Infestation of copepods / lots of particles in water? Worms? Video and Pictures included!

mell0w · Jul 31, 2020

I have a new saltwater tank that is approximately 11/2 months old. It is 55 gallons, but I have 60 lbs of sand and 75 lbs of live and dry rock. I started with a bunch of live rock from a LFS with coralline algae and hitchikers on it. I did a fishless cycle. Dosed Fritz Pro Ammonium Chloride and MicroBacter Start XLM. Ammonia went from 4 PPM (from dosing) to 0 a few weeks after initial tank setup, Nitrite spiked but went to 0, Nitrates went up to 20. I did this twice and was able to get 4 PPM ammonia to 0 in 24 hours. So full cycle. Did a decent water change 25% or so.

Current parameters:

Salinity: 1.026 SG
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10-15

I have a colony of xenia that looks like it's twice the size it was when I first got it, and is thriving pulsing and having a good time.
I also have a large colony of GSP that is also out, fully extended and having a good time blowing in the current.
I also have 2 clownfish, a female and a male and they're fat and happy. I've had them about a week so far and I feed the frozen Reef Frenzy. Water parameters have remained consistent.

My biggest concerns right now are no longer the water parameters, but an infestation of copepods? (I think that's what they are? I attached a bunch of pictures) and the fact that the water.

First question being, are the copepods? Why are there so many? There's literally thousands and they cover the back wall, too. I wipe them from the front glass but they come back in an hour.

Second question, the water has a ton of particles in it. Not so noticeable under lower lighting but with full intensity there's particles EVERYWHERE. I think they're the same bugs but just floating through the water column. Is this bad?

I run ChemiPure Blue and Polyfil and Purigen and they do not go away, that's why I'm inclined to think they're the bugs I'm seeing on the glass. What do you think?

Last, but not least the worms.

Skip to :26 seconds in. Some of them look like they bit a hole through my GSP and are searching for stuff to eat. They retract right back into it. This is the only section of the GSP where I can see them (new growth area) but who knows. What are they? Are they bad?

Anyway, I'm super new to all of this and been somewhat concerned lately if these are good or bad signs, or just part of the ugly stage of my tank.

Crashnt24 · Jul 31, 2020

There are a abundance of pods because there must not be a natural predator. Therefore their population took off. Also, what's that creepy tube that moves in the video? I cant say for sure, but it's interesting.

Arlen nemeth · Jul 31, 2020

mell0w said:
I have a new saltwater tank that is approximately 11/2 months old. It is 55 gallons, but I have 60 lbs of sand and 75 lbs of live and dry rock. I started with a bunch of live rock from a LFS with coralline algae and hitchikers on it. I did a fishless cycle. Dosed Fritz Pro Ammonium Chloride and MicroBacter Start XLM. Ammonia went from 4 PPM (from dosing) to 0 a few weeks after initial tank setup, Nitrite spiked but went to 0, Nitrates went up to 20. I did this twice and was able to get 4 PPM ammonia to 0 in 24 hours. So full cycle. Did a decent water change 25% or so.

Current parameters:

Salinity: 1.026 SG
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10-15

I have a colony of xenia that looks like it's twice the size it was when I first got it, and is thriving pulsing and having a good time.
I also have a large colony of GSP that is also out, fully extended and having a good time blowing in the current.
I also have 2 clownfish, a female and a male and they're fat and happy. I've had them about a week so far and I feed the frozen Reef Frenzy. Water parameters have remained consistent.

My biggest concerns right now are no longer the water parameters, but an infestation of copepods? (I think that's what they are? I attached a bunch of pictures) and the fact that the water.

First question being, are the copepods? Why are there so many? There's literally thousands and they cover the back wall, too. I wipe them from the front glass but they come back in an hour.

Second question, the water has a ton of particles in it. Not so noticeable under lower lighting but with full intensity there's particles EVERYWHERE. I think they're the same bugs but just floating through the water column. Is this bad?

I run ChemiPure Blue and Polyfil and Purigen and they do not go away, that's why I'm inclined to think they're the bugs I'm seeing on the glass. What do you think?

Last, but not least the worms.

Skip to :26 seconds in. Some of them look like they bit a hole through my GSP and are searching for stuff to eat. They retract right back into it. This is the only section of the GSP where I can see them (new growth area) but who knows. What are they? Are they bad?

Anyway, I'm super new to all of this and been somewhat concerned lately if these are good or bad signs, or just part of the ugly stage of my tank.

Yes there copepods im surprised you have so many there good for tanks they help get rid of un eaten food. Ive never heard of them eating corals so you should be fine. Theres no such thing as too much i wish i had a mich as u. There are some fishes that eat them if you dont want as many

NashobaTek · Jul 31, 2020

Pods are great if you're thinking about mandrins

NashobaTek · Jul 31, 2020

Pods are great if you're thinking about mandrins

mell0w · Jul 31, 2020

Crashnt24 said:
There are a abundance of pods because there must not be a natural predator. Therefore their population took off. Also, what's that creepy tube that moves in the video? I cant say for sure, but it's interesting.

I think the tube is either crab poop or something on the live rock that broke off. It looks like the worms were trying to go after it so that's why it was moving. Are these worms parasites? Or just something like a spaghetti worm or something? Somewhat concerning lol

mell0w · Jul 31, 2020

NashobaTek said:
Pods are great if you're thinking about mandrins

I was thinking of a mandarin and was told by the store owner not to if my tank was new. Are these the food they would eat? They seem rather small but god dang if there isn't enough of them to feed a full sized human

Arlen nemeth · Jul 31, 2020

Crashnt24 said:
There are a abundance of pods because there must not be a natural predator. Therefore their population took off. Also, what's that creepy tube that moves in the video? I cant say for sure, but it's interesting.

