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View Full Version : What is in my aquarium?

garyr
09-29-2007, 12:54 AM
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Four weeks ago I purchased a brand new aquarium and accessories in a box. I washed the sand and the fake rocks that I purchased at the pet store and put them in the tank. Filled the tank with tap water. And added water conditioner, ammonia, and a bottle of Cycle. A week and a half ago I did a 50% water change and added water conditioner. Since then I add ammonia every day which reduces to zero. Now I'm waiting for the nitrites and nitrates to reduce to finish the cycle. Today I noticed for the first time that there is something living in the tank! It looks like a tiny worm swimming around. And it's not alone. There is another one in there too! What are these things and how did they get in there? :laugh1blue:
Dave66
09-29-2007, 12:57 AM
They're nematodes. They exist as spores in the air. When they find a good environment (high nutrients) they activate. Established tanks rarely get them. Harmless.

Dave
jttt3
09-29-2007, 01:05 AM
Yep, they will die off before the fish come, or when the fish come, well, they will be near the bottom of that food chain lol
garyr
09-29-2007, 01:14 AM
Well at least I have something to look at now until the tank finishes cycling! :)
Dave66
09-29-2007, 01:19 AM
lol good attitude, I like it.

Dave
garyr
09-29-2007, 04:39 PM
I thought that I should give a slightly better description. The ones in my tank are reddish brown and have grown from 1/16 inch to about 1/8 inch swimming and about 1/4 inch if stretched out and kind of thin and flat and pointed on both ends. They look like tiny little swimming ribbons.
garyr
10-11-2007, 05:28 PM
Well, the first ones lasted a couple days then disappeared and I hadn't seen any more of them until today. I just did a large water change and noticed stuff floating on the surface (after putting my glasses on) including one of the little squiggly things that I had seen previously. Do you think it was stirred up from the bottom after the water change? I used tap water and added StressZyme. It doesn't really bother me. I just like to know what is going on in the tank.