Our tank's biology up close

jason2459 · 03/15/2016, 03:26 PM

Forgot to make this thread here. Pulling these pictures out of my tank journal.

A few weeks ago my microscope broke. It wasn't as old as PaulB's relic (I think he calls it an antique) but it was several decades old. So, I was then overwhelmed and excited with all the new options out there today and got a trinocular microscope with a 5MP camera. 40-2500x. Much stronger then I was using before.

I love looking at this stuff and now I can easily take pictures and videos of it all. Figured I'd share and maybe someone else might enjoy.

This is the microscope and kit I got. My kids had fun with the kit and prepared slides.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...ilpage_o03_s00

Cyano and some of the creatures living in it.

Sample was maybe around 1mm

~40x

Can see the blurry swirls of the bigger creature I got images of in the next post.

jason2459 · 03/15/2016, 03:27 PM

~100x

The cyano strands are constantly moving weaving in and out of themselves.

Biggest of the critters moving through the cyano and assume eating it

jason2459 · 03/15/2016, 03:28 PM

~400x

Two of those right next to each other.

jason2459 · 03/15/2016, 03:30 PM

~1000x (at 2500x I could see a ton of micro organisms but the camera is limited to 1000x right now with my setup but a lot more life can be seen)

In the thick of it. Above was on the edges. This looked like snakes intertwining

Few critters here

This would twist like a corkscrew to move

There was a lot of these swimming around

See if you can find it in the next two pictures. This very thin filament shoots across almost like its charged with electricity and corkscrewing at the same time. Very excited critter.

Then also saw a lot single celled organisms and protists with flagellates I don't think the camera was able to pick up as I saw it with the 25x WF lens in at 2500x. Spent many hours exploring that tiny sample of cyano last night. I'll see what I can do for the video taken.

Xxero · 03/15/2016, 03:57 PM

I might have weird tastes, but you could blow those up; print them out on quality paper; put a simple black picture frame around them; and hang them tastefully on any wall as décor.

Fascinating and beautiful IMO!

bertoni · 03/15/2016, 04:10 PM

Microscopes are fun. I'm glad you are enjoying yours.

bat21 · 03/15/2016, 06:06 PM

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

jason2459 · 03/16/2016, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xxero

I might have weird tastes, but you could blow those up; print them out on quality paper; put a simple black picture frame around them; and hang them tastefully on any wall as décor.

Fascinating and beautiful IMO!

lol, thanks. I'm excited to be able to capture these images now and the kids like viewing on the laptop. Though my son still wants to look through the eye pieces.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Microscopes are fun. I'm glad you are enjoying yours.

Very much fun and the digital camera and getting up closer aspects has made it even better. Going to go water bear hunting this weekend with the kids.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bat21

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Thank, more to come.

billdogg · 03/17/2016, 04:50 PM

Thanks very much for sharing.

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 09:47 PM

Video from the cyano exploration. And i will apologize right now for all the movement and shaking. I will keep that all in mind for future videos.

40x
http://youtu.be/insfgCOm5a4

100x

http://youtu.be/4jFDXVRMmdU

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 09:51 PM

400x

http://youtu.be/8xO7qZI0s2c

400x pt 2
http://youtu.be/RzkMi_8TG_E

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 09:54 PM

1000x

http://youtu.be/wUER3LBelfA

http://youtu.be/sSVf9ANFiRs

http://youtu.be/BMwzPdSV_g8

http://youtu.be/GdWsMl-wNA4

http://youtu.be/FJuIcz2009k

http://youtu.be/LCyI0y_OWP4

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:04 PM

Last night I sampled some white stringy bacteria that grows through out my sump. There was a large amount of "larger" critters and spent most my time in the upper magnification ranges. Wanted to use the 1000x more but it was closing in on 2am and figured I needed to eat some dinner. lol

White stringy bacteria in the sump

And the smear

It amazing the size of the things found in there.

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:13 PM

Lots of various worms

IT'S A BOY! I was looking for a male and found one

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:14 PM

]Lots of pods. They either like the bacteria or detritus stuck in it or my guess would be both.

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:16 PM

At 400x it was like being able to dissect the pod through focusing at different planes. I hope the video of this comes out good.

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:17 PM

I was looking at this pod and something decided to show up....

Looks like a baby bristle worm

I need to see how to stitch these together. I could shrink up and stretch out pretty far. I hope the video came out for this one. I was so excited I may have messed it up.

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:18 PM

Sorry some of these may be duplicates

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:19 PM

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:20 PM

Then I added some methylene blue and pulled that bacteria out

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:22 PM

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:23 PM

I noticed a lot of those Y structures at various magnifications.

