Surface of tank looks like someone put fine white powder in ...

Surface of tank looks like someone put fine white powder in it. Anyone seen that before? I just did a water change with my vacuum pump two days ago.
Merry Christmas to all.

i see that in my tank where there is less water flow...not sure why it happens. u can try adding a bubble stone to break the surface of water and also help water flow near the surface...

Thank you. The water flow in my tank does seem to have slowed down for some reason, since I put the new filters in. I will see what I can do about it.

Maybe the little white things are from the filter.

It's possible, but I would think that the filter itself would have gotten rid of them by now. I often feel that my filter is not doing very well and that the water flow is not as strong as it needs to be. I am wondering if I should put in a second filter. What do you think? The filters are pretty gunked up when I change them once a month, but there seems to be more debree in the water than I am comfortable with. My water levels are all good.

Filters and air stones sometimes get clogged with alkaline deposits, and that would reduce the flow rate. Rinsing the filter could loosen some of the alkaline deposits and make little white floaters. Maybe a nice long soak in some vinegar water would help get rid of the lime deposits by dissolving them. A good rinse in clean water will remove most of the vinegar.

On the other hand, the little white things could be the eggs of some harmless aquatic bugs. Small fry get quite a bit of nourishment from the microscopic bugs that inhabit aquariums.

I will make sure I rinse new filters before putting them in my tank from now on. What I really don't understand though is why my filter is not filtering them out....

i have forgotten to rinse my filter pads before and this happens. it's just dust i assume, it should clear up soon.

Well this fine white powdery stuff on the top of my tank has turned into little live things that are sticking to the side of the tank and running up and down it and swimming across to the other side occassionally. They are like tiny white lice. Any ideas anyone?

hmm that is interesting. white powder must have been eggs then?? these could be some insect larvae. let us know if it turns into mosquito or flies...

The aquatic bugs could have ridden in on some new plants or fish and are probably harmless. In fact, little fish may enjoy having them over for lunch.

They had to have come in with the new filters. That's the only thing I have changed. I have not noticed Albert eating them. Isn't there another way to rid my tank of them?

So I have found out what these live bugs are. They are Copepods and are harmless, but the only way to get rid of them is through several water changes. They are a crustation. Not sure how they got in there because the only new things I have used are filters and syphoning hose. Will work on the water changes.

Did you know people sell them as food...Copepods

as food for what? I wish my betta would eat them :>

food for fish
I fixed the link.

Good point...

I found a good blog about copepods and it says that they are part of a good ecosystem, so I guess I will just let them be.

//blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatfishblog/2008/07/25/bugs- in-my-aquarium-an-overview-of-amphipods-and-copepods/