Creepy crawlies

[CommonlyBefuddled]

Ok first, I'm going to admit, I don't have the right set up for a saltwater environment, but I'm doing it anyway. I have a 20G tank, been saltwater for about a year and a half, fish only (GSP). I still have a plastic hood with fluorescent light, and a penguin power filter with biowheel. Which is why I am kind of baffled as to why I've awoke to find many little moving critters on the wall of my aquarium this morning...as I do not have any live rock (just bought dry base rock and put it in there), and I guess I've understood that you need a special light with a lot of spectrum to support live rock and the like (but I could be wrong).

I'm really thinking that this happened overnight, and the GSP is acting really strange today. I'll also admit that I'm not at all knowledgeable about little critters in the marine environment, so I'm stumped. My only suspect is that I bought some red legged hermit crabs a few weeks ago (which have survived under Scanti's watchful eyes). Could they have carried something on them that would only appear now? I know it's really farfetched, but could they have bred? I'm afraid I don't know much about the crabs either, other than they have been great housekeepers, considering I have an algae problem with my set-up.

[sevenyearnight]

You don't need special lighting, and yes, the hermit crabs could have carried in small creatures, and they are now visible after growing a bit.

[CommonlyBefuddled]

Thanks for the reply. And far be it from me to question your knowledge but...The change seems a little too sudden to have been 'growing' for any amount of time. I mean, I watch the tank religiously, and he has been happy, healthy, and his normal self until I peeked into the tank this morning. Sure, maybe I can't see these things with the naked eye at first, but the fish is the blaring alarm that something's amiss.

But in either case, should I do something about it/them??

[sevenyearnight]

A few weeks seems about right for the "bugs" to be visible. You should pick up a couple pieces of cured liverock, you really don't have yo have special lightning. I even had coraline algae grow under T8's before.
Those creatures ate beneficial to your tank, you don't want to do anything about them.
What are your parameters and SG level?

[xrayjeeper83]

Can you get a picture of said creatures? Could be completely harmless and nothing to worry about

[CommonlyBefuddled]

I know I'll be scolded for this, but I don't have any real testing supplies. SG at 1.022-.023. Temp at about 73F. Tank is obviously cycled. I guess one thing did happen to the tank recently...my nice marineland heater suddenly died. The water was 68 degrees for a few days, maybe 4 (the pet shop is in the next town). Don't know if that is worth mentioning or not.

[xrayjeeper83]

honestly with out pics of said creepy crawlies its damn near impossible to inform you what you need to do. Lots of crawlies are harmless or even helpful, but there are many that can be dangerous

[sevenyearnight]

If they look like little white flea type things, they should be just pods. If they are little worms with stripes, they are algae eaters and harmless.

[CommonlyBefuddled]

Thanks, I guess if it's a sign of health in my tank, I feel a little relieved. I suppose I could say they look like they are flea-like, but they are almost too small to see. And it would be impossible for me to take a picture, sorry. If I were to pick up some live rock, is there anything else I would need to support it? No liquid minerals or anything?

And I'm sorry, one more question. In order to keep these things, should I take any precautions when changing the water? And if they're all on the glass, should I not scrub the algae off? I'm going to do a WC in a few days...

Thanks for all the help!!

[xrayjeeper83]

You can get cured LR and add it to the tank, you dont need anything other then SW and waste from your fish to keep LR alive

[sevenyearnight]

Change the water, but don't vacuum the substrate or you'll suck them out.

[bertie 83]

I would get a bigger tank first tho

[Pufferpunk]

I agree--he has been in that 20g way too long for it to be healthy for him, you need to upgrade. If you recently added base rock, the critters could have been dormant, deep inside that rock.

[J-P]

most likely copepods. Came in with the water from the crabs. Not having a clean up crew in the tank, they are probably enjoying themselves.

Here is a good link if you want to learn more:

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=26910&hilit=+audio

[Pufferpunk]

I do not think they come in with crabs. They come from LR & LS.