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:27 PM

And the videos

http://youtu.be/FW5UHC6b1Jo

http://youtu.be/tTWKYL0MIHo

http://youtu.be/LG9Uj1S7fuA

http://youtu.be/7DS2vw2tiYc

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:31 PM

http://youtu.be/Ck7agdRnMSs

http://youtu.be/9C7-eZHgjao

http://youtu.be/klthFTl9mjI

http://youtu.be/pDNuxYi3GSM

jason2459 · 03/17/2016, 10:32 PM

http://youtu.be/qQcHhF2FE9c

http://youtu.be/GFm368eQd7U

http://youtu.be/5T5M2oLbEAw

http://youtu.be/SJpVvSCVqqg

03/15/2016, 03:26 PM	#1
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Our tank's biology up close Forgot to make this thread here. Pulling these pictures out of my tank journal. A few weeks ago my microscope broke. It wasn't as old as PaulB's relic (I think he calls it an antique) but it was several decades old. So, I was then overwhelmed and excited with all the new options out there today and got a trinocular microscope with a 5MP camera. 40-2500x. Much stronger then I was using before. I love looking at this stuff and now I can easily take pictures and videos of it all. Figured I'd share and maybe someone else might enjoy. This is the microscope and kit I got. My kids had fun with the kit and prepared slides. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...ilpage_o03_s00 Cyano and some of the creatures living in it. Sample was maybe around 1mm ~40x Can see the blurry swirls of the bigger creature I got images of in the next post. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/15/2016, 03:27 PM	#2
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	~100x The cyano strands are constantly moving weaving in and out of themselves. Biggest of the critters moving through the cyano and assume eating it __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/15/2016, 03:28 PM	#3
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	~400x Two of those right next to each other. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/15/2016, 03:30 PM	#4
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	~1000x (at 2500x I could see a ton of micro organisms but the camera is limited to 1000x right now with my setup but a lot more life can be seen) In the thick of it. Above was on the edges. This looked like snakes intertwining Few critters here This would twist like a corkscrew to move There was a lot of these swimming around See if you can find it in the next two pictures. This very thin filament shoots across almost like its charged with electricity and corkscrewing at the same time. Very excited critter. Then also saw a lot single celled organisms and protists with flagellates I don't think the camera was able to pick up as I saw it with the 25x WF lens in at 2500x. Spent many hours exploring that tiny sample of cyano last night. I'll see what I can do for the video taken. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/15/2016, 03:57 PM	#5
Xxero Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,054	I might have weird tastes, but you could blow those up; print them out on quality paper; put a simple black picture frame around them; and hang them tastefully on any wall as décor. Fascinating and beautiful IMO! __________________ "You Can Lead A Gift Horse To Water... But You Can't Make Him Look In Your Mouth." Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef Display - 15g Macro Algae/Refugium - 40b Sump

03/15/2016, 04:10 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Microscopes are fun. I'm glad you are enjoying yours. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/15/2016, 06:06 PM	#7
bat21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 701	Awesome. Thanks for sharing. __________________ --- Current Tank Info: 65g fowlr

03/17/2016, 04:50 PM	#9
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Thanks very much for sharing. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/17/2016, 09:47 PM	#10
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Video from the cyano exploration. And i will apologize right now for all the movement and shaking. I will keep that all in mind for future videos. 40x http://youtu.be/insfgCOm5a4 100x http://youtu.be/4jFDXVRMmdU __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 09:51 PM	#11
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	400x http://youtu.be/8xO7qZI0s2c 400x pt 2 http://youtu.be/RzkMi_8TG_E __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 09:54 PM	#12
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	1000x http://youtu.be/wUER3LBelfA http://youtu.be/sSVf9ANFiRs http://youtu.be/BMwzPdSV_g8 http://youtu.be/GdWsMl-wNA4 http://youtu.be/FJuIcz2009k http://youtu.be/LCyI0y_OWP4 __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:04 PM	#13
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Last night I sampled some white stringy bacteria that grows through out my sump. There was a large amount of "larger" critters and spent most my time in the upper magnification ranges. Wanted to use the 1000x more but it was closing in on 2am and figured I needed to eat some dinner. lol White stringy bacteria in the sump And the smear It amazing the size of the things found in there. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:13 PM	#14
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Lots of various worms IT'S A BOY! I was looking for a male and found one __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:14 PM	#15
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	]Lots of pods. They either like the bacteria or detritus stuck in it or my guess would be both. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:16 PM	#16
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	At 400x it was like being able to dissect the pod through focusing at different planes. I hope the video of this comes out good. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:17 PM	#17
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	I was looking at this pod and something decided to show up.... Looks like a baby bristle worm I need to see how to stitch these together. I could shrink up and stretch out pretty far. I hope the video came out for this one. I was so excited I may have messed it up. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:18 PM	#18
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Sorry some of these may be duplicates __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:19 PM	#19
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	__________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:20 PM	#20
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Then I added some methylene blue and pulled that bacteria out __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:22 PM	#21
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	__________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:23 PM	#22
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	I noticed a lot of those Y structures at various magnifications. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:27 PM	#23
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	And the videos http://youtu.be/FW5UHC6b1Jo http://youtu.be/tTWKYL0MIHo http://youtu.be/LG9Uj1S7fuA http://youtu.be/7DS2vw2tiYc __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:31 PM	#24
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	http://youtu.be/Ck7agdRnMSs http://youtu.be/9C7-eZHgjao http://youtu.be/klthFTl9mjI http://youtu.be/pDNuxYi3GSM __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

03/17/2016, 10:32 PM	#25
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	http://youtu.be/qQcHhF2FE9c http://youtu.be/GFm368eQd7U http://youtu.be/5T5M2oLbEAw http://youtu.be/SJpVvSCVqqg __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank