Millions of micro creatures in cycling tank?

[DrDanke]

What the heck is going on here? I have been noticing what look like TONS of dust floating throughout my 2 week old tank. I thought they might have been micro bubbles, but I took a magnifying glass to some of the ones closer to the glass and they are sooo tiny I can barely see them, but they have a tail and are swimming in the water. There are BILLIONS of them, literally. My tank has 3 tiger barbs in it. The tank looks completely dusty with all these in it. Has anyone heard of these things? Are they some sort of insect larvae? I mean, they are very small, smaller than a spec of dust, but there are billions of them. Having billions of these things in my tank doesn't sound too healthy for my fish. Someone help me!

 

[DrDanke]

Looking closer with a little higher magnification, these little organisms are like diamond shaped with a little ball for a head and have 1 hair as a tail and they flutter the tail to move.

 

[RioXingu]

Your description sounds like flagelated unicellular organisms, a type of protozoan.
They get around by rapid movements of their flagellum (tail).
Without microscopic examination and access to reference books (or a protozoologist), it would be difficult to determine the exact species of these animals.
Their population in your tank will crash as they devour the available food source, perhaps bacteria?
Whether or not these organisms are pathogenic is another question. I would tend to think not, but that is just my opinion.

Bill in WI

 

[Tando Mando]

If they're not bothering your fish, there's little to worry about, but most fish would gobble up the little critters.
Also, since they're so small, I'm surprised your filter hasn't cleared them out more. Change your filter frequently until they're gone, do water changes, whatever you have to do to get your tank clear again.
They sound gross, and I wouldn't want them in MY tanks. (So I Don't Get Kicked Off The Forum For Stating A Suggestion, Please Read the Following Disclaimer Which Applies To All Words Typed Here: "In my opinion.")