Our tank's biology up close

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by bertoni

Wow, that's up there for magnification!

It's what I find most interesting. I'm really happy with my decisions to get the 60x and the 100x dry too. The 100x dry was not a cheap objective at all but I'm always switching between objectives and if the 100x is oil and sping I can't go back to 40x and 60x spring lenses anymore or risk ruining them with the oil on the cover slip. And once I'm at 100x I really wanted to switch between 40x and 60x and back to 100x and now I can.

[jason2459]

Here's the line up with a calibration slide for size comparisons

2017-08-13_10-53-13 by Jason, on Flickr

10x
CalibrationSlide_AccuScope_10x by Jason, on Flickr

20x
CalibrationSlide_AccuScope_20x by Jason, on Flickr

40x
CalibrationSlide_AccuScope_40x by Jason, on Flickr

60x
CalibrationSlide_AccuScope_60x by Jason, on Flickr

100x
CalibrationSlide_AccuScope_100x by Jason, on Flickr

[bertoni]

Interesting. I definitely should get my microscope back in action.

[karimwassef]

Could you take a sample, add a drop of bleach and see what survives? I'm genuinely curious.

and still owe you some of my algae.

[taricha]

Jason, thanks for the new calibration shots and thank for this thread. It's one of my faves.

Here's what I was looking at and wondering if I was seeing bacteria. The dark ovals are I believe Dinoflagellate cysts probably ~60 microns across give or take. The small moving guy is a small cell amphidinium about 15 microns or so.

The wiggling on the cyst looking thing is what I was intrigued by. seems appropriate size to be bacteria on the surface of the cyst (maybe).
https://youtu.be/Ne_XJbpXZXU

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by taricha

Jason, thanks for the new calibration shots and thank for this thread. It's one of my faves.

Here's what I was looking at and wondering if I was seeing bacteria. The dark ovals are I believe Dinoflagellate cysts probably ~60 microns across give or take. The small moving guy is a small cell amphidinium about 15 microns or so.

The wiggling on the cyst looking thing is what I was intrigued by. seems appropriate size to be bacteria on the surface of the cyst (maybe).
https://youtu.be/Ne_XJbpXZXU

The about the right size. But I'm not sure it's on the surface. If they were on the surface I'd image you'd seem them around the edges and swimming between the cysts but I don't. You can also see the movement in each of the other cysts. Possibly zygotes? At some point those cysts will release many zygotes to become gametes again to either sexually reproduce between themselves or encyst again or reproduce asexually(binary fission). I've seen those cysts as well and believe them to be dinos too.

[taricha]

Thanks! You're right - I'm pushing magnification limits all the way there, and even adjusting focal plane, I can't for sure say whether the movement is inside the cell or on surface. I assumed it was outside, because I thought inside would be less likely.
Guess I need to collect a few of the cells and track them over time to see what we're looking at.
I've never noticed movement on that scale on/in any active dinos. But good call that it might be a reproductive process.


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[jason2459]

Going through layers of my sandbed now. I sucked up a sample from about 3/4" to 1" down at around the thickest area of my sandbed which also happens to be along the front of the glass.

I found a few things I had not seen before from my tank . That's always exciting. One if which showed me the origin of something I had seen previously. I will have to go back to some previous videos and watch again.


I got something over 200 pictures and many videos. Quite a few on the last thing I found just as I was about to shut down for the night.

[jason2459]

I'll try not to post all 209 pictures... lol I usually skim those that are terrible which many often are. flickr has the full album

and click on links for full resolution

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0001 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0003 by Jason, on Flickr

A rotifer I believe. First I've seen one on this kind under a microscope. But it's also the first time I've starting going into my sandbed I think.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0004 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0008 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0012 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0015 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0018 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0020 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Lots of diatoms. I like diatoms as they are not a pest in my tank. I haven't had a diatom bloom in ages. They are an important link in the system. IMO

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0021 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0023 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0024 by Jason, on Flickr

some detritus for life to live off of is not a bad thing either.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0026 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0027 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0030 by Jason, on Flickr


I would wager every aquarium and body of water on this plant has some level of cyano. Even the white patch of sane I pulled this sample from.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0036 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0037 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0040 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0041 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0042 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0043 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0046 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0047 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0048 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0049 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0050 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0052 by Jason, on Flickr

Green is the new red for me I guess. I keep seeing that green cyano now. Oh well.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0055 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0062 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0067 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Another critter I have not seen from my tank before! This sucker was FAST. I man it would zoom around at a pretty good speed and then instantly jump across at amazing speeds for something that looks so clunky. Again I think it's another type of Rotifer? It was hard getting video but I think I have some. I either ran into the same one twice or found two with the second being towards the end of my session.

