Please ID this algae with scientific name

[Mr31415]

Under the microscope:

Still closer:

 

[JamesJR]

that sure is pretty whatever it is.

 

[piercho]

It matches visually to Asparagopis taxiformis, or "cotton candy" algae. A. taxiformis takes 2 growth forms and this one is the one usually seen in reef aquaria.
Sea Scope Vol 20 Issue 3

Can I ask what equipment you are using for the micro shots? Yours are impressive and very clear. The micro shots in the sea scope article don't have enough resolution to match them to yours, but they do look similar.

 

[DrHank]

Very impressive scope photos!

 

[Mr31415]

Thanks for the link.

I am using a 2MP Moticam CCD camera connected to one eyehole of my stereo biological microscope. The CCD connects via USB and is controlled by the Motic Images Plus application.

The microscope itself can resolve from 4x objective with 10x eyepieces to 100x objective using oil and 16x eyepieces.

 

[graveyardworm]

I have been looking at scopes for some time now and am still alittle confused at the wide array of scopes available, and the incredible price range. Is the scope your using something within the means of an average hobbyist to purchase, or is it a multithousand dollar lab scope. Would you be able to list a place where the scope could be purchased?

 

[Mr31415]

No it was not that expensive. At least not as expensive as the lab ones. The view through the eyepieces self is way better than the CCD's picture, but the CCD is the really expensive part and for my purposes it is adequite.

I purchased the Biological Microscope Model A from here:

Elmulab

The microscope was approximately R 5000 (roughly 350 GBP), and the CCD camera another R 4000 (280 GBP)