Tiny organisms in my tank!

[jeremyg]

Just noticed these tiny white organisms crawling around the back of my tank, on the plastic overflow mainly. What are they??

 

[jeremyg]

This is a fish-only saltwater aquarium. 170 gallons. Water is a bit cloudier than usual.

Ammonia <.02
Ph 7.2
Nitirate / nitrite 0

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

They're probably just copepods which are good...

Why did you think this was an emergency?

 

[lulubap]

They're probably just copepods which are good...

Why did you think this was an emergency?

Never seen copepods so...noticeable!

 

[jeremyg]

They're probably just copepods which are good...

Why did you think this was an emergency?

Lol. Because I’m too new to this and had never seen them before and just put 3 fish (after QT) in there and my mind immediately went to deep dark places.

let me go google copepods, because never really heard of them

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Lol. Because I’m too new to this and had never seen them before and just put 3 fish (after QT) in there and my mind immediately went to deep dark places.

let me go google copepods, because never really heard of them

Net those out and sell them bad boys before the fish eat them lol.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Lol. Because I’m too new to this and had never seen them before and just put 3 fish (after QT) on there and my mind immediately went to deep dark places.

let me go google copepods, because never really heard of them

Oh ok...yeah, copepods are a good thing...they mean your tank is beginning to mature or at least going in the right direction

 

[jeremyg]

Oh ok...yeah, copepods are a good thing...they mean your tank is beginning to mature or at least going in the right direction

Ok, cool! So they get larger, if not eaten first? My powder brown often picks on the overflow box, but it was algae on there (which I cleaned off a couple days ago).

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Ok, cool! So they get larger, if not eaten first? My powder brown often picks on the overflow box, but it was algae on there (which I cleaned off a couple days ago).

Copepods won't get very big...that's probably their maximum size...later you'll get amphipods and they're bigger

 

[WheatToast]

They're probably just copepods which are good...

Why did you think this was an emergency?

+1. The jerky movement patterns are characteristic of copepods as are the presence of egg sacs. These "pods" are harmless crustaceans that feed on phytoplankton, algae, and other small particles serve as live food for larger organisms. They are also common hitchhikers and can be purchased live in bottles. Oh yeah, and Plankton from SpongeBob is a copepod.

Note the single eye, two antennae, and pair of egg sacs on either side of the tail (right side of image):

Reef copepods sitting on glass:

And Plankton:

 

[jeremyg]

Net those out and sell them bad boys before the fish eat them lol.

I mean I can’t describe how tiny they are, could probably fit a dozen in the top of of a pencil…

 

[jeremyg]

These "pods" are harmless crustaceans that feed on phytoplankton, algae,

Prob explains why they are on the overflow, the main place where algae grows on my tank.

 

[jeremyg]

Thanks everyone…(nonexistent) crisis averted!

 

[Lavey29]

Having measurable ammonia and 0 nitrates is much more urgent then copepods.

 

[jeremyg]

Having measurable ammonia and 0 nitrates is much more urgent then copepods.

Ok well I just reported what this is showing. Is this measurable ammonia?

 

[Lavey29]

Ok well I just reported what this is showing. Is this measurable ammonia?

I don't use those things nor do I trust them. You also mentioned your water is getting cloudy so there may be an imbalance or algae bloom in progress. If you can post complete parameters and age of the tank we can see if you are on a good path. Your PH is low so include salinity also.

 

[jeremyg]

Ok well I just reported what this is showing. Is this measurable ammonia?

LOL! I just noticed the hawkfish peeking out from behind

 

[jeremyg]

I don't use those things nor do I trust them. You also mentioned your water is getting cloudy so there may be an imbalance or algae bloom in progress. If you can post complete parameters and age of the tank we can see if you are on a good path.

Ok the tank is just over 2 years old. I only have some API test strips.

Temp 79.5 (fluctuates between 78-80) throughout the day/night
Salinity ~1.018-1.019
GH 180
KH 120
PH somewhere between 7.0-7.5

 

[lulubap]

Ok the tank is just over 2 years old. I only have some API test strips.

Temp 79.5 (fluctuates between 78-80) throughout the day/night
Salinity ~1.018-1.019
GH 180
KH 120
PH somewhere between 7.0-7.5

Is this a FOWLR tank? Never seen someone keep corals with such low salinity. 1.019 is typically fish only.

Gh is more of a freshwater measurement, so I'm not sure what to make of that.

Alk is also low but key is to keep it consistent; this alk seems consistent with fish only tanks. I'm not sure what kind of stocking you have but I'd be amused if you own a reef.

Ph is very low. I don't even think it should be this low for a saltwater. Ph should be 8.0-8.4, ideally 8.3.

What kind of salt do you use?

 

[jeremyg]

Is this a FOWLR tank? Never seen someone keep corals with such low salinity. 1.019 is typically fish only.

Gh is more of a freshwater measurement, so I'm not sure what to make of that.

Alk is also low but key is to keep it consistent; this alk seems consistent with fish only tanks. I'm not sure what kind of stocking you have but I'd be amused if you own a reef.

Ph is very low. I don't even think it should be this low for a saltwater. Ph should be 8.0-8.4, ideally 8.3.

What kind of salt do you use?

Sorry, I mentioned in an earlier post, this is a fish-only tank (~170 gallons). Could be these test strips are not accurate. Can I use a PH test from my pool?

I only use Instant Ocean salt (in the bucket with the purple label).

Currently have these fish:
Queen Angelfish
Passer Angelfish
Gray Angelfish (juvenile)
Coral Beauty
Powder Brown Tang
Clownfish (x3)
Leopard Wrasse
Blue/Green Chromis (x2)
Bangaii Cardinal (x2)
Flame Hawkfish
Unknown Cardinalfish (x2)