Help with bugs

vlapinta · 09/23/2006, 11:48 AM

I started my first 12 gallon saltwater tank in April. It is an Aquapod. I have been taking my time and reading these forums. I have live rock, live sand and a clean up crew. All my peramiters are good. I change my water (3 gallons) every week. I had 2 clown fish which I bought in August, but they died. I was on vacation and had my son watch my tank, big mistake, and when I got home both were gone. I told him to keep the feeding hole open to help keep temps down but when I got home it was closed and the tank was @84. I never saw the fish again. I assumed the clean up crew got them after they died.
I decided to wait a while till temps go down after the summer. I have lots or zooanthids polyps all doing great.
My question is I am seeing lots of little bugs crawling on the rock. I can't get a picture because they are too fast. I am wondering if these are good? Everything is doing well. I have no fish so maybe I need one to eat these bugs. I tried searching to see what they are but can't find any on line. They stay on the rocks and crawl around. They do not swim and they are not on the glass. Any ideas what they are? What fish could I get that might eat them?
Vicki

Shagsbeard · 09/23/2006, 12:00 PM

They're called copapods and they're great. A sign of a healthy tank, and a food source for all sorts of things. Some people even go out and buy some.

DgenR8 · 09/23/2006, 12:05 PM

They are most likely Copepods or Amphipods, but without seeing them, who knows.

kass03 · 09/23/2006, 03:28 PM

If the bugs are bigger they are prolly amphipods.
Have a look at melevs site which is stickied at the top of these forums. 223 ID something lol Im too lazy today to get it for you lol.

As far as the heat on the pod. I keep mine cracked open about an inch which really helps besides keeping the door open.
In the summer when it was hot a blew a box fan at it also.
I have a piece of hard foam I use to keep it cracked open but alot of things will work such as a small tupperware container or basically anything.
Ive also read if you switch the stock pump to a maxijet 900 that can help with the heat but I havent tried that.

If it's amphipods you have alot of fish will eat them. They don't harm anything and make good fish food.

kass

drummereef · 09/23/2006, 05:20 PM

Go to www.oceanpods.com and learn all there is about pods. Great site! Pods are a sign of a healthy tank.

vlapinta · 09/23/2006, 06:44 PM

Thanks to all who took the time to answer. I looked on line at the pods but these do not swim, they crawl on the rocks. I guess thats what they are. I am so new and didn't want to have anything that would cause a problem in my tank. I will also try to wedge the top open to help with the heat issue.
Thanks again,
Vicki

Raibaru · 09/23/2006, 07:44 PM

Although not helpful to the OP, I also have some bugs in my tank. However, instead of swimming or crawling on rocks, these things zip by on the waters surface. They don't leave any kind of wake or anything when they move but this is probably because they are so small. But they are very fast.

They look kind of like a copepod on Melev's site, but not really.

Any thoughts?

bureau13 · 09/23/2006, 08:01 PM

For what its worth, 84 degrees will not even cause a clownfish to break a sweat. Or...are you thinking ti was much hotter and had cooled down when you saw it?

jds

vlapinta · 09/23/2006, 08:09 PM

I am thinking it was much hotter and cooled down. Strange thing is we were gone 5 days and when we returned absolutely no sign of any clown fish. I'm thinking the crabs and snails had a feast!
I have a tree coral, hammer coral, zooanthids, and Ricordias. They were fine with no sighn of any stress.

Vicki

FishHick · 09/24/2006, 12:59 PM

I have some of these "bugs" in my tank too, and was just about to ask what they were as well. I am glad to find out they are good creatures!

vlapinta · 09/24/2006, 04:21 PM

Sometimes I am afraid to ask a question because I feel someone here will think I am stupid but I realize that there are many "newbies" such as myself and we can all learn something.
Thanks again for everyone's help, it is always appreciated!
Vicki

DgenR8 · 09/25/2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vlapinta
Sometimes I am afraid to ask a question because I feel someone here will think I am stupid but I realize that there are many "newbies" such as myself and we can all learn something.
Thanks again for everyone's help, it is always appreciated!
Vicki

Everyone has to start learning somewhere. Often, it's the "simplest" things that worry the newbie the most. Never be afraid to ask.

