Hundreds of tiny white bugs on glass

[elvis]

They look like little mites. Anyone know what these might be? Are they good or bad?

Thanks

E

 

[NaH2O]

Elvis - Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!!

Sounds like they are probably a pod of some sort. A good thing, for sure. They are an important part of your tanks biodiversity.

Here is a link to Bitty Bugs: Copepods in the Reef Aquarium

This is a link to one of our sponsors that sells copepods, but I wanted to link you to this pic: Copepods or Amphipods?

There are also Isopods: Pills, Parasites, and Predators: Isopods in the Reef Aquarium

 

[snobanker]

Hey Big E...I had the same question when I first saw my pods....it's a great thing...I was told that it was a good sign that my tank ws healthy and thriving....After those pods showed up I started seeing all kinds of different codepods and amphipods and stuff. Some are kind of big. Up to 3/8" or so and look like little tiny shrimp kind of. Check out your tank at night with a red filtered flashlight.

 

[elvis]

I had noticed the amphipods before. They have gone crazy. Couldn't tell you how many are in there now. The "mites" are definitely copepods. They are everywhere. I haven't put any fish in my tank yet. I was going to finish with my corals before I added any fish. Will these guys continue to thrive after fish are added? I have a fuge below the tank with rubble, macro and light. They are everywhere down there too. I am going to purchase some mysid shrimp and try and get them established before the fish. I have a 55gal. with the corallife 260 watt pc with lunar lights. About 70- 80lbs of live rock. Reef devil skimmer plus the refugium. I've added 4 "easy" corals so far. The water tests great. (Amon. nitrites, nitrates, ph, phosphate, dkh, calcium etc...) I guess I'm on the right track.

Do you guys use carbon? If so how?

Thanks for all the help! This site is great!

E

 

[snobanker]

Sounds good E. I run carbon 24/7 in a mesh bag I keep in the compartment of a biowheel HOB filter. I don't have the wheels or filters in it any more(nitrate factory) I just use it for a little extra flow and a place to put carbon ect for now. Lots of people do it different here, so you should get lots of opinions on it.

 

[NaH2O]

I use carbon in a bag in the sump. It is between one set of baffles, so the water flows through it on its way back to the tank.

Here is a poll from awhile back on Carbon Use.

 

[elvis]

So I should soak the carbon in ro for a day or so before use? I have an Aquaclear 110 I could use for carbon. Can you use this in combination with Phosguard or similar product?

My tank developed a little bit of a black film on some of the rock in lower light area's. My lfs said it was a bacteria and that carbon combined with upping my water changes would get rid of this stuff. What do you guys think?

One more thing. I have a 6"x6" rock covered in mushrooms. Every now and then something behind the shrooms shoots out this white milky looking stuff. Anyone know what this is? Sorry for so many questions. Just trying to do this right.

Thanks

E

 

[elvis]

My lfs said this the shrooms maybe trying to reproduce. It looks to me like the stuff is shooting out of a tiny barnacle or something.

E

 

[NaH2O]

Elvis - There are a number of possiblities. Snails will sometimes do this (I had a Trochus mass spawning event), as do Stomatellas and clams. If you can get a pic of where you think it is coming from, that may help narrow it down. Its neat when you start studying all the little things in a tank. Spirorbid polychaetes always fascinate me (the small spirals that appear on the back glass of a new tank), as do vermetid snails. Amazing all the little critters in there.

 

[elvis]

I'll try to get a pic.

Its coming from about three different places under the shrooms. Each place looks like a tiny barnacle. A little larger than a pin head. Each one throws out a small line or two sometimes three and drags it across the sand and then sucks it back in with whatever is stuck to it. Then about every 30 minutes to an hour one of them shoots out this white liquid with what looks like small seeds in it.

Very strange. Just don't want it to foul the water.

E