Our tank's biology up close

[jason2459]

 

[jason2459]

 

[reef thief]

You post so many pics that it's hard to follow. Yet everyone appreciates it and I can't get enough.

 

[jason2459]

That's a lot of worms in that one shot! I like the copepod (?) on the side, too. Have you bought any small animal cultures to add, or did these come with live rock?

At first I thought I had flatworms but I think it was TMZ pointed out walking ciliates. I got a chance to get up close and sure enough they are a type of Hypotrichida. I found a few that can be a redish color but haven't positively ID'ed them yet to a specific genus. I do have some other kinds spread through previous photos but those red ones really love the ATS. I don't think I've really seen them like that anywhere else in the tank.

https://www.britannica.com/science/hypotrich

http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=425500

http://members.aon.at/peigner/
"The Hypotrichida are considered the highest evolved single-celled organisms..."

Interesting read on a hypothesis on their possible brain like neural functions (proven wrong later)
http://www.itcamefromthepond.com/2013/11/29/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-ciliate-cytobrain/

From a previous sample getting up close with the 100x lens and seeing the "legs"

My tank, after having to rebuild it due to a flood destroying my house in 2008, started with dry rock and dry sand. So everything in my tank is from corals or other inverts like snails and crabs bought. I did add some pods and macro algae for a refugium bought from reefcleaner.org probably around 2009-2010 time frame. That probably added some good diversity.

 

[bertoni]

Ah, I see, I didn't understand the magnification level, and I've never heard of walking ciliates. More cool organisms!

 

[jason2459]

All very cool and always finding something new


That picture of that little one was truly a very little one taken with the 100x lens

These from last night are huge compared to that one

4x lens

10x lens

40x lens

 

[jason2459]

You post so many pics that it's hard to follow. Yet everyone appreciates it and I can't get enough.

Sorry for the blasting. I have taken a lot of pictures the past couple of samples. I have one more to do from a different area. I was going to tonight but not able to so will tomorrow night hopefully.

I'm trying to get a good sampling before dosing this new bacteria in a bottle product. First time dosing something like it. Going to split off into its own thread soon. Only doing it due to some rather impressive reviews on it's effectiveness. So, I'm also curious to see it at a microscopic level and what impact it could have. It's supposed to be something that works against algaes, diatoms, cyano, dinoflagelets, etc...rather wild claims. I would hope it doesn't put to much of a dent in my diatom population. I don't have an issue with them and feel they are an important part of the phytoplankton.

 

[jason2459]

Video playlist
Before Vibrant Sample 2: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN_wI2B-a8vrSm3U0Sq7HIDTUvoDE_5ls

 

[jason2459]

Here's a video with what looks like one of those red critters splitting

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PafKzux1IAM?list=PLN_wI2B-a8vrSm3U0Sq7HIDTUvoDE_5ls" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>



I did catch another one of these amoeba like blobs splitting (which looks like it likes to eat diatoms among other things)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/47Jv_HhDVCA?list=PLN_wI2B-a8vrSm3U0Sq7HIDTUvoDE_5ls" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[jason2459]

Need to get the time to get to a 3rd sample area but here's that Vibrant bacteria from Underwater Creations.

 

[jason2459]

Some nice looking bacteria. Couple different forms in a few different arrangements. Nothing unusual.

But something interesting here not seen in other bottles of bacteria I've looked at. Can you see it?

 

[jason2459]

 

[tmz]

I see the strings. What do you think they are?

 

[jason2459]

I see the strings. What do you think they are?

I am not sure. Definitely not algae strands. Very straight.

Coccus, bacillus, and coccobacilli types of bacteria. Saw several cocci chained up indicating a type of streptococci.

 

[jason2459]

I didn't have a lot of time when looking at it but I will get a slide prepared soon that I can get an even closer look with. Being practically all liquid that seems to have very little viscosity the cover slip would slide around if using either of the spring lenses with out properly being secured in place.

 

[jason2459]

Interesting read and testing method
http://www.fidanoski.ca/medicine/staphylococcus-streptococcus.htm

 

[jason2459]

I should mention as well, the bacteria seemed dormant. None of it was moving. So far all the other bottles of bacteria that I've found bacreria in the bacteria was very active.

Which Vibrant claims a shelf life of a couple years or so.

Video of the longest strand I saw.
https://youtu.be/gg1BF3Fz9yg

 

[jason2459]

Nothing at all to do with the above strand that the bacteria are attached to but very cool

Bacteria nano wires
Http://phys.org/news/2014-08-bacterial-nanowires-thought.amp

"Shewanella bacteria roughly 1/50th the width of a human hair reach out nanowires to breathe when deprived of oxygen. These types of bacteria are typically found underground or in lake or ocean sediments, where oxygen is scarce. Credit: PNAS, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1410551111"

http://m.pnas.org/content/111/35/12883


And more cool research on bacteria immune system that just got published yesterday
http://m.phys.org/news/2016-11-bacteria-ramp-immune-response-viral.html

 

[jason2459]

Ok these are cool and I have to find out how to identify them.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prochlorococcus

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC26388/

Image
http://www.eol.org/pages/3264/overview

 

[OllieNZ]

Here's another product that may be of interest to review especially given its purported algaecidal properties. According to its ingredients list it's mostly a blend of bacteria.
http://www.uwcmn.com/vibrant-liquid-aquarium-cleaner