Tiny Critters at night

[tomkal]

I took a peak at my tank at night with the lights off (using a red flashlight) to see what nightlife might be in there. I saw lots of little spiny worms that look like centepedes, about an inch long each. I assume these are bristle worms?

Also, saw a bunch of tiny speck-sized things darting around the water like gnats. They were too small and quick to get a good look, so I can't really describe them. Might these be tiny shrimps?

I don't have any corals in the tank yet. Do any of the above look like they might be a threat to corals?

46G tank with live rock, 2 clowns, 10 turbo snails, and 10 hermit crabs.

 

[uscharalph]

How long has your tank been up?

 

[tomkal]

the tank has been up for about a month and a half.

 

[Paintbug]

the worms are probably bristle worms of some kind. most are harmless, and good for the tank.

the little "nats" are either some kind of pod, or mysid shrimp. just consider them free fish food

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/hitchhikers.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/
http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm
heres a couple of links for IDing things you may see.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Start looking more often, you will find new stuff all the time

 

[gistsc]

I love watching my tank at night. Last night was cool. I had a snail die about a day or two ago, and somehow the shell got moved to the front of the tank. I looked at it last night with a flashlight and noticed a fairly large wormlike critter streched out of the rock eating the leftovers out of it. When spooked it would retract into the rock so fast it looked like is just disapeared. I too has seen little swimmers in the water after the light are out.

 

[GreenPuffers]

night time is my favorite time to look. Its amazing the life you actally have in there!!!