Hydroid control?

[TampaSnooker]

I've got a bunch of hydroids in my girlfriend's new tank. They are brown and have a stalk that is about 1/4 - 3/8 inch with a little pom pom on top. They also tend to grow in little clusters. They hurt or killed several zoa frags in that area before we noticed them.
I can't scrub them off - they are like plastic thread and don't let go of the rock. Are there any known predators or control? So far my best idea was to simply smother them with epoxy.

 

[TwentyTwenty]

Hi Tampa, I posted a thread a month or 2 ago about some Emerald crabs I bought at Petco. The first thing they ate in 2 different tanks where the hydroids you discribed. I couldn't believe it. I have had Emeralds before and they never even looked at the hydroids. Maybe it was they were starving and ate the first thing they saw. Or maybe Petco has hydroid eating Emeralds. It's worth a shot if you are near a Petco. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[TampaSnooker]

Hope you are right - and what a great coincidence - just added an emerald to deal with some valonia that "popped" up. Will keep an eye on him.

Thanks for the input - I grew up near you. I'm from Cohasset, originally...

 

[TwentyTwenty]

I hope it was a Petco emerald. The lfs emeralds aren't work their weight in salt. (lol) Maybe I should try to breed them and sell them for outrageous amounts of money. Oh wait, then I would be a lfs. Good luck and enjoy your weather.