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Creapy Crawlies
Submitted by broonaldo on Tue, 19/02/2008 - 8:26pm.
Hi Peter
I recently decided to change my UV light in my Bioforce filter ready for the spring and noticed on the top of the sponge filters where several what I would describe as insects similar in appearance and size to woodlice crawling around apparently feeding on goodness knows what.
I regularly clean my sponge filters and have never noticed these insects before although I may have left it a bit longer than usual this time. I have always had smaller creatures approx 3mm long clinging to the UV casing.
Is this normal or should I be concerned,
Many thanks,
Colin
Creepy crawlies in the filter
They are in fact a good sign. The 'insects' were most probably fresh water shrimps or water lice and are crustacea really. There are many different types, ranging from looking just like shrimps to looking just like woodlice. They are one of the most important members of the pond community. They love to eat algae and organic waste and form an invaluable link in the food chain. For fish they are probably their most important nutrition.
If they are in your filter, have been pushed up there accidentally by the pump, and if they have any consciousness at all, they must think they have gone to shrimp heaven. No predators and an infinite supply of grub, and then there are all your chums for lots of frolicing around with. I've come across box filters where the mat on top has been completely obscured by a layer of shrimps half an inch deep.
Wehn you are cleaning out, just brush them back into the pond. Theey are doing more good than harm there, so if some remain, they wont create a problem unless they get so numrous they clog the filter up.
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