Drop of Tank water + Microscope = ?

[cabrego]

Hey all,

I am trying to figure out some of my fish problems and I have borrowed a microscope.

I found something very intersting and unexpected while inspecting a drop of my tank water.

There appears to be several black rings. It is best described as a black donut, oring, cherrio, etc.

They are perfect in circular shape and black. They are not active and do not appear to be "creatures". I have seen various sizes of them.

Does anyone know of a data base that exists that will allow me to view images of different types of cells, bacteria, etc.?

Thanks!

 

[firemedic0135]

what magnification are you using?
About what size are these things?

 

[cabrego]

I am not sure how to interpret what the lenses mean.

I have 3 settings,

.1
.25
.65

I have observed the rings in the first 2 settings. I have trouble finding it on the third. The rings are not very terribly large under the first two settings, many rings could fit in the viewing area with out any problem.

For example, I saw a small randomly spaced cluster of these rings and it only took up around 20 percent of the viewing area.

 

[firemedic0135]

I am not sure about those lenses either. I am familiar with the regular 10x 40x 100x lenses with 10x ocular lenses. Bacteria are usually well noticeable with a 1000x magnification.At 400x they look as if they are specks. I doubt you are seeing bacteria anyway as they usually have to be stained to observe them anyway.
Try and find out some details on the scope(mag power, field size) and then you can determine what size these things are.

 

[firemedic0135]

forgot to mention I do not know of a database for cell referance either. The only cell that resembles the one metioned above is a human red blood cell, although it is ..uh..red and not hollow in the center. Bacteria are usually spherical,rod shaped or long skinny/spiral shaped guys.

 

[GlassReef]

Re: Drop of Tank water + Microscope = ?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15176837#post15176837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cabrego
There appears to be several black rings. It is best described as a black donut, oring, cherrio, etc. They are perfect in circular shape and black. They are not active and do not appear to be "creatures".

Sounds like tiny air bubbles in the water you have placed on the slide - especially if you are observing with low (40x to 100x) magnification. The edge of such bubbles can often look thick and black, in effect, like a doughnut

 

[firemedic0135]

Re: Re: Drop of Tank water + Microscope = ?

Re: Re: Drop of Tank water + Microscope = ?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15177438#post15177438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
Sounds like tiny air bubbles in the water you have placed on the slide - especially if you are observing with low (40x to 100x) magnification. The edge of such bubbles can often look thick and black, in effect, like a doughnut

Quite true I forgot about those.On low power they wold look almost exactly as described. Good stuff Glass:thumbsup:

 

[cabrego]

Hm, I am not sure about air bubbles. I suppose it is possible, the only problem I see is that the rings are rather thick. I am not sure if interfaces between air and water would be that thick.

Also, I am not using a slit cover. I simply placed a single drop on a slide and viewed.

 

[lgerold]

Can you wipe off the glass and look for the rings without the water. I'm wondering if the glass has microbubbles.

Lucy

 

[firemedic0135]

Does it look like this

 

[cabrego]

ya good find, microbubbles?!

 

[firemedic0135]

Yeah the first day in lab everyone was asking" what is this" refering to bubbles on the slide lol . so your not alone there, very common. BTW if you want to see other things on your slide try a drop or two of methylene blue(if your not aware of this) on your sample. and drop a slip on it if you got one.

 

[cabrego]

Thanks for the info,

http://www.tri-esssciences.com/M2250 Microscope.htm

Here are the specs on the microscope.

does the eye piece x10 on top of the objective lens?

 

[firemedic0135]

yes that is correct 10x the objective lens=total magnification

 

[ludnix]

While on the subject does anyone know of any affordable microscopes? I'd enjoy using one if I could only find one that didn't cost $300.

 

[cloak]

I'd like to see how much $h!t is actually migrating from that refuge to the DT in an hour...


Pods in general.

 

[cabrego]

I am still looking for a database that contains images of cells. I would like to identify the type of algae that I am trying to get rid of, I think it is some form of byropsis, but I am not sure after looking at the cell structure of the fern shaped bryopsis in my tank.

 

[Jerm77]

where i purchased mine

http://www.amscope.com/