Hydroids on Zoas

[mildew]

Have searched the material at the beginning of this forum and gone through many days of threads and posting and not found "hydroids" mentioned. My tank has a heavy infestation of what has been identified as hydroids and they are taking out the zoas. Every colony of zoas that has become infested with hydroids and not treated with a fresh water dip has died. With a fresh water dip the hydroids disappear, but not all colonies and rock can be dipped, so treated colonies are open to reinfection and this has occurred. Treating all the rock would require tearing the whole tank apart and dipping every piece of rock and there's 120 pounds of that. Actually to do that it would be easier to drain all the salt water and fill the tank with fresh water and there goes everything with no guarantee of elimination of the hydroids. Are hydroids not a problem to others? Have I missed the discussion and treatment indicating I'm out of date and hydroids were yesterdays problem? Is there any help out there or do I just forget about having zoas in my tank and miss one of the high lights of salt water?

 

[raider77]

Can you post a picture of the hydroids or describe them?

 

[mildew]

raider 77, Since you asked, here they are. I understand there are many different hydroids and this is the one I have. They are everywhere in the tank, well, I mean on all the rock. None have appeared on the glass so far and so far they don't seem to bother other corals.

 

[mildew]

Bump. Should I move this to a different forum? Without some help I'll never have zoas I can brag on.

 

[Bebo77]

never seen them before? try asking Chris in this thread... he knows about all saltwater stuff....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=9271600#post9271600