Minute creatures

[Joe del Rey]

Hello everyone.
It's been a month and a half since I initially set up my tank and I saw something cool (?). I can't help but notice there are veeeery tiny white spots on glass. All I thought they were just dusts from the sand... until I did a closer inspection. Upon my closer look, they appear to crawl like insects, almost looking like armies of termites... so I am assuming they are minute creatures. But what are they exactly? Should I be worried?



Side notes (that might help you):
• I got the sand from the beach 3 years ago and first used it on my freshwater tank. Now I switched to saltwater and used the same sand.
• The tank currently has a Yellowtail Blue Damsel in it. I do small feedings daily.
• Lights are on for 10-12 hours since initial set up.
•Their size is just like the period of this sentence. Some appears to be smaller.
• Sorry for the bad picture but that's the "clearest and closest" shot I can provide because they are waaaaaaay too tiny. You can still see them though.

 

[samnaz]

Copepods. Not a concern, totally normal.

 

[Westoncase]

Do they float on the surface?

 

[FishyFish]

Probably copepods. They're good guys and a sign that your tank is doing well.

 

[Joe del Rey]

Do they float on the surface?

I'm not sure... but I only see them on the glass. They seem to "cling" very well.

 

[Joe del Rey]

Probably copepods. They're good guys and a sign that your tank is doing well.

Thank you. I'm finally at ease knowing my tank is doing well.
Can these guys survive? My tank is just 1 ½ month old.

 

[Joe del Rey]

Copepods. Not a concern, totally normal.

Thank you. Never knew copepods can live even if the tank was just recently set up.

 

[Mariette]

Yup. Copepods. Very good sign. And mine totally cling to the glass to. I assume there’s more in there on rocks that just aren’t visible. Very good.

 

[Joe del Rey]

Yup. Copepods. Very good sign. And mine totally cling to the glass to. I assume there’s more in there on rocks that just aren’t visible. Very good.

Thank you! I am so amazed RN!

 

[samnaz]

Thank you! I am so amazed RN!

To this day I’m still amazed at the life that pops up on my reef even years after starting. Did you start with live rock?

 

[Joe del Rey]

To this day I’m still amazed at the life that pops up on my reef even years after starting. Did you start with live rock?

I didn't. But I added a small piece of rock and a shell I got from the ocean. (I never exposed them to air and kept them submerged). Not sure to consider the rock as "live rock".

 

[Hermie]

To be fair, we don't know for sure that they are copepods. Only that it's most likely. The pictures don't show enough detail.
This isn't meant to be mean or attack anyone. It's just to be truthful.