Brown bugs... HELP!!!!

IloveGreatDanes · 03/29/2013, 05:36 PM

Hello everyone, just letting you know that I am new to saltwater aquariums. Anyway, I came back from a three day trip today to find a frag of eagle eye zoas closed up with hundreds of little brown bugs crawling on it. I freaked out and immediately threw it away. The other corals and inverts in the tank were fine, but I cant find anything on brown bugs. All I could find info was black bugs and red bugs and I was wondering if I should treat the tank with stuff to kill the red and black bugs.

downbeach · 03/29/2013, 05:50 PM

Sounds like it may be amphipods, if so they're very beneficial to your tank. Here's some info:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rs/

IloveGreatDanes · 03/29/2013, 05:53 PM

I had read about amphipods but why would they be killing coral? Plus they were pretty circular. Is there any natural predator so I wouldnt have to treat my tank with chemicals?

Anemone · 03/29/2013, 09:12 PM

Flatworms - aka planaria? They're referred to as red flatworms, but they can appear brown.

Kevin

kenny4128 · 03/30/2013, 01:27 AM

If you are worried about your live rock hitch hikers you could get a wrasse. They pick at the rocks and sand looking for copepods and amphipods. You shouldn't worry too much though, these small critters help your aquarium by eating un-eaten food, fish waste, and some of their spawn will become coral/fish food.

IloveGreatDanes · 03/31/2013, 03:31 PM

Ok thanks. I will look into getting a wrasse maybe. Thanks for the help

03/29/2013, 05:36 PM	#1
IloveGreatDanes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: WV Posts: 67	Brown bugs... HELP!!!! Hello everyone, just letting you know that I am new to saltwater aquariums. Anyway, I came back from a three day trip today to find a frag of eagle eye zoas closed up with hundreds of little brown bugs crawling on it. I freaked out and immediately threw it away. The other corals and inverts in the tank were fine, but I cant find anything on brown bugs. All I could find info was black bugs and red bugs and I was wondering if I should treat the tank with stuff to kill the red and black bugs.

03/29/2013, 09:12 PM	#4
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	Flatworms - aka planaria? They're referred to as red flatworms, but they can appear brown. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

03/29/2013, 05:50 PM	#2
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	Sounds like it may be amphipods, if so they're very beneficial to your tank. Here's some info: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rs/

03/29/2013, 05:53 PM	#3
IloveGreatDanes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: WV Posts: 67	I had read about amphipods but why would they be killing coral? Plus they were pretty circular. Is there any natural predator so I wouldnt have to treat my tank with chemicals?

03/30/2013, 01:27 AM	#5
kenny4128 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 34	If you are worried about your live rock hitch hikers you could get a wrasse. They pick at the rocks and sand looking for copepods and amphipods. You shouldn't worry too much though, these small critters help your aquarium by eating un-eaten food, fish waste, and some of their spawn will become coral/fish food.

03/31/2013, 03:31 PM	#6
IloveGreatDanes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: WV Posts: 67	Ok thanks. I will look into getting a wrasse maybe. Thanks for the help