In a tank I used to have a bunch of tiny living organisms popped up out of nowhere. One of them looked like strands of dust, the other looked like dots, and the last looked like powder. Apparently they cleaned the tank. What are they?
2007-12-04 19:01:07 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
It was a freshwater tank and by clean I mean they got rid of the algae.
2007-12-04 19:11:26 · update #1
Go to the question "I want to get a tropical fish tank! (BEGINNER)?", 3rd answer, 2nd link. The white lines and black dots are what I'm talking about.
2007-12-04 19:16:42 · update #2
What are shown (as best I can tell from the focus) in the photo you linked to are planaria. These are a type of flatworm, and are usually fairly large - at least 3/8 inch long - and cling to the glass or gravel: http://www.notatall.blogger.com.br/planaria.jpg From the size you're describing, it doesn't sound like these as much as a variety of other microorganisms. There are small nematode worms (http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/ponddip/index.html ) present in most tanks, as well as paramecium (and some are large enough to see without a microscope), rotifers, ostracods (look like tiny clams), cyclops and daphnia. Yes, these will help eat small particles your filter doesn't catch, and in turn, they can be food for fry or smaller fishes. I'll put some links below with photos that may help you identify what you're seeing in your tank.
You might also have young aquatic insect larvae - there's a midge larvae (http://www.benthos.org/Education/SlideLibrary/Shadows/035-Chironomidae.jpg ) that sometimes shows up, and these look like little swimming worms as well, but they tend to swim with more of a "thrashing" back and forth "S" shape, where the nematodes move with a smoother undulating motion.
2007-12-05 15:38:40 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is weird I never did here of that before, I am just wondering if they or you had or have live plants in it? if so it might of been something that was from the live plant. it had or has to be something in it to make other living things. If you had fish they might of layed eggs or young? hm I don't know but I would love to see it ;)
2007-12-05 03:08:44 · answer #2 · answered by Hil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
never heard of such a thing .. could be bacteria if its like fungus looking .. or algae? I've never heard of anything else ._. .. other than snails and they sure as heck dont look like that O.O
2007-12-05 03:09:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a saltwater tank, and those may be those zenias or those fan looking things, I have them popping up in mine.
2007-12-05 03:05:05 · answer #4 · answered by moosies 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Clean the tank every now and then and you won't have them.
2007-12-05 03:07:29 · answer #5 · answered by Sunny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are the legendary secret cleaning agents of the microbe world!
2007-12-05 03:04:47 · answer #6 · answered by lorenzo ruiz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
worms?
algae
by 'cleaned the tank'
do you mean killed all other living organisms in it?
2007-12-05 03:05:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are bacteria enzymes
2007-12-05 03:04:37 · answer #8 · answered by Adam S. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gnomes, elves, and pixies.
2007-12-05 03:04:22 · answer #9 · answered by moiäkä k 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
fungus i think
2007-12-05 03:04:55 · answer #10 · answered by kev l 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