Microscope Anyone ?

Mr.First · 11/01/2006, 09:48 AM

Does anyone use a microscope to look at stuff from thier tanks with? If so, what type do you use,

I believe there are two different kinds, one for looking at slides with and one that doesnt require a slide. I believe I want one without havinfg to put things under a slide.
If anyone knows , please explain. rather than have a salesperson do it.
Thanks,,,,

Travis L. Stevens · 11/01/2006, 10:16 AM

I was looking at getting a Microscope to use for identifying Montiporas in my 75g tank. I asked Eric Borneman what he recommended, and this was his reply.

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic39...ght=microscope

scumonkey · 11/01/2006, 11:12 AM

It's $$$$$$$$ but looks cool!

http://www.ogles.info/

kevin gu3 · 11/01/2006, 03:20 PM

I use a dissecting microscope. These have dual eyepieces to give you a 3D effect. The distance between the objective and what you are looking at is a couple of inches, so you put your sample in a dish with water and point a bright light at it.

I got it used for a couple hundred. I just searched for "dissecting microscope" on ebay and see a bunch for $170.

To see things in the tank I have something else, but its not as nice as the dissecting scope.

Mr.First · 11/02/2006, 08:51 AM

Kevin, are you able to see bacteria and stuff like that in a sample of water ?

old salty · 11/02/2006, 09:11 AM

I have access to microscopes costing over $100,000. I thought about bringing some things in to look at, but somehow I think my boss would frown if he knew I was bringing my tank samples into an operating room.

Mr31415 · 11/02/2006, 09:39 AM

I purchased one - two eye pieces and a CCD that I can connect to the computer. It is the slide type but that is cool since then you can watch your copepods, ensure your phytoplankton and ZooPlankton suppliers actually put nice stuff in etc.

The 3D type you were referring to are called Stereo Zoom Microscopes if I am right - the idea is that you can place a 3D object under the scope and look at it from different sides. Note that the magnification will be much less. They augment each other - the one is not really a replacement for the other.

Mr.First · 11/02/2006, 09:45 AM

Thanks 31415, I think that is the type I want. But, can you use it to see stuff with some substance,besides things that are naked to the eye ?

Mr31415 · 11/02/2006, 10:53 AM

Well an amphipod is too large to view completely - I can check out its eyes etc. The smallest thing I could see is a sperm cell - but please do not go there

It has objectives from 4 - 1000x (I think that is what the stuff are called), and I have 10x and 16x eyepieces. This means the lowest magnification is 4 x 10 = 40x, and the highest is 1000 x 16 = 1600x, which can only work when you use a special oil.

kevin gu3 · 11/02/2006, 11:33 AM

Mr 1st, you cannot see bacteria with a dissecting scope. You can see lots of things moving around but not bacteria. The field of view shows maybe Lincoln's head on a penny and magnifcation is in the 10 to 20X range. You can definitely count the leg hairs on an amphipod and see the cells in many types of algae. Lighting is from above. More money buys you a brighter image, wider field of view, or more eyepieces for different magnifications. Zooming compromises image brightness and field of view.

To see bacteria you need higher power; you are talking slides, and for higher power you are talking immersion oil and staining. Field of view is very small and magnification is 50X and up (way up). Thats a standard microscope. Lighting is generally from below and you see thru the object. The object is very close to the lens. More money buys you more objective lenses (choices of magnification), more stable platform, brighter images, brighter light.

You cannot look at your tank with either of the above, they cannot focus that far away. There are other things (generally either very expensive or low performance) to do that with. Personally I would love to get a surgical scope but even used they are in the $1000's. I use something called a close focus inspection scope, originally sold by Edmund but I don't think they still carry them. My wife got it for me on e-bay.

You can buy video cameras that hook up to microscopes and use it to display on your computer monitor. Microsoft used to market for about $100 a pretty cool toy microscope that included this capability; lots of performance for the price.

kevin gu3 · 11/02/2006, 11:40 AM

My mistake, the microscope is from Intel, not Microsoft. It is no longer supported by Intel. http://www.compuvisor.com/digbluqx3usb.html

Lpabsolute · 11/02/2006, 12:43 PM

I would go with a dissecting microscope. You should be able to pick one up offline, for around $200

11/01/2006, 09:48 AM	#1
Mr.First Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nassau County, NY Posts: 128	Microscope Anyone ? Does anyone use a microscope to look at stuff from thier tanks with? If so, what type do you use, I believe there are two different kinds, one for looking at slides with and one that doesnt require a slide. I believe I want one without havinfg to put things under a slide. If anyone knows , please explain. rather than have a salesperson do it. Thanks,,,, __________________ BF Current Tank Info: 70 Reef, 30 Gallon Finnex

