Tiny white bugs..(a lot of them)

[Jhead85]

I've noticed a lot of white bugs crawling around the rock..(copepods and amphipods) which I assume that's what they are..I've read they r good and a sign of a established tank..should I try to control them..I'm maxed out on fish in my tank so a mandrin is outta the question..any thoughts out there on what I should do thanks

[Tracy G]

do nothing!  They are a great sign and the start of your tank progressing.  Pods are the lifeblood of the tank if you ask me and the more you have the better.  Eventually when you have preditors that will make them harder to see around.  I would maybe put a stack of rock rubble in the tank (back out of sight) and they will inhabit that and grow out like crazy.

[Jhead85]

Also I just noticed when my light went out I out a light on in the room and noticed tiny worm like things swimming around they seem to be attracted to my iphone light What r these things...I sucked up a few into a cup..they r orange but I got one that was black

[Jhead85]

https://vimeo.com/104473010

[matt]

I really want a.mandarin and wrasses...but I may never allow myself to get them unless I get a gigantic tank. A mandarin needs a really large population of pods if not trained to eat other foods. Wrasses, some (from my limited reading), can eat a lot of pods too. I think I prefer ensuring that I have a lot of pods though...and it can't hurt to limit pod focused predators to some extent. True or not, I'm of the opinion that the pods do a whole heck of a lot to keep my tank clean and therefore well balanced...perhaps more that the rest of my clean up crew. I don't have a solid basis for that last part, but I feel like I see the best tank conditions when I have the my biggest established pod population.

[gmerek2]

Mandarin will completely wipe out a good population in a small tank in no time. They are pod killing machines. Pods are a great Part of the cleanup crew eating all the extra detritus and food.

[Sharkey18]

I have 2 mandarins and 2 wrasse in my 250g and I NEVER see pods.