09/23/2006, 11:48 AM	#1
vlapinta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 219	Help with bugs I started my first 12 gallon saltwater tank in April. It is an Aquapod. I have been taking my time and reading these forums. I have live rock, live sand and a clean up crew. All my peramiters are good. I change my water (3 gallons) every week. I had 2 clown fish which I bought in August, but they died. I was on vacation and had my son watch my tank, big mistake, and when I got home both were gone. I told him to keep the feeding hole open to help keep temps down but when I got home it was closed and the tank was @84. I never saw the fish again. I assumed the clean up crew got them after they died. I decided to wait a while till temps go down after the summer. I have lots or zooanthids polyps all doing great. My question is I am seeing lots of little bugs crawling on the rock. I can't get a picture because they are too fast. I am wondering if these are good? Everything is doing well. I have no fish so maybe I need one to eat these bugs. I tried searching to see what they are but can't find any on line. They stay on the rocks and crawl around. They do not swim and they are not on the glass. Any ideas what they are? What fish could I get that might eat them? Vicki Last edited by vlapinta; 09/23/2006 at 12:25 PM.

09/23/2006, 12:05 PM	#3
DgenR8 I'm an American and I remember Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 43,992	They are most likely Copepods or Amphipods, but without seeing them, who knows. __________________ “I wish there was a way to know that you were IN the good old days, before leaving them.” ~Andy Bernard Regional Manager, Scranton branch Dunder Mifflin Current Tank Info: Unknown slow drip, over 20 years damaged my house and heating system. No more tank.

09/23/2006, 05:20 PM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Go to www.oceanpods.com and learn all there is about pods. Great site! Pods are a sign of a healthy tank. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

09/24/2006, 12:59 PM	#10
FishHick Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 163	I have some of these "bugs" in my tank too, and was just about to ask what they were as well. I am glad to find out they are good creatures! __________________ Hick Current Tank Info: starting over with a 12g Nano Cube

09/23/2006, 12:00 PM	#2
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	They're called copapods and they're great. A sign of a healthy tank, and a food source for all sorts of things. Some people even go out and buy some.

09/23/2006, 03:28 PM	#4
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	If the bugs are bigger they are prolly amphipods. Have a look at melevs site which is stickied at the top of these forums. 223 ID something lol Im too lazy today to get it for you lol. As far as the heat on the pod. I keep mine cracked open about an inch which really helps besides keeping the door open. In the summer when it was hot a blew a box fan at it also. I have a piece of hard foam I use to keep it cracked open but alot of things will work such as a small tupperware container or basically anything. Ive also read if you switch the stock pump to a maxijet 900 that can help with the heat but I havent tried that. If it's amphipods you have alot of fish will eat them. They don't harm anything and make good fish food. kass

09/23/2006, 06:44 PM	#6
vlapinta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 219	Thanks to all who took the time to answer. I looked on line at the pods but these do not swim, they crawl on the rocks. I guess thats what they are. I am so new and didn't want to have anything that would cause a problem in my tank. I will also try to wedge the top open to help with the heat issue. Thanks again, Vicki

09/23/2006, 07:44 PM	#7
Raibaru Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 979	Although not helpful to the OP, I also have some bugs in my tank. However, instead of swimming or crawling on rocks, these things zip by on the waters surface. They don't leave any kind of wake or anything when they move but this is probably because they are so small. But they are very fast. They look kind of like a copepod on Melev's site, but not really. Any thoughts?

09/23/2006, 08:01 PM	#8
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	For what its worth, 84 degrees will not even cause a clownfish to break a sweat. Or...are you thinking ti was much hotter and had cooled down when you saw it? jds

09/23/2006, 08:09 PM	#9
vlapinta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 219	I am thinking it was much hotter and cooled down. Strange thing is we were gone 5 days and when we returned absolutely no sign of any clown fish. I'm thinking the crabs and snails had a feast! I have a tree coral, hammer coral, zooanthids, and Ricordias. They were fine with no sighn of any stress. Vicki

09/24/2006, 04:21 PM	#11
vlapinta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 219	Sometimes I am afraid to ask a question because I feel someone here will think I am stupid but I realize that there are many "newbies" such as myself and we can all learn something. Thanks again for everyone's help, it is always appreciated! Vicki