Our tank's biology up close

[McMullen]

Fantastic stuff!!

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm curious if you found life? And if not, what was the date on the bottle? Although if it's bacteria it most likely can't be seen if it's alive without culturing.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Best thread since Paul B's "Supermodels and Their Importance in Reef Aquaria"


Thanks for sharing!

 

[jason2459]

Fantastic stuff!!

Thank you its been so much fun.

I'm curious if you found life? And if not, what was the date on the bottle? Although if it's bacteria it most likely can't be seen if it's alive without culturing.

Yes and no. Not sure the dates. I'll have to remember to look later tonight when I get home.

I bought them from doctor foster and smith. Interesting thing is the bio-spira and one and only were both in a box packed full of cooling packs and both very cold. The eco balance was not.

Fwiw all bacteria I've found I could see at 2500x with out staining.

Best thread since Paul B's "Supermodels and Their Importance in Reef Aquaria"


Thanks for sharing!

Wow, thanks. I'm a PaulB fan and have learned a lot from him.

 

[jason2459]

Dr. Tim's Eco-Balance

I was not expecting much. I found a lot. I don't know about the bottles claims but found lots of coccus shaped bacteria. Everywhere in the two small drops I placed on the slide. I only took one picture as it was all the same. And all very much alive.

 

[jason2459]

Dr. Tim's One and Only

After seeing the Eco-Balance I was excited to look at the One and Only

First thing I noticed was how cloudy the sample was. Made me even more excited.

Then I looked into the microscope and saw what looked like a ton of detritus and was ecstatic to start zooming in looking for life.

I found some interesting things as I zoomed in

But everywhere I looked I found nothing that looked alive

I spent well over 2 hours looking for anything moving staying on certain areas for quite a long time just waiting. No videos as nothing was found to get video of.

 

[jason2459]

Bio-Spira

Just like the Eco-Balance the sample pulled from the bottle was just as cloudy.

And looking into the scope found what looks like detritus and was disappointed not expecting much of anything again.

BUT then I zoomed in even more and quickly found LIFE.

In the video you see this little guy bobbing around on little flagelets

And found lots of bacteria and different kinds. Easier to see at 2500x but not as much in picture or video. Found various cocci and rods.

 

[Paul B]

I used my antique microscope on maximum power to study the bacteria I add to my tank from the Long Island Sound. The bacteria look surprisingly like mud snails.

 

[jason2459]

Back at looking at some cyano and some dinos as a bonus. Plus some cool visits with some pods.

After exploring that for a few hours I soaked up some of the excess water and dropped on it some H2O2. Awesome!

Will get pics and vids uploaded later. I'm still exploring.

 

[jason2459]

Some pics first before adding the 3% hydrogen peroxide.

Some healthy dinos

 

[jason2459]

They seem to like to congregate together. I followed a couple for quite some time. Video posting later

 

[jason2459]

Had some fun with this little thing

 

[jason2459]

And after adding the H2O2

It totally broke up the cyano killed the dinos too. Looked like the outer shell on the dinos burst open

Parts were getting stained red

]

 

[jason2459]

Cyano just falling to pieces

Dino looking like they burst

 

[jason2459]

To many things going on... Here's those videos

 

[jason2459]

 

[jason2459]

 

[jason2459]

 

[jason2459]

Followed this little bugger for a long time. Watching its little flagelets whipping around and getting sucked in.

8 minutes of what was probably 45 to 60 minutes of following around. As you can see it was the end of following the copepod and like a dog seeing a squirrel I took off after the dino

 

[jason2459]

Followed all the way until it found its home nestled in with several other dinos