Tank has spontaneously created life.

[Crunchy]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Keep them coming if you have any more ideas as my battle continues.

aldiaz - I'm glad to say they are not mosquitoes. I cannot imagine trying to deal with that one. These ones are smaller than fruit flies and are either gray or tan (it's hard to tell which).

MonsterMinis - I'll have to try the vinegar wipe method. I didn't even consider using a cleaner, I always thought that nothing was near to safe for a tank. And unfortunately, my fish seem to ignore the bugs .... I wish they would try to eat them. I would really like to know what caused them in the first place, it bothers me.

 

[JteSchertz]

Could be drain flies (gnats). They usually are outside but come indoors during drought like conditions. I had these a couple months ago and couldnt get rid of them. Had to treat every drain, toilet, fixture in the house with a combination of bleach. I realize this isn't an option for your aquarium but start checking any potted plants you have in your house as well as sink/bathroom drains to see if any of them are originating from there. Good luck.

 

[scalesandfins]

thats wierd

 

[Manzman]

Maybe turn the light off, they seem attracted to it. Get them away from the water.

 

[TheLeviathan]

Buy fish that loves insects. Wait, what fish doesn't?

 

[Crunchy]

Well, with vigorous cleaning, I am seeing less of the buggers, but still no idea as to where they are coming from. I checked all the plants, sinks and drains as mentioned above, but no other bugs are in the apartment. If only my fish would view these flies as food, it would be great.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Have you tried not feeding your fish for a few days?

 

[Crunchy]

No, I haven't not fed them. But I guess they would be fine if I did so. I am getting less and less of them, but anything would help. How many days would it be ok to stop feeding for? I usually give them small amounts twice a day (and reduced the amount since the bugs started appearing).

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Wouldnt the fish enjoy a mosquito larvae snack? My White Clouds used to love eating the little wigglers that turned up in their tank.

Could you maybe have freshwater copepods? I used to have something similar in one of my tanks. They'd zip around on surfaces in circles, almost mechanically. They seemed to like brown diatom algae.

 

[MyGiants]

Usually mature tanks will develop small planktonic crustaceans in the tank. Daphnia which are water fleas infusoria ciliates protozoa. All natural not harmful small fish will eat them.