Hydoids

[sshapero]

Well, I have hydoids. Not with my seahorses but in a 5 gallon tank I have been using for culturing copepods.
There is live sand, a few microstars and a sponge filter.
Can I get rid if the hydroids without killing the microstars? Is there a fish or other critter that eats hydroids(even thogh it will eat the pods)?

Advice please.

Thanks.

 

[lovethereefer]

In my local reef club a lot of guys got hydroids from the local stores. If they were on rocks they just took them out and took a blow torch to them--with no ill effects HTH

 

[cmsargent]

Keyhole Limpets and

The most foolproof method of getting rid of hydroids is to dose the tank with Panacur (fenbendazole). It's a dewormer that will kill the hydroids. Unfortunatly it will also kill the starfish. It won't hurt the pods though or bacteria in your sand and filter. If you can move the microstars I'd do that and then treat the tank.

There are a few critters that will eat hydroids. Keyhole limpets will eat them and these are probably the easiest predator to come by. It'll take the keyholes awhile to munch through your hydroid population as they don't actively seek them out but seem to eat them when they stumble across them.

I know there is a species of flatworm that eats them but I don't think its commonly sold in the trade.

 

[sshapero]

Great Advice. Thanks.