𝑩𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒔: 𝑻𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍 - Manta Systems Article

[Tamara Marshall]

 

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞! 

"𝑩𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒔: 𝑻𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍"

Hydroids, those pesky and often overlooked pests in marine aquariums, can be a real nuisance, but managing them effectively is crucial for the health of your reef. From their sneaky appearances to their sting operations, hydroids are more than capable of disrupting the harmony of your aquatic environment. This article arms you with essential knowledge and strategies to identify, control, and prevent hydroids from overtaking your cherished reef tank.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫:

1. Key characteristics that help identify hydroids in your aquarium.

2. Effective methods to control and eradicate hydroids without harming your marine life.

3. Preventive measures to keep these unwelcome guests from returning.

Whether you're a seasoned aquarist or new to the hobby, understanding how to deal with hydroids is vital. Equip yourself with the right techniques and turn the tide against these invasive organisms.

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://www.mantasystems.net/a/blog/post/Hydroids

[Squishie89]

I ended up dismantling my display due to hydroids. Ended redoing the entire system and tank. Glad they are being shared more as a problem than just a temporary thing to not worry about. 

[Tamara Marshall]

17 hours ago, Squishie89 said:

I ended up dismantling my display due to hydroids. Ended redoing the entire system and tank. Glad they are being shared more as a problem than just a temporary thing to not worry about. 

They are a huge problem and can kill all the corals. I have them in one of my display tanks at work and I am still battling them.

[DaJMasta]

Any ideas for hydroid control in larval tanks?  I've lost a fair number of runs because some small amount of hydroids got into my egg or larva collection water or, when trying to raise them in-tank, from some getting in through another means and taking hold in the area for the larva.

 

It's sort of a perfect storm of very sensitive organisms (high flow and predators aren't an option) you want to keep and very high food availability, so I guess is there any recommendations to check for or otherwise clean a sample or a vessel to reduce the chances of them growing in early?

[Tamara Marshall]

19 minutes ago, DaJMasta said:

Any ideas for hydroid control in larval tanks?  I've lost a fair number of runs because some small amount of hydroids got into my egg or larva collection water or, when trying to raise them in-tank, from some getting in through another means and taking hold in the area for the larva.

 

It's sort of a perfect storm of very sensitive organisms (high flow and predators aren't an option) you want to keep and very high food availability, so I guess is there any recommendations to check for or otherwise clean a sample or a vessel to reduce the chances of them growing in early?

So I usually bleach my larval water if I think there might be issues from the start (obviously before eggs or larvae are added). Have you tried a hydrogen peroxide bath for the eggs?

[DaJMasta]

I haven't, I imagine it's not an option at all for free swimming larvae, but the eggs may be durable enough to withstand it.  Do you think this would be like a few minutes of a bath with relatively low concentration like a coral dip?

[Tamara Marshall]

2 hours ago, DaJMasta said:

I haven't, I imagine it's not an option at all for free swimming larvae, but the eggs may be durable enough to withstand it.  Do you think this would be like a few minutes of a bath with relatively low concentration like a coral dip?

No, it isn't possible for the larvae, but bleaching the water ahead of time makes a big difference. What kind of eggs are you working with?