Tiny white 'fleas' in RBP's tank

[bluehighways]

Hey all. I noticed tonight that I have a huge colony of tiny white bugs living in my RBP tank, all stuck to the glass. They are alive and seem to 'hop' a few millimeters in any given direction.

My fish do not seem infected by whatever these are. No flashing or panic swimming at all, normal feeding patterns and general skittishness of RBP's that are less than 3 inches.

My tank is still a bit new, and is completing its initial cycle, with daily water checks and partial water changes.

Anyone had these before? They are definitely little bugs, about the size of this period.

 

[angelojg22]

a pic would be nice

 

[Otherone]

I've heard of bugs laying eggs in exposed cotton within' HOB filters but never heard of any hatching into the water just flying around in the house. Are you sure they are bugs and not mini snails that come from "Cycle" in a bottle? Sorry I can't help ya on getting rid of the bugs. I hope they don't morph into a winged problem.

 

[Gbusiness]

Hey I think I have or had the same thing as you? There super small white dot's that move every now and then on the inside of the tank glass? And, when one swim's around does it move in whatever direction at a quick lunge? If, this sounds the same as what you have? I think I have the same thing.
I first noticed the moving white salt dot's on my large piece of driftwood. Now, they are mobile and swim in the tank and hang out on the glass. So, I've taken out the wood, cleaned the inner glass wall with a magflo magnet and did a large WC. Right, now I'm keeping my eye's peeled to make sure there gone.
I would also like to know what they are, how they got there, and how to KILL them! lol

 

[knifegill]

Springtails.

 

[HarleyK]

Springtails.

Completely harmless.

HarleyK

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

Completely harmless.

HarleyK

Seconded. Nothing to worry about. Not sure but shrimp may eat them, If you tank is large enough and you feel your shrimp won't be eaten by your piranhas, it may be worth while to add some.

 

[Jmart159]

Might be some sort of amphipod. I just found some in my tank recently.

 

[bluehighways]

Answered it. They're NEMATODES. Completely harmless. I cleaned the glass with a scrubbie and they've all but disappeared. My water quality got better overnight too. Nitrites are back to zero. All the collected dead bodies must have contributed to the spike and overwhelmed my BB for a while.

thanks to all who replied! Cheers

 

[Gbusiness]

Don't mean to take over your post blue highway's,lol.
So, these super small white dot's /mites are called nematodes? Well, my driftwood is still out of the tank. It's been a few day's since I scrubbed and did a large WC. I just noticed that I still have a few stragler's on the inside of my tank glass? There very hard to see, I have to basically press my forehead against my tank to see these bugger's,lol. If, there harmless then that's a relief for sure! I think with regular wc 's and scrubbing the glass like a madman, I should be good.
Any suggestion's on how to keep them off of my large driftwood? Anyone? I use to put the piece in my 10 g, and pour in boiling hot water and let it soak for a few hour's. It seemed to work, but after I put the driftwood in my tank. And, a few day's went by the dot's would be back.
Do you guy's think by me being lazy on not keeping up the maintenance on my rena xp3 is the reason I have live salt dot's? I haven't replaced the spongey insulation squares in my top basket in a few month's.