Our tank's biology up close

[jason2459]

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/B01BPJJ70I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_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]

~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]

~400x

Two of those right next to each other.

 

[jason2459]

~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]

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! :bigeyes:

 

[bertoni]

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

 

[bat21]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jason2459]

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! :bigeyes:

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.

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.

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Thank, more to come.

 

[billdogg]

Thanks very much for sharing.

 

[jason2459]

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]

400x

http://youtu.be/8xO7qZI0s2c

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

 

[jason2459]

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]

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]

Lots of various worms

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

 

[jason2459]

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

 

[jason2459]

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]

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]

Sorry some of these may be duplicates

 

[jason2459]

 

[jason2459]

Then I added some methylene blue and pulled that bacteria out