Need help Identifying

[Doob]

Hello all,
I'm new to the hobby, new to the forum. Thanks for helping my get started.

It's a 10 gallon nano. The only livestock is a fire shrimp. It has a very healthy copepod (?) population. Today I noticed hundreds of something stuck to the glass. After a mini panic attack, I failed to find anything on google. Halp.

It was very difficult getting a picture. They look like badminton birdies here, only because of the current. It's really little tails flapping back and forth. I'm at a loss.

Other pics of the setup...

 

[Doob]

Tank is 5 weeks set up, started with dry rock, then a single piece of live rock to kick it off (the small purple guy up front)

 

[human]

Possibly copepods, honestly I can't really tell with the photo, I'm just guessing here.

 

[Tahoe61]

I am thinking hydroid jellies, if you could turn off the flow and get another image I might be able to make it a definite ID. Hydroid jellies are extremely common in newer systems and benign, they will disappear as the tank ages. If this is a dark area of the tank they could also be Pineapple sponges.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Clearly you tank is happy. nice work.
Id love a close pic if you can get it.
Definitely dont sweat it, as above they die out or the amphipods and then fish n corals do them in.

Here's one of our friends. Has a great site. Take a look. Shell probably chime in before I finish typing.
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

 

[Doob]

Turn the flow off, brilliant. Never crossed my mind haha. It didn't make the picture a whole lot clearer though. Even with the macro setting on my camera, which is very good at capturing small detail, it's hard to get it to focus on the glass instead of the rock behind it. They're tiny, maybe .02" long.

Thanks everyone for their input!

 

[Doob]

How in the world did they get in there? Could they lay dormant for 5 weeks as my tank cycled?

 

[Doob]

Should I get fish to take care of them? I was waiting for my QT tank to cycle, then it'll be another 4-6 weeks before I planned on introducing any other livestock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Could they lay dormant for 5 weeks as my tank cycled?

yup. in a rock or in food.

Should I get fish to take care of them?

right now they are taking care of you by eating the tiny micro algae. free CUC.
as the food runs out theyll die off.
its really a super good sign of health in your tank.

@Lionfish Lair What do you think?

 

[JDJP]

I have these also wondering what they are.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Pretty sure they just Copepods

 

[pondman]

That's what I like about this hobby always something different in your tank.that is a sign that your tank is maturing.thanks for sharing.and happy reefing.

 

[JDJP]

Not copepods. They are attached to the glass, have a stem and areopen like a hand at the end

 

[JDJP]

Not the pinapple sponge. Look in front of the top finger.

I think they might be some type of hydroid.

 

[JDJP]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

how cool is that.

blind guess. Gooseneck barnacle

 

[JDJP]

Hello all,
I'm new to the hobby, new to the forum. Thanks for helping my get started.

It's a 10 gallon nano. The only livestock is a fire shrimp. It has a very healthy copepod (?) population. Today I noticed hundreds of something stuck to the glass. After a mini panic attack, I failed to find anything on google. Halp.

It was very difficult getting a picture. They look like badminton birdies here, only because of the current. It's really little tails flapping back and forth. I'm at a loss.

Other pics of the setup...

If you didnt find an answer. They are most likely hydroids.

 

[Doob]

If you didnt find an answer. They are most likely hydroids.

Still not sure. If it is something living, it's growth rate is extremely slow. Here are some updated pics. The tank is now 7 weeks old. The items in question are now accompanied by small brownish, blurry spots, also high in numbers. I'll never get a picture of them, I had to shake my head a couple times to make sure it wasn't my eyes. I suspect that may be cyno bacteria, I have some brown on one of my powerheads (pic below) that may be related. I have yet to see any algae in this tank. Thanks for reading!