Bug Outbreak

I know you said you've seen amphiopods in your tank, but from your gnat description, it sure sounds like them. How big are they? My next guess would be some sort of shrimp. Either way, probably harmless, or even more likely a good thing.

just in case...

 

Nope. These are nothing like amphipods that we know. these things look like a gnat (size shape and color).

 

When the amphipods are smaller, they look a little flatter and more like a little bug than the adult shape. Hard to tell without a picture, which isn't easy given the size. Time will tell.

 

What's the cause of the sudden outbreak?

 

Available food, whatever they are.

 

Is there a fish that will eat these things? I know when bigger more than likely not, but something that can eat them before they get big cus I have thousands of these things, they are all over the place.

 

I would be willing to bet their gammaridean amphipods. There's no good pictures I saw on a quick google search, but my fuge is full of them and copepods. The amphipods look like termite type things when they are small, particularly when they are on the glass. They eat algae and detritus, and pretty much any carnivorous fish will devour them. My mandarin keeps my population in check although I doubt an abundance would cause any problems as they are amazing detritovores.

 

Again another link.

Hitch Hiking Copepods, Isopods and Amphipods

Sorry but I love ID links.

 

If they're not causing any problems, don't worry about it. I had an overpopulation of them, and they were snacking on my LPS. I found a lot of threads where people had the same problem, but no solutions. By chance, I bought a male Melanurus wrasse that took care of all of them within a few weeks. I used to see amphipods mobbing the corals late at night, now, I don't see any.

 

Oooh, that's a good one, Cheryl.

Here's another one. Gives a good idea what amphipods are all about.

Amphipods by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com