Tiny specks swimming in tank?

[Jen]

My sister in-law has a 10 gal. set up that has two tiger barbs and a pleco in it. She just recently moved it from the kitchen counter to the living room. She change about 60% of the water and the filter media in the process of the move. This was about two weeks ago now they have noticed tiny little white specs that are swimming around in the tank. The fish seem to be fine and can't see any of the specs on them. I've never seen anything like this in the 15 plus years I've been keeping fish was hoping you guys might have some idea was these things are. They aren't much bigger then the period at the end of this sentence.

 

[guppy]

If they move in little jerks they are probably fw copepods, if they move in lazy spirals they are probably daphnia, both are harmless and excellent food for fry and tiny fish, they are often imported into tanks on plants. Many tanks have small populations of them and they are just not noticed, mostly they eat micro algae, bacteria, and some detritus. See if you can put some on a dark plate and look at them with a strong magnifying glass, they should look like one of these.

 

[Don4921]

you should not replace the filter and water when moving because you must up your system levels. if you have to remove water, than put it in a bucket and then once tank is moved , put old water back in.

 

[Jen]

I know but as I said this is my sister in-law's tank and people don't always take the advice you give them.

 

[puffer_girl]

Not an expert on this but thought I'd throw this word in.... I believe they are more like little worms though (not sure if look likes specks) that are a result of excess feeding..... Have read about them acouple times but that's it.