Need help identifying pest

[Sean16420]

I've recently had a nitrite spike in my 30 gallon eel tank which seemed to have calmed down about 4 days ago now. Then this morning I turn the lights on and there are tiny white pests all over the glass and filter. They seem to be more concentrated on the green algae patches and don't appear to be on the eel yet thankfully. If Anyone could identify this for me and maybe give me some adive that would be great thanks.

 

[baws187]

I think I had these they went away plus I got rid of the algae. Never could get an I.d. on em. Run some phoslock and 3 days lights out. Also maybe hermits will eat them. Hopefully someone who knows more will chime in?

 

[willybub]

can you get a closer pic of one? maybe some kind of pod?

 

[Sean16420]

I tried to get a closer picture and all I get is blurry white dots since they are so small. I will try again though

 

[Sean16420]

So I can't get a closer picture. I tried turning
The lights off for awhile when I checked again
There are now about a million more they are
Everywhere on the glass all in and on the rock
In the substrate and even crawling on my zebra
Moray. Can anyone please tell me what this is thanks

 

[willybub]

http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm

scroll down to about half way, do they look like any of those?

or look up flatworms

 

[Sean16420]

After looking at that it most resembles the copepod. It honestly looks like there is lice all over my glass. But if that is indeed what they are, what would cause them to spread overnight? The only inhabitants of the tank are the Zebra Moray eel and a Gold Stripe Maroon Clown

 

[jrp1588]

Copepods, nothing to worry about, they make good food for smaller critters

 

[Sean16420]

Its just weird to me because there were never any in sight before and then all of a sudden today there are million of the things EVERYWHERE. My clown doesn't seem to be interested in eating them at all.

 

[jrp1588]

Was there an increase in algae in association with your spike? They like algae

 

[Sean16420]

Not really an increase at all. There is a small layer of green algae on the glass and they are definetally concentrated in that area but it worries me seeing them crawling on my eel and such.

 

[jrp1588]

They are actually crawling on the eel? I've never seen a pod crawling on any livestock, then again, I've never had anything bigger than a tang.

 

[Sean16420]

Same thing I thought extremely weird. They are all over his peice of PVC and a couple running on his tail they aren't covering him by any means but still kind of off and putting me on edge lol

 

[TellyFish]

How long has the system been running?

 

[Sean16420]

It's been running for 6 months

 

[TellyFish]

Possible the nitrate spike was fueling an explosion of pods. Doesn't seem like your describing any disease i'm aware of.

 

[jhentr]

Sounds like pods. They come out more when the lights are out. Since you don't have any pod eating fishes, they are left to thrive and multiply.

Only strange thing is that they are also on the fish, which I've never heard of. Check to make sure those on the fish isn't flukes or lice.

As for the glass and rocks/sand, those should be pods.