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RedHeadPeter RedHeadPeter
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  • Posted on: 8/9/2009 18:17
Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #1
My pond is now pretty healthy - water stays clear, fish doing well, just a little weed growing on the liner...BUT

every time I look in my filter, or my UV filter, or my pump casing I am horrified by the thousands of tiny black insects firmly attached to the pipework where water flows.

Is anyone familiar with this (I will take a photo if necessary) and can tell me if they are a) good or b) bad and if bad how to get ride of them.
UncleZen UncleZen
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  • Posted on: 9/9/2009 12:45
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #2
I have these aswell, I havent the foggiest idea what they are. The stick like sh** ... lets say they have quite a grip on the pipework and wont let go easily.
If figure theyre OK to keep as Ive had them for years.
stupot stupot
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  • Posted on: 9/9/2009 20:00
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #3
Hi I have got loads of these bad boys in my filter system as well so would be good if someone could tell us what they are...
Dale369 Dale369
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  • Posted on: 10/9/2009 19:13
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #4
Sound like larvae, which are completely harmless to your fish & feed on the debris in the water, so if anything they are doing your pond some good. Ever wondered why swarms of flies shoot out when you open the lid?
RedHeadPeter RedHeadPeter
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  • Posted on: 11/9/2009 15:11
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #5
I'm not sure about this larvae thing - IO don't get swarms of flies when I open my filter cover. After further study theser look more like worms than insects.

Here are some photos (not very good photos). First one is the overflow to the outlet on my EazyPod filter - you can see the critters hanging on to the edge. Pics two and three are taken through a magnifying glass and show some that I scraped off and put on a white background, very worm-like, though very small.
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Barzey Barzey
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  • Posted on: 11/9/2009 22:35
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #6
They just look like the normal wriggly things found inside our filters & pipes quite honestly. I have always presumed that they were quite natural and all part of the conditioning & seasoning of the pond & filter etc. They certainly havent had a detrimental affect on our pond anyway.
Dale369 Dale369
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  • Posted on: 12/9/2009 9:20
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #7
Still, i'm going to have to go with larvae. From the image you posted they look very like black fly larvae which like to grip themselves to walls where water is flowing by fast.
Barzey Barzey
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  • Posted on: 12/9/2009 12:08
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #8
Wooooo, Don't like the sound of that - Any tips on how to get rid of them? I suppose a nice tight fitting lid to the filter would help.
Dale369 Dale369
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  • Posted on: 12/9/2009 12:40
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #9
You can't get rid of them. The flys lay their eggs in the water & they get pumped through into the filter box where they cling on so a tight fitting lid wouldn't make any difference unfortuantely.
Barzey Barzey
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  • Posted on: 12/9/2009 13:31
Re: Thousands of tiny black insects in pipework. #10
Oh Shucks! I suppose the only chance is a thorough scrub out and replace pipes but even then it seems like chaseing you own backside.
They have been in there for years though and we only ever see the odd black fly so I guess we are a bit lucky there