a billion tiny critters

Mind_nl · 09/17/2007, 06:26 AM

I've had a bit of a brown hair algae bloom lately which seems to clear up quite nicely again. Upon closer inspection I noticed tiny little creatures crawling around on the brown algae. Looks like they like the stuff and I only see them on the brown algae, they seem to be doing a good job on helping me get rid of the algae.
Pretty soon all the algae will be gone, will the little guys just die or go on munching on my corals?

Here's a few pictures I took of them, they are very small, brown/purplish colored with a white head. The biggest ones are about 1mm in size.

What are they and do I have to worry? Thanks!

alemab3 · 09/17/2007, 06:33 AM

they are flat worms and they should not bother your corals. a six line wrasse should take care of them.

pikachusalad · 09/17/2007, 09:03 AM

Some flatworms eat coral - some don't - I'd do some research and figure out if the kind you have are the coral eating kind.

Aquarist007 · 09/17/2007, 10:29 AM

these ones are on the glass--be worried about the ones you don't see--get a six line wrasse

daven · 09/17/2007, 11:01 AM

They are probably a flatworm - Amphiscolops sp. Safe. I had them and they disappeared shortly after they appeared.

see http://www.melevsreef.com/id/flatworm.html for more info

papagimp · 09/17/2007, 11:29 AM

one in that first pic isn't anything to worry bout. I agree with daven, mine disspeared quickly with my last tank. got em again in my newest tank project. ONly thing they seem to bother are the tiny pods on the glass they get ahold of.

Mavrk · 09/17/2007, 12:02 PM

The red ones are bad, the clear ones are okay. You say they are brown/purplish. Is this because you are seeing the brown algae through them, and your actinics are making them look purple? Or is that the actual color if you take one out?

09/17/2007, 06:26 AM	#1
Mind_nl Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 89	a billion tiny critters I've had a bit of a brown hair algae bloom lately which seems to clear up quite nicely again. Upon closer inspection I noticed tiny little creatures crawling around on the brown algae. Looks like they like the stuff and I only see them on the brown algae, they seem to be doing a good job on helping me get rid of the algae. Pretty soon all the algae will be gone, will the little guys just die or go on munching on my corals? Here's a few pictures I took of them, they are very small, brown/purplish colored with a white head. The biggest ones are about 1mm in size. What are they and do I have to worry? Thanks!

09/17/2007, 06:33 AM	#2
alemab3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Newark Posts: 209	they are flat worms and they should not bother your corals. a six line wrasse should take care of them. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 125 in the wall mostly all sps

09/17/2007, 09:03 AM	#3
pikachusalad Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 402	Some flatworms eat coral - some don't - I'd do some research and figure out if the kind you have are the coral eating kind. __________________ -- Mike Current Tank Info: 60G reef

09/17/2007, 10:29 AM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	these ones are on the glass--be worried about the ones you don't see--get a six line wrasse __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

09/17/2007, 11:29 AM	#6
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	one in that first pic isn't anything to worry bout. I agree with daven, mine disspeared quickly with my last tank. got em again in my newest tank project. ONly thing they seem to bother are the tiny pods on the glass they get ahold of. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

09/17/2007, 11:01 AM	#5
daven Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 283	They are probably a flatworm - Amphiscolops sp. Safe. I had them and they disappeared shortly after they appeared. see http://www.melevsreef.com/id/flatworm.html for more info

09/17/2007, 12:02 PM	#7
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	The red ones are bad, the clear ones are okay. You say they are brown/purplish. Is this because you are seeing the brown algae through them, and your actinics are making them look purple? Or is that the actual color if you take one out?