[ReefSparky]

When I purchased chaeto for the first time a couple of weeks ago, it was green and bright, looking almost like green plastic monofilament fishing line. It's in my newly made refugium, under a spiral compact flourescent daylight bulb. The light is lit overnight when the main tank's light is out.

I've read chaeto is a harboring agent for copepods, and I've noticed my chaeto has changed appearance somewhat. It now appears almost dusty, with white/yellowish grains or specs that cover each strand individually. It is no less green, but the green almost appears to be masked by the white/yellow discoloration.

I'm wondering if this is copepods. I know copepods are nearly microscopic, and I have no evidence that I now have them since purchasing the chaeto.

So is this textural/coloration change normal? Good? Bad? Healthy?