Tiny critters

[MaineSalt]

I was just looking at my tank and where ever there is dark algae on the glass (in the corners on the silicone) I see tiny white specks moving around almost looks like they are eating it. What would these be?

 

[saltcreep1025]

They are probably copepods and/or isopods. A sign of a healthy tank and a good source of food!

 

[MaineSalt]

I bet I could count 50 or so just on the two front corners of the glass. They are tiny though probably the size of a thin pencil lead.

Hopefully this is a good sign my tank is cycled. Or maybe the two have nothing to do with one another.

Ill check my levels tomorrow

Thanks

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Your lucky to have them so soon, good luck!

 

[fishmonkey]

Those are extremely good for your tank! Many fish will eat them, and they are a sign of a healthy tank.

 

[MaineSalt]

Today I caught 6 of them and took them to work and put them under a microscope. Cool looking critters and one had live babies holding onto it and another had eggs. So hopefully more are having young and my population will grow. Thanks for the comments

 

[fishmonkey]

You have access to a microscope at work?!?!

 

[MaineSalt]

Ya we raise and process farmed salmon and have a microscope in the lab. Just put one on a slide and checked them out.

 

[fishmonkey]

That is too cool! It's amazing how much is in our tanks that we cannot see with the naked eye...

 

[Ericwm]

Yeah, one of these days when I have some extra spending money that I don't spend on fish or coral or a new tank I want to buy a microscope to look at my tank water at a different scale. I think it could be pretty interesting.

 

[mr_X]

I wish that microscope took pics!

 

[MaineSalt]

I tried putting my cell phone camera up to the lens but it didn't work.

 

[MaineSalt]

I have bubbles coming up out of my sand I can see them in the sand through the glass. Is this suppose to happen?