How do I Get rid of Hydra growing in my tank?

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Taboojen

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 15, 2005
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So my planted tank is going well, as the plants are growing fast and healthy. However, I noticed this morning small freshwater hydra (green and white) have started to appear on the sides of my aquarium. Since I set up the tank around thanksgiving, i have yet to add any fishes, so I have not had a need to feed any animals in the tank.

The only other stuff i see in my tank (which the hydra my be feeding on) are a number of little white bug-like water flea things (pods?) on the glass as well. Else, I'm getting some snails + their eggs, which haven't harmed the plants so i'm leaving them be right now.

So with a planted tank, is there a way to get rid of the hydra colonies that are beginning to form, without tearing down the entire tank? Will shrimps take care of the problem? Any suggestions would be appreciated, as I read that hydra may be introduced into aquariums by either snails or found in roots of new plants.

Thanks! :)
 
Taboojen;1336473; said:
so any ideas on getting rid of these little buggers w/o harming my plants?
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they sound kind of cool, they are fresh water relatives of sea corals. how big do they get?

salt might work?
 
Drain all of the water and wipe dry with paper towels.
Then let air dry for 2 hours and then slowly refill with warm water...about 85-90 degrees. Put your tank heater around 84 degrees.
 
yourockit;1336785;1336785 said:
they sound kind of cool, they are fresh water relatives of sea corals. how big do they get?

salt might work?
Click to expand...
Salt will kill several plants, and is not a good option ever in a planted tank.
 
Thanks everyone. I'll try and manually remove them. Seems that they appeared after I got an influx of pods from a piece of driftwood w/ java moss on it. I removed the wood, and hopefully that'll limit the pod population in my tank.

Alas.. these little things are hard to remove.
 
WyldFya;1337543; said:
Salt will kill several plants, and is not a good option ever in a planted tank.
Click to expand...


wow, i had no idea. so most fw plants cannot survive the regular 1tblsp per five gallon dose that i maintain in my tank? weird.
 
I have used copper successfully with fish and plants to remove hydra but since you dont have fish yet it should be easier. I have also used an alum solution as a ten minute bath to clean plants of hydra/snail eggs etc. I dont think wiping or draining the tank is going to remove them. In fact I know it wont.

There is a lot of good info online if you google but this link is a good balenced view: http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Hydra.htm
 
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