What is this on the back of my tank?

[jmet]

I have found this scattered spread of small white things on the back of my tank for the second time now, the first time the 3 stripe damsels picked until gone.. now about 7-10 days later they are back but in a different place.

I was inclined at first to think its my two perc clowns laying eggs but since im a noob at this I thought I would pose the question to the pros.

I have, 3 three stripe damsels (teh devil), yellow tang, blue tang, purple damsel, blue damsel, maroon clown, 2 perc clowns.

 

[electrikat]

Can't get a good look at them but are they kind of spiral shaped?

 

[jmet]

They are VERY small, but yes I feel that have a foot ball shape to them, and whitish clear in color.

 

[AquaBear]

Are they moving around (in teeny-tiny little circles) or are they stationary? If you see movement, they might be pods. I didn't know what they were when I first got them either. If they ARE, then that's a good thing.

Hope that helps.

--Aquabear

 

[jmet]

I defiantly saw movement, they are well below power head level and they seem to move independently of one another IE: not all in the same direction.. but again they are very small and hard to see exactly whats going on.

 

[AquaBear]

Definitely sounds like pods (copepods, amphipods). These are tiny little detritivores and will help perform the last stage of nitrification. They are also very delicious for tank inhabitants. I have them growing in my tank, and everytime one of the snails or starfish finds a patch of them, it eats them voraciously, leaving clean glass behind.

I asked the same question in one of the SW forums a few months back (I thought it was ich or some other parasite) and the feedback consensus was that the presence of pods is an indicator of a very healthy tank. In fact, in the refugium I'm building, I plan on trying to cultivate them to help feed my flock.

I'm by no means a pro, but I think you're just fine.

--Aquabear