Just when you thougt you had it under control<<<<bugs>>>>

[trueblackpercula]

Well Now its my turn to ask for some serious identification and a remedy to go with it. I was admiring my tank today and was taking pictures to post in one of my threads and the flash went off. I noticed tiny tiny tiny bugs they don't look like red bugs or flat worms. All I can say is they are very fast and have no real colors. I have no idea what they are so any help would be greatly appreciated. Also do you think there is any reason of concern?

MICHAEL

will these work? and should I even use them?

 

[zangmann]

Expired Interceptor should work, I believe it looses effectiveness though - I had to nearly double the regular dose to get results.

 

[BiggsTheGoalie]

Any chance of closer-up pics? There are plenty of benign little critters that can crawl around tanks and on acros as well. I guess unless the corals are showing some sort of signs of infestation I'd hesitate to treat for something that may not be an issue.

 

[RxMike]

Bugs

Bugs

yes sir...+1

 

[dadummy]

I used expired interceptor with success, don't remember the date but haven't been to that vet in many years.
should be an easy fix

 

[trueblackpercula]

Thanks for all the advice but before I nuke my tank what are they?

 

[MarinaP]

Could be copepods. More info here

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/corals

 

[NatureNerd]

Here is what the red-bugs that attacked my tank looked like. I am afraid that the second picture does look like them. That said, I guess I would try to get a closer shot just to be sure.



To get a good look, I did have to use a flash and lots of magnification. Back off the exposure a bit more to determine if you are not just washing out the colors of the bugs. If they are redbugs the yellow/red colors should be visible. Note that to the naked eye, and even with a magnifying glass, mine looked black or grey. The bugs surprised me on how fast they can move across the surface of the coral. For a while, I was in denial. It was this photo that convinced me. Looking at it still makes me almost sick. My intercepter experience was a disaster. But almost everyone I know had much better results. My tank is/was unique.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Could be copepods. More info here

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/corals

Marina thanks again for this amazing link, I read the entire piece and its amazing to see that there are so many different types of BUGS. I have been looking at them all day the sure are tiny and I am going to try and remove a couple tomorrow if i can suck them up with a syringe to try and get a better picture.

I have seen them in others tanks and even in my own years ago and these just don't fit the bill as they are colorless at this point.

I have taken them with and with out flashed and Still do not see any color of red yellow/orange ETC. at this point i hope they are red bugs because at least I have something to kill them.

Will keep you poasted

Michael

 

[trueblackpercula]

Here is what the red-bugs that attacked my tank looked like. I am afraid that the second picture does look like them. That said, I guess I would try to get a closer shot just to be sure.



To get a good look, I did have to use a flash and lots of magnification. Back off the exposure a bit more to determine if you are not just washing out the colors of the bugs. If they are redbugs the yellow/red colors should be visible. Note that to the naked eye, and even with a magnifying glass, mine looked black or grey. The bugs surprised me on how fast they can move across the surface of the coral. For a while, I was in denial. It was this photo that convinced me. Looking at it still makes me almost sick. My interceptor experience was a disaster. But almost everyone I know had much better results. My tank is/was unique.

Sorry about your dealing with Redbugs and thank you very much for sharing your story and pictures. I have been searching the internet and every picture I could find to compare them to what I have. I really don't think I am in denial LOL but after reading the link Marina posted its sure gave me something to compare to.

Thanks and that is a great picture even if it has redbugs in it.

Michael

 

[xtlosx]

I have noticed the same thing on a couple of my acros, but there isn't a orange & red contrast so I'm not wholly convinced its red bugs.. The acros are growing like weeds as well, so I'd say they're thriving.

Tagging along, before I nuke my tank with interceptor.

 

[trueblackpercula]

I have noticed the same thing on a couple of my acros, but there isn't a orange & red contrast so I'm not wholly convinced its red bugs.. The acros are growing like weeds as well, so I'd say they're thriving.

Tagging along, before I nuke my tank with interceptor.

I will do my best to catch a few and keep you posted. Also I don't want to nuke my tank as well as it is really starting to thrive with life. I may even get a dragon face pipe fish, but first I am going to catch what i can.

 

[rovster]

Get over it, they are redbugs.....no big deal. If your interceptor doesn't work then interceptor spectrum does, and apparently sentinel as well. Just get ready for a massive pod die off, and have a few extra gallons of waterchanges handy because an algae outbreak is very common after treatment. Good luck!

 

[Nanighan]

I had the same experience with bugs that were grayish in color. Definitely not red as I had those too so I know what they look like. The acro they were on developed stn. I used fish to control these bugs, and its been a few years since. Anything running around a acro that is not an acro crab should be dealth with. IMO

 

[trueblackpercula]

Get over it, they are redbugs.....no big deal. If your interceptor doesn't work then interceptor spectrum does, and apparently sentinel as well. Just get ready for a massive pod die off, and have a few extra gallons of waterchanges handy because an algae outbreak is very common after treatment. Good luck!

I really don't have anything to get over my friend, I will say that after reading what marinap posted I have even more room for doubt.

I tried to get a few out and it's almost impossible to suck them out. They are so small I can't get them into the siphon house but will try again tomorrow.

Now as for treating the entire tank would really sadden me as it's screaming with life. My sand bed is full of life and I have many types of pods on the rock work and glass, not to mention and I don't know if this stuff affect them but I have hundreds of asternia starfish through out. I really think adding medication would just set my tank back god knows how long. Let's see what I can pull out and take a few pictures and see if it's something a known fish or crab eats before I go and nuke my entire system.

Thanks will keep you posted.

 

[scottwhitson]

They do not look like red bugs to me either. Maybe some type of copepod.

 

[NatureNerd]

Try to get a better picture. It is the only way to tell for sure what you have. Reduce the exposure and get in much tighter. My shot is at least 4X more magnification. I moved the coral right next to the glass to get the shot. It wasn't until this included picture that I could detect the color. Your second shot shows the tell-tale spot on the abdomen. I think it is 50-50 whether these are red bugs or not.

Please don't get a DF Pipe for this. The problem is that they will only eat a small amount of the bugs. They will hunt for pods all day long occasionally eating whatever they find on your coral. It will not make a major difference in the bug population and your corals will start to suffer. So, you then eventually use interceptor. Most of your pods will die-off. The pipe, which in my experience, won't eat anything but pods, will slowly starve.

 

[trueblackpercula]

We'll did my best to try and get better pictures but I need a really good camers as my ipad or iphone just can't get close enough. Here are a couple more pictures if it helps..

 

[NatureNerd]

Well, they look less like redbugs than I thought they would. I guess they really could be a different bug. Note that with our heavy blue lighting, the red dot will look blackish. The yellow will come out grey. That is why flash is important. Also, they are so small I could not detect color until I really zoomed in. I wish I could help but the only advice I have is to not panic and rush to action, think it through well before you dump any medication in your reef.