11/01/2006, 10:16 AM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	I was looking at getting a Microscope to use for identifying Montiporas in my 75g tank. I asked Eric Borneman what he recommended, and this was his reply. http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic39...ght=microscope __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

11/01/2006, 03:20 PM	#4
kevin gu3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Whitmore Lk, MI Posts: 732	I use a dissecting microscope. These have dual eyepieces to give you a 3D effect. The distance between the objective and what you are looking at is a couple of inches, so you put your sample in a dish with water and point a bright light at it. I got it used for a couple hundred. I just searched for "dissecting microscope" on ebay and see a bunch for $170. To see things in the tank I have something else, but its not as nice as the dissecting scope. __________________ Divert all money to life support. Your wallet will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Current Tank Info: 90g reef, 29g anemone exile tank

11/02/2006, 08:51 AM	#5
Mr.First Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nassau County, NY Posts: 128	Kevin, are you able to see bacteria and stuff like that in a sample of water ? __________________ BF Current Tank Info: 70 Reef, 30 Gallon Finnex

11/02/2006, 09:11 AM	#6
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I have access to microscopes costing over $100,000. I thought about bringing some things in to look at, but somehow I think my boss would frown if he knew I was bringing my tank samples into an operating room. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

11/01/2006, 11:12 AM	#3
scumonkey Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC NY Posts: 467	It's $$$$$$$$ but looks cool! http://www.ogles.info/

11/02/2006, 09:39 AM	#7
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	I purchased one - two eye pieces and a CCD that I can connect to the computer. It is the slide type but that is cool since then you can watch your copepods, ensure your phytoplankton and ZooPlankton suppliers actually put nice stuff in etc. The 3D type you were referring to are called Stereo Zoom Microscopes if I am right - the idea is that you can place a 3D object under the scope and look at it from different sides. Note that the magnification will be much less. They augment each other - the one is not really a replacement for the other.

11/02/2006, 09:45 AM	#8
Mr.First Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nassau County, NY Posts: 128	Thanks 31415, I think that is the type I want. But, can you use it to see stuff with some substance,besides things that are naked to the eye ? __________________ BF Current Tank Info: 70 Reef, 30 Gallon Finnex

11/02/2006, 10:53 AM	#9
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	Well an amphipod is too large to view completely - I can check out its eyes etc. The smallest thing I could see is a sperm cell - but please do not go there It has objectives from 4 - 1000x (I think that is what the stuff are called), and I have 10x and 16x eyepieces. This means the lowest magnification is 4 x 10 = 40x, and the highest is 1000 x 16 = 1600x, which can only work when you use a special oil.

11/02/2006, 11:33 AM	#10
kevin gu3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Whitmore Lk, MI Posts: 732	Mr 1st, you cannot see bacteria with a dissecting scope. You can see lots of things moving around but not bacteria. The field of view shows maybe Lincoln's head on a penny and magnifcation is in the 10 to 20X range. You can definitely count the leg hairs on an amphipod and see the cells in many types of algae. Lighting is from above. More money buys you a brighter image, wider field of view, or more eyepieces for different magnifications. Zooming compromises image brightness and field of view. To see bacteria you need higher power; you are talking slides, and for higher power you are talking immersion oil and staining. Field of view is very small and magnification is 50X and up (way up). Thats a standard microscope. Lighting is generally from below and you see thru the object. The object is very close to the lens. More money buys you more objective lenses (choices of magnification), more stable platform, brighter images, brighter light. You cannot look at your tank with either of the above, they cannot focus that far away. There are other things (generally either very expensive or low performance) to do that with. Personally I would love to get a surgical scope but even used they are in the $1000's. I use something called a close focus inspection scope, originally sold by Edmund but I don't think they still carry them. My wife got it for me on e-bay. You can buy video cameras that hook up to microscopes and use it to display on your computer monitor. Microsoft used to market for about $100 a pretty cool toy microscope that included this capability; lots of performance for the price. __________________ Divert all money to life support. Your wallet will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Current Tank Info: 90g reef, 29g anemone exile tank

11/02/2006, 11:40 AM	#11
kevin gu3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Whitmore Lk, MI Posts: 732	My mistake, the microscope is from Intel, not Microsoft. It is no longer supported by Intel. http://www.compuvisor.com/digbluqx3usb.html __________________ Divert all money to life support. Your wallet will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Current Tank Info: 90g reef, 29g anemone exile tank

11/02/2006, 12:43 PM	#12
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	I would go with a dissecting microscope. You should be able to pick one up offline, for around $200 __________________ "Do not float above me when I'm drowning in the abyss......float away from me.........float away" Current Tank Info: 54g Corner Reef Tank......and......5.5g Nano Reef Tank......and......20g Long Reef Tank.......and......27g Cube