creature explosion

[ThePika]

Week three of new tank; I just have live rock/sand in the tank. I noticed today I have a large population of tiny white creatures that are clinging to the sides of the tank. I'd take a picture but they are so tiny I don't think I could pick them out without a lot of distortion. Are these copepods?

 

[mr_X]

they could be. are they moving? if not they are little tiny curly-Q fan worms. if they are moving, they are some sort of pods.

 

[ThePika]

Yes, they do move about. Cool, I'm assuming this is a good sign...

 

[mr_X]

life is always a good sign :wink:

 

[Mthompson]

I have a bunch of those little curly-q things all over my display and sump. Do they get any bigger? And will they ever go away?

 

[mr_X]

no, and no...lol.

they go away best when you scrape them off with a blade. i just leave them alone...i don't want to kill the little buggers.

 

[Mthompson]

Sounds good X. They stay off the sides and front 'cause I have to use the mag-float often! The back of my display is covered, though. I thought they were maybe baby snails or something, but they just never grew....oh, well

 

[mr_X]

oddly enough, i only have them in my overflows and sump on this system. a crap-load of them in there, but none on the inside of the tank. maybe it's because there is way too much light for them in there. -i only scrape the front pane.

 

[Mthompson]

I bet the light has a lot to do with their location. There is a definite gradient of their population - with highest density being under the overflow boxes (in shadow) and lower density as you get out in the open areas of the pane.