Yea same thats what i was looking at, some type of worm?

Arlen nemeth · Jul 31, 2020

mell0w said:
I was thinking of a mandarin and was told by the store owner not to if my tank was new. Are these the food they would eat? They seem rather small but god dang if there isn't enough of them to feed a full sized human

Yes they eat about 2k a day

Pistondog · Jul 31, 2020

mell0w said:
I have a new saltwater tank that is approximately 11/2 months old. It is 55 gallons, but I have 60 lbs of sand and 75 lbs of live and dry rock. I started with a bunch of live rock from a LFS with coralline algae and hitchikers on it. I did a fishless cycle. Dosed Fritz Pro Ammonium Chloride and MicroBacter Start XLM. Ammonia went from 4 PPM (from dosing) to 0 a few weeks after initial tank setup, Nitrite spiked but went to 0, Nitrates went up to 20. I did this twice and was able to get 4 PPM ammonia to 0 in 24 hours. So full cycle. Did a decent water change 25% or so.

Current parameters:

Salinity: 1.026 SG
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10-15

I have a colony of xenia that looks like it's twice the size it was when I first got it, and is thriving pulsing and having a good time.
I also have a large colony of GSP that is also out, fully extended and having a good time blowing in the current.
I also have 2 clownfish, a female and a male and they're fat and happy. I've had them about a week so far and I feed the frozen Reef Frenzy. Water parameters have remained consistent.

My biggest concerns right now are no longer the water parameters, but an infestation of copepods? (I think that's what they are? I attached a bunch of pictures) and the fact that the water.

First question being, are the copepods? Why are there so many? There's literally thousands and they cover the back wall, too. I wipe them from the front glass but they come back in an hour.

Second question, the water has a ton of particles in it. Not so noticeable under lower lighting but with full intensity there's particles EVERYWHERE. I think they're the same bugs but just floating through the water column. Is this bad?

I run ChemiPure Blue and Polyfil and Purigen and they do not go away, that's why I'm inclined to think they're the bugs I'm seeing on the glass. What do you think?

Last, but not least the worms.

Skip to :26 seconds in. Some of them look like they bit a hole through my GSP and are searching for stuff to eat. They retract right back into it. This is the only section of the GSP where I can see them (new growth area) but who knows. What are they? Are they bad?

Anyway, I'm super new to all of this and been somewhat concerned lately if these are good or bad signs, or just part of the ugly stage of my tank.

Pods are good. Get a 6 line wrasse to keep bad guys in check.
Copepods are very common in our tanks and world. They are the reason nyc water is not kosher, shellfish.
They are the reason humpback whales are less fertile in the Yucatan. Warming waters have stressed the copepods to have less fat, not enough calories for the whales build up fat reserves necessary to carry a pregnancy.
Cool bugs.

Arlen nemeth · Jul 31, 2020

mell0w said:
I think the tube is either crab poop or something on the live rock that broke off. It looks like the worms were trying to go after it so that's why it was moving. Are these worms parasites? Or just something like a spaghetti worm or something? Somewhat concerning lol

The worms are concerning not the copepods i would get either a 6 line wrasse or a melanurus wrasse too eat them

Ratsinmyhead · Jul 31, 2020

Yeah don’t go for a mandarin yet. I had a similar explosion of pods early on in my tank. Even being started with dry rock and sand. They boomed for a month or two then must have starved out to a much less noticeable number.

Pistondog · Jul 31, 2020

mell0w said:
I was thinking of a mandarin and was told by the store owner not to if my tank was new. Are these the food they would eat? They seem rather small but god dang if there isn't enough of them to feed a full sized human

They are cool looking fish and you can get them, tank raised on mysis. This is better than relying on pods.

El_Guapo13 · Jul 31, 2020

I suggest getting a wrasse for pod and pest control. Six line can be aggressive to anything added after it, especially other wrasses, so I don't suggest you get one of those. A Melanurus wrasse could be good, as would flasher wrasses and fairy wrasse.

For more info on wrasses, check out the articles written by @evolved

Wrasses in general

All About Reef Safe Wrasses in Aquaria

Introduction My name is Hunter and I am a wrasse addict. Admitting such is the first step to buying another wrasse, I think. Wrasses are not only my passion, but my niche in this hobby since 2010. My tank is full of them, and unfortunately “regular” species are no longer exciting enough for...

www.reef2reef.com

Fairy wrasses

Cirrhilabrus Complexes: Inferiority Need Not Apply (1st Revision)

Cirrhilabrus, the “Fairy Wrasses”, are one of the most elegant, active, and colorful reef fish. Their appeal in a reef tank is common to many, but not all have a well-rounded understanding of the compatibility amongst them. Enter the notion of...

www.reef2reef.com

Arlen nemeth · Jul 31, 2020

Ratsinmyhead said:
Yeah don’t go for a mandarin yet. I had a similar explosion of pods early on in my tank. Even being started with dry rock and sand. They boomed for a month or two then must have starved out to a much less noticeable number.

Yea same i had alot then they all disappeared seems like i have like 10

mell0w · Jul 31, 2020

Arlen nemeth said:
The worms are concerning not the copepods i would get either a 6 line wrasse or a melanurus wrasse too eat them

I did some googling and do you think this is what I'm dealing with?

That weird tube could be a broken off part of their base? The worm part looks exactly like these tentacle things they have

spionid worm

evolved · Jul 31, 2020

I wouldn't even worry about it, let alone take any action. It will correct itself as the tank matures - the pod population will crash and correct at some point.