Strange organisms on driftwood

[Ethernopian]

Greetings all,
I was doing some fish tank work today when i noticed little white spots on my drift wood, while i thought nothing of it at first i noticed they are moving around and aren't just spots they are alive. Needless to say this has me a bit freaked out, and i was hoping someone could ID them for me.
White Critters.jpg
Looking forward to some answers, hopefully the kind that puts minds to rest.

Thanks,
Colter

[mnemenoi]

From my initial look it appears to be a range of possibilities, though all are harmless in my opinion. Sand, detritus, diatomous algae, filtration media (zeolite/ammonia tablets bits) are what I would guess at and the movement is caused by the current in the tank. At worst case scenario Hydra (unless your breeding fish they are no big deal), Ich (with no fish coming down with it, then highly doubtful), fungus (likely on excess food or the driftwood itself), or Planaria (though they don't look right and I imagine your cichlids would eat them). Most smaller macroinhabitants (Cyclops, Daphnia, ect.) are active in the water column and rarely 'settle'. The Hydra is an exception, but it does not look like that to me. I have seen Bryophytes (moss animals)on my driftwood though they look like feather dusters and eventually stop emerging.

In any case, with no signs of stress/disease going on in the tank I would not overworry myself with it. Planted tanks have critters constantly emerging and they are generally harmless.