White bug things eating coraline algae

G'day,

I was wondering if you guys would know what these hundreds of small white bugs are in my tank. I can't really take a picture because they're so tiny. They look like they're about 1mm long and are spread out over my glass, but mainly concentrated around patches of coraline algae. They move quite quickly. I can't see any legs on them, but they seem to have a tail. They could have legs however as they're so small I can't really tell.

I'm not sure if it's a coincidence, but my harlequin tuskfish also seems to be a bit distressed since they appeared, spending most of it's time hiding in caves when previously it was swimming around the tank like it owned the place.

Any ideas what these could be and if they're good, bad or neutral?

 

Sounds like some kind of pod. If your fish is destressed it could be isopods. Are any of the "white bugs" attached to the harlequin tusk?

 

copepods (so many to choose from);D they're a good thing!

 

For a good, quick ID a pic is always a must!

 

I can't be sure as they're so small and the tuskfish doesn't like sitting still, but it's quite possible. There are some small white dots on him but they could be sand/bubbles.

 

I tried to take a pic but they're too small and my camera auto focuses on the inside of the tank rather than the glass I'll keep trying to get one.

 

Sorry, that's about the best pic i can get.

 

I am sure those are copepods and the good ones. Isopods are much larger. As far as eating coralline I really don't think that they are capable of eating it. They mostly exist by eating phytoplankton.

 

Hmmm. Are you taking these pics during the day? Or is this under very dim light?

 

If you don't like these guys, you could get a predator of theirs. There are a lot of fish that will eat them.