Daphnia in my bog filter

[antonio]

Hi All

Today, after 8 months, I started vacuuming/cleaning the bog filter. I was waiting for a stable cycle before doing any activity which could jeopardize it.
Well, I've found lots of DAPHNIA in the filter, swimming on the surface most likely because I was moving (revolving) the gravel with the vacuum. Picture of a sample attached.
My question: what to do in this case?
Just leave it to grow and start moving into the main pond through the overflow?
Breed it apart?

Is it so good for the fish as it can be seen in many videos?

Thanks as usual for your kind comments

 

[GBBUDD]

Daphnia is a great food source as well as a bio agent devouring micro nutrients count your luck stars you have them. If you want to lessen seeing them get a fish like a Non pregnant blue gill or sun fish or even some minnows.

 

[JRS]

Great live food as you have read, part of a healthy ecosystem. I would move some to the main pond occasionally for food, you have your own naturally established daphnia culture.

 

[GBBUDD]

Send me some I have thought about throwing in a culture. Those blood worms to the bog and cocapods.

 

[antonio]

Send me some I have thought about throwing in a culture. Those blood worms to the bog and cocapods.

Hi GBBUDD
Very glad to hear so good about these little beneficial guys.
Who knows how much I did suck out of the filter with the vacuum before I realise about them, fortunately I was watching for parasites in general and quit "on time".
I will put the sample I took for reconfirmation in filter water with "dirt rests" taken off the vacuum head and try to start a culture, just in case. See pictures.

 

[antonio]

Great live food as you have read, part of a healthy ecosystem. I would move some to the main pond occasionally for food, you have your own naturally established daphnia culture.

Hi JRS
Thanks for the recommendations! I will keep an eye on the filter for a while and reconfirm its presence.
I replenish water from a natural stream at the border of the property and think that could be the only way these good guys made it into the pond. that's also why I was watching for parasites in general...and look there
As commented above, pls see the pictures. I am about to start an own culture.
Thanks!

 

[GBBUDD]

Parasite on the whole are microscopic though there are all kinds of microbes and plankton like creatures swimming around. I use to sit at my planted tank at night and shine a small flash light into the top of the tank and be amazed at the night life that comes out. I should add be it the salt tank or the planted the salt was crazy.