What is in my aquarium?

[garyroach]

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? :eek:

[nchoe123]

sea monkeys? :)

baby mosquito larvae?

nitrates don't reduce the nitrates; bacteria basically eat nitrites and poop nitrates. other bacteria eat ammonia (from the fish poo) and themselves poop the nitrites one step before that.

[garyroach]

sea monkeys? :)

baby mosquito larvae?

nitrates don't reduce the nitrates; bacteria basically eat nitrites and poop nitrates. other bacteria eat ammonia (from the fish poo) and themselves poop the nitrites one step before that.

Sorry. I didn't explain the cycle very well. I remember reading that now.

But, those little worms are freaky!

[destined_love7]

I don't know what you have. I do know that Cycle stuff is a waste of money. I fell for it, too. What you need (if you're going to use anything) is Bio-Spira. It's actually live bacteria where Cycle is not.

[Kettemoor]

Are they floating around or in the substrate? That is interesting, is there a cover?

Also, Nitrosomonas oxidize ammonia to form nitrite, then nitrobacter convert nitrite to nitrate.

[garyroach]

A couple people have suggested that they are nematodes and harmless. If they are still around when I finally get to put fish in the tank, free food! Until then, at least I'll have something living in the tank to look at!

[garyroach]

Are they floating around or in the substrate? That is interesting, is there a cover?

Also, Nitrosomonas oxidize ammonia to form nitrite, then nitrobacter convert nitrite to nitrate.

They are about 1/16 inch and swim around like tiny worms. Yes, there is a cover, in fact two, which completely cover the top. But, I opened the lids to hopefully get some bacteria going after two and a half weeks with only ammonia. Now I'm just waiting for the nitrites and nitrates to drop.

Thanks for the clarification on the cycle.

[nchoe123]

bio-spira has been good for me; the theory there is that it's actually nitrospira bacteria, not just the -somonas & -bacter which do the bulk of the work.

basically it seems to have kick started the cycle for me. also i have a decent # of plants, which in theory may be taking up some nitrates. but i have a pretty light bio-load going in my tank still so maybe that's why i've really not seen any nitrates (or -ites) to speak of.

[DarkSoul]

Im thinking its planaria, which in and of itself isnt going to harm your fish, but it is a sign the water conditions arent up to par..... sadly Im having much the same problem, I have little white worms(planaria) so i gotta figure out how to clean up my tank.... i also dont think my tank is cycled yet either.

fish will eat them.... i watch my betta pick them out of the water.

[garyroach]

Im thinking its planaria, which in and of itself isnt going to harm your fish, but it is a sign the water conditions arent up to par..... sadly Im having much the same problem, I have little white worms(planaria) so i gotta figure out how to clean up my tank.... i also dont think my tank is cycled yet either.

fish will eat them.... i watch my betta pick them out of the water.

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.