Little white critters

[Marine Reefer]

So I got back from vacation to find thousands of little white critters in my tank all of the tank. At first I thought they were copepods but now I’m thinking different. They don’t seem to be messing with the fish or coral, but I’m guessing they shouldn’t be in there. Any help is appreciated, should I be worried. Pics to follow

 

[Gtinnel]

I realize that taking decent pictures inside the aquarium of small animals is hard but I can't really make much out from the pictures. A close up of a single one would be best for identifying..

A description can also help with identifying hitch hikers. Do they look like little bugs, worms, etc? We're they on the rocks, glass, both?

When I zoom in on a few it looks like they may be copepods, but I wouldn't be comfortable at all sayings that's what they were from the pics.

 

[Marine Reefer]

 

[Marine Reefer]

They look almost like fleas. That’s probably a terrible description but. I just don’t remember pods deign that big.

 

[littlebeard]

Looks like Amphipods. Almost 10k different kinds, so what you have could be anything!

 

[MarshallB]

looks like pods. Time to get a wrasse to snack on them!

 

[Marine Reefer]

I appreciate the help. Doing a bit of quick reading they are supposedly harmless to fish and coral in that they are a natural food source and help fit algae buildup. Am I reading that correct?

 

[N.Sreefer]

Amphipods look more like shrimp those are copepods

 

[Marine Reefer]

Amphipods look more like shrimp those are copepods

I’ve never seen them that big, granted I’m pretty novice on reef tanks. This one has been running for about 8 months. I’ve copepods before but they never got this big. I had a temp monitor go bad and the tank water got really hot so I lost quite a bit. Just now starting to have the tank come back alive.

 

[littlebeard]

99.999% of the time amphipods are harmless detrivores. I have personally seen some attack new coral frags and solved it with a red lined wrasse. I'm not sure if that is because they grew to have such a large population and ran out of food or if it was a given species, but I always keep an eye on them.

I still think given I see what looks like legs that they are amphipods and not copepods.

Amphipods and/or Copepods: Can They Peacefully Coexist?

Detritus and algal films compromise the aesthetic appearance and environmental quality of any saltwater aquarium. For sure, they present some of the most

www.algaebarn.com

 

[MarshallB]

I’ve never seen them that big, granted I’m pretty novice on reef tanks. This one has been running for about 8 months. I’ve copepods before but they never got this big. I had a temp monitor go bad and the tank water got really hot so I lost quite a bit. Just now starting to have the tank come back alive.

They get noticeably big. I keep a wrasse in the DT and I rarely see them with the lights out, but my sump is a different story.

The good thing is that its a great sign that your tank is doing well.

 

[N.Sreefer]

I’ve never seen them that big, granted I’m pretty novice on reef tanks. This one has been running for about 8 months. I’ve copepods before but they never got this big. I had a temp monitor go bad and the tank water got really hot so I lost quite a bit. Just now starting to have the tank come back alive.

Lots of species of copepods but both are good members of your cuc. Pic one is an amphipod with characteristic bent body 2nd and third are different copepod species. I believe yours are likely Calanoida (could be wrong on species).

 

[Badnade]

Those are copepods. I've got those same looking ones in my tank.

 

[Reef Nutrition]

The larger ones are Munnid Isopods:
Here is a thread about them:https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/isopod-genus-species-id.783685/

The smaller ones are likely copepods, but it's very hard to tell.

Good critters either way!

-Chad

 

[ying yang]

My initial reaction was they a kind off isopod as isopods have equal lengths of the appendages which is what iso means in latin or something like this

 

[Gtinnel]

I'm going to go with the generic answer of pods. They're good to have. I no longer see pods in my tank, but I have a fat mandarin and melanarus wrasse.

 

[WheatToast]

The larger ones are Munnid Isopods:
Here is a thread about them:https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/isopod-genus-species-id.783685/

The smaller ones are likely copepods, but it's very hard to tell.

Good critters either way!

-Chad

I agree. Munnid Isopods.

 

[ying yang]

I had some unknown pods that i thought was kind off isopod and asked few the more experienced reefers and one guy said some isopods can grow quite large and be problematic so he generally doesnt want them in their tanks.which these look quite big from original picture of all the white dots are them ?
As my pods in tank got to zoom in on camera to see.at night can see dot scurry across sand or rocks with naked eye but dont look like these look so large ^_^
@vetteguy53081 what you think?

 

[ying yang]

The larger ones are Munnid Isopods:
Here is a thread about them:https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/isopod-genus-species-id.783685/

The smaller ones are likely copepods, but it's very hard to tell.

Good critters either way!

-Chad

Aw ok didnt see this.guess this the answer

 

[ying yang]

Hungry little buggers ^_^