quick answer. white bugs?

I have a recently cycled aquarium about 2 months old. I have noticed white particle sized creatures living on the glass that move about freely.
I am wondering what they are?
If they have a positive or negative affect on my system?
and any other additional information provided would be appreciated.

Thanks

I dont think a picture is necessary. lol

 

without a picture you are just going to get a buncha guesses

 

they literally look like white specs. very minute creatures. I think an experienced aquartist can point me in the right direction.

 

Those Little White Bugs In Your Saltwater Aquarium -Information and Facts About What Eat Copepods and Amphipods

 

Copepods. They come in on live rock or sand. Their population will be regulated by the amount of algae in your tank, but they are harmless and provide a live food source for some fish as well as many corals and inverts.

 

Thanks a bunch.

Another quick question. How does the algae affect the copepod population?

 

Algae is what they feed on. No population can outgrow it's food supply.

 

thanks Bill.
have a good one.

 

Probably copepods. With this being said, some feed on algae but the majority of them, from what I have found over the years, feed on detritus (poo and food) in your tank. They are a good thing and a great part of your clean up crew.

 

You probably have a huge problem here unless you act fast. Sounds like whitey bugs, or "reef lice" they eat the scalps of fish and inverts and you have to get rid of them with a shampoo or fine tooth comb... wait a sec.. this isn't where i parked my car.


They're just copepods basically free fish food, that reproduces in your tank. I was jk about the bad stuff obviously