Small swimming white things in tank?

[Zandy94]

So I've let my tank sit quiet for a bit, the filter has been off for three weeks due to the fact I will not be getting my Axi soon and I will be starting the cycle again nearer the time I will get him. I took 80% of the water out, and I've noticed these little things swimming around that look a little like white tadpoles but really small, I think they MIGHT be Copepods because they look like it on the images I can find online as far as I can tell.

So are they harmful to my Axi? Can they cause any damage to anything?

I also had very silky white stuff in my tank when I turned the filter off, I'm guessing it's algie. I'm going to completely deep clean my tank, sand and all, very soon!

 

[Kaysie]

Copepods could be dangerous to tiny larvae, but they are a normal, natural part of an established tank.

 

[rachel1]

Dangerous how? I'm worried now. I have what I'm pretty sure are copepods in one of my daphnia cultures, and my newly hatched axis eat them enthusiastically. I just assumed that they were natural prey for tiny salamanders. Mine only grow to 1-2mm and they seem to eat mostly algae. I've never had a problem, but maybe I should stop feeding them as a first food?

 

[axowattyl]

I've had them come in from my rainwater tank.

No harms ever come from them for me.