Troy I have both of your ptoblems also lol.
The white specks look like lines right? If so they turn into algae aftwer awhile.
I also hear clicking at night time in my tank but I can never see anything. It might be a hiotchhicker pistol shrimp or a mantis. But that also doesnt make sence since if it were any one of those, our cuc would be going missing little by little. But I dont seem to have anything missing yet.
When you find out let me know also!