonial hydroids. Hoping someone can tell me natural ways to eradicate these from my system? Will take any and All advice. All I have heard to date was remove all live rock. Or dip in hydrogen peroxide. Hoping for an easier way.
Thanks

 

[shakacuz]

very difficult to confirm the ID due to the blue light. can you take another two pictures with white light instead?

also, do you dose any amino acids or sorts, or coral foods like benepets, reef chili, reef roids, etc? this feeds the hydroids if it is truly what you have.

 

[Kirin]

Yes those are colonial hydroids, I have them as well. They only corals I have that they bother are my zoas. Acros, monti, and palys don't care. I've only had luck with manual removal using a sharp pointed set of metal tweezers. I've read that a longspine urchin will eat them, but my tank is too small for one, so I've not tried that.

 

[1234lac]

I also have these.

I can tell you what does NOT work:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Aptasia X
- Scrubbing the live rock

I would love to know how to remove them without nuking my tank or starting over.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

No personal experience with removal, but this is what I've heard on removing them (keep in mind there a lot of different species of hydroids, and some may respond to one treatment while another may not):

I've heard smothering the hydroids with kalk paste may work, but here are some other threads with suggestions that might be helpful:

Hydroids: A reference to some strategies

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Hydroids: a reference to some strategies. Please add to the discussion here. Like many of us, I have had problems on and off over the years with Hydroids. The ones that have always given me the most problems are the common ones that...

www.reef2reef.com

Hydroids - How do I eliminate- They have taken over my tank

So I have this stuff that has pretty much taken over my tank and I can't get rid of it. I'm looking for an ID and an eradication plan that is anything short of a total teardown.

www.reef2reef.com

Fenbendazole dip for blue clove polyp/hydroids.

FYI So I had more than few blue clove and what i believe are hydroids pop up on a few frags and start spreading in the frag system. I didn't want to start out treating the whole system so I picked the most populated frags to treat. I mixed 1/4 gram of Fenbendazole with 1 cup of saltwater as a...

www.reef2reef.com

Edit: A relevant link in post 7 of the link above:

Here it is! Fenbendazole use against hydroids

Hi all! Well after getting a lot of questions about the use of fenbendazol I figured I would write this up. This is for informational purposes and I will not be held liable for improper use. Fenbendazol must be used exactly as I instruct or run the risk of a tank crash. Now lets get to it! So...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[NY_Sea]

 

[NY_Sea]

This is getting out of hand. Plague proportions. Anyone know if peppermint shrimp will Eat these ?

 

[NY_Sea]

Bumping up. What do you guys think
Of this growth. I know it’s ugly.

Any suggestions are what they are exactly or what to do?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

See if the pics in the links below are a match - if they are, you likely have jellyfish polyps:

Or jellyfish polyps, yeah - the clearest examples I know at the moment:

Are we sure these are colonial hydroids?

I found some of these in my tank- and I'm really not convinced that they're colonial hydroids. Every single ID thread I've come across has them labeled as colonial hydroids, but based on a few observations I've made, I'm not convinced. Here are some pics of the exact type I'm talking about...

www.reef2reef.com

Hydroid advice. - Reef Central Online Community

Hydroid advice. Reef Discussion

www.reefcentral.com

Edit: Just to add, these may not be tubes at all in a traditional sense - it may just be the hydroid's flesh.

Tubes with Green Florescent Top Edge

I bought some live rock from KP Aquatics. Can someone please help me identify what these tube like structures are? The tip of the tube is florescent green (three in middle of the picture). Are these vermitid snails or something else?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[NY_Sea]

I am still not sure what I have. Can anyone positively identify?

Found this article that may be a good source for others who have actual hydroids !!

Manta Systems

Meet the R1 Feeder, browse expert reef aquarium guides in The Reef Library, shop our book store, or check out our podcast—everything from Manta Systems.

www.mantasystems.net

 

[tll88]

Think I have the same. Only just started to grow heads on the left hand side. No coral as recently changed over to a new tank about 5months ago.
Rock can be removed would it best to cut it off and then bleach for a short time? Another one growing on a old piece of rock but not as big?

 

[NY_Sea]

I would cut that off asap before it starts to spread. This stuff ain’t pretty

 

[I3rendangalloway]

I've had luck with pygmy angels, both the atlantic and the flameback. Found once they were removed, the hydroids would return. Ended up going with a aptasia eating filefish - knocked them out within 3months. Also managed to eat my blue green sympodium but the issue was resolved. Once the filefish was removed, they came back.

 

[Tripod1404]

I wonder if there is a species of nudibranch that eats them. There is almost always a nudibranch species that is specialized to eat a specific type of benthic invertebrate.