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0068 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0069 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0070 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

I find these here and there. I think they are pretty. : )

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0073 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0074 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0075 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0079 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0080 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

I was at 100x when I ran into this pod. And decided to try and follow it. It wasn't easy at times but hopefully in the video it captured well what I was seeing. Which was getting to see it eat and swallow some food(detritus) and the guts moving things along.

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0082 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0085 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0087 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0092 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0094 by Jason, on Flickr

Then switched to 60x making it a little easier to follow around but still mighty close up.

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0101 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0102 by Jason, on Flickr


Piece of detritus just entered the mouth here.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0104 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Then went back looking at some bacteria.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0108 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0111 by Jason, on Flickr


I bet this was from a pod
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0113 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0123 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0128 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Then I start to just play around with the darkfield. And plaing around with the gain and exposure in the software. I found the lower the gain the darker the dark but harder to see more stuff. The higher the gain I got to see a wonderful amount of bacteria but all the other stuff over exposed even with the exposure turned down. But it was, as mentioned by someone else, like looking at the night sky.

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0137 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0140 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0143 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0144 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0145 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0148 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

And then I landed on the creature that freaked me out when I saw it in the darkfield. All of a sudden I see the washed out over exposed blotch with "tentacles" reaching out all over and it was slowly moving around. And I proceeded to follow this thing for a very long time.

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0153 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0154 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0155 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0156 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0157 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0159 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0160 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Went back to brightfield to see what the heck this thing was. Still don't know. But the "Feelers" were so interesting to watch as it seemed almost like a nerve or something and would pass up and down information it seemed. And they could morph and branch out. It was crazy. I hope the video's show it all well. I bet I have some long ones.

But these feelers or what ever they are I HAVE seen before. And will have to go back and review the videos again to see if I can spot this thing that it seems is the origin. Or more then one organism in my tank can do the same thing.

Got what looks like a lot of blurry shots but I was trying to focus on the odd extensions. I was pushing the contrast optically as much as possible. Both Irises nearly fully closed and exposure turned up.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0162 by Jason, on Flickrv


Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0164 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0165 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0168 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0169 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0171 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0173 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0177 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0178 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

The direction the thing headed always seemed to have it's longest "feeler" out ahead

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0181 by Jason, on Flickr

Kept trying to see an entry point and almost seems like there's channels built into it.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0184 by Jason, on Flickr


It was careful to navigate around things or stop when something like a diatom was heading towards it. But the extensions never touched them.

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0186 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0187 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Then the thing start flipping around and I was freaking out trying to get more details.
Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0188 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0190 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0191 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0192 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0193 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0200 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0203 by Jason, on Flickr

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0204 by Jason, on Flickr

And then it just stayed in one spot of a long time. I kept hoping it would split or something. But never did. Even the feelers went away until one finally popped out and started just moving around again.

Layers_of_a_Sandbed_1inch_Down-0208 by Jason, on Flickr

[jason2459]

Ok, finally getting around to organizing the videos into their playlist and posting here. It's quite a long play list so I might not post all the videos.

And crank up that video resolution and full screen it if you have the bandwidth.

The full playlist is here
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...Dm2arNn4tDH672

[jason2459]

What I believe is a type of rotifer ?

https://youtu.be/yNjAqf7ZFS4?list=PL...Dm2arNn4tDH672

https://youtu.be/-Ks8v0q2-T8?list=PL...Dm2arNn4tDH672

https://youtu.be/dINNEMuaIJM?list=PL...Dm2arNn4tDH672

https://youtu.be/-hoFOzjGLEk?list=PL...Dm2arNn4tDH672

[jason2459]

Several videos of diatoms and some cyano

https://youtu.be/KZpJOE5cfoU?list=PL...Dm2arNn4tDH672

https://youtu.be/gv3UmxpPC_U?list=PL...Dm2arNn4tDH672