ID small critters

[stanleo]

I have had my tank setup for a month cycling and getting a lot of green algae. Today I noticed all over the glass there are a lot of tiny critters running around. They are white and smaller than the eye of a needle. Are these copepods of some kind? I never actually added them to the tank.

 

[Florida Sunshine]

Sounds likely. Did you start the tank with live rock?

 

[stanleo]

Sounds likely. Did you start the tank with live rock?

Yup. Cool, I won’t have to buy those

 

[stanleo]

I caught a couple and looked at them under a microscope and I’m fascinated. A quick google found an image is what they look like

 

[Florida Sunshine]

Oh, they will quickly become a snack for someone. Everything eats them. I buy a bag now and then to supplement my reef, but it is great that you are starting with a solid population.

 

[Tastee]

I had lots of Copepods and Amphipods in my tank from months 1-5. After that the fish ate them. I’m sure they found them very tasty (-:

I now have lots of Cs in the return section of my sump filled with Marine Pure blocks and more Cs in my skimmer section. I also find a few in my Filter bags when I clean them. Some As but not many.