Our tank's biology up close

[jason2459]

I started off with the chunk and really had to push the exposure up to get light through it and so much so you'll see some bounce back glare in some of the images. And any spot that actually allowed some light through some what decently will be very bright white and over exposed by a lot.


Thick full of cyano and some detritus. See some common cyano I've seen, some spirulina, and some of what I think are cyano but haven't seen in my tank yet either. Some algae packed in too. Didn't see sponge or anything like it. From what I saw its all bacteria tightly packed in and some detritus and algae "swallowed" up into the mass. Bacteria of various types and sizes from the very small creating bacterial films to the large cyano.

Black_Mat_Sample01-0002 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0003 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0004 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0005 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0006 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0007 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0008 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0009 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0010 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0011 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0012 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0013 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0014 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0015 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0016 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0017 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0018 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0020 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0021 by Jason, on Flickr


Black_Mat_Sample01-0022 by Jason, on Flickr


Black_Mat_Sample01-0023 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0024 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0025 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0026 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0027 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0028 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0029 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0030 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0031 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0032 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0033 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0034 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0035 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0036 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0037 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0038 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0039 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0040 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0041 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0042 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0043 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0044 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0045 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0046 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0047 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0048 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0049 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0050 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0051 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0052 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0053 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0054 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0055 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0056 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0058 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0059 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0060 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0061 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0062 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0063 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0064 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0065 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0066 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0067 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0068 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0069 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0071 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0072 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0073 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0075 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0078 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0080 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0071 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0072 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0073 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0075 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0078 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0080 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0091 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0092 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0093 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

And the vids. Will work on getting all the vids up to my youtube too.

Black_Mat_Sample01_01 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_010 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_011 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_012 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_02 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_03 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_04 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_05 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_07 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01_08 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[jason2459]

Black_Mat_Sample01_09 by Jason, on Flickr

 

[MickeyCT]

I was researching microscopes and came across this thread. Way cool! I had pretty much decided prior to this on an OMAX mid rante where I could upgrade some of the components later, but now I'm thinking about trying to get one of these, even if I have to do without some of the options in the short term. From all your comments it seemed like the Kohler illumination and the higher quality optics were worth it.

I wonder if they are selling used anywhere?

Great job you did, Jason. Very interesting and educational.

Mickey

 

[jason2459]

Thanks. I really like the better mid range optics. I idon't think high end premium ones are necessary as a hobby.

 

[samnaz]

Black_Mat_Sample01-0008 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0009 by Jason, on Flickr

Black_Mat_Sample01-0010 by Jason, on Flickr

any idea what that large ball made up of smaller green balls is?

looks sorta like volvox. I could be way off, it's been a while since I took biology...

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Hey Jason, love this thread. Any chance I can get some recommendations on a good quality microscope and camera. If you were to be replacing your equipment today, what would you get? I looked into the EXC-350 you posted earlier in the thread, but could not figure out which EXC-350 model is the one you use.

Dennis

 

[jason2459]

Omax and Amscope are good budget ones. Great if you just want to take a peak and play around.

I'm very happy with my purchase of the Accuscope. It's more expensive as a mid range scope with what seems like very nice objectives. Other reviews rated them near Nikon quality but I can't confirm that. Certainly not the cost of the high end scopes and is perfect as a hobby scope IMO.

This is the one I got along with a 100x dry objective and a darkfield slider.
https://microscopecentral.com/colle...u-scope-exc-350-microscope?variant=1058493645

 

[mcarroll]

AccuScope seems to have a really nice sub-$500 range of scopes – every one seems to have reverse-facing objectives and a really nice body.

 

[jason2459]

AccuScope seems to have a really nice sub-$500 range of scopes – every one seems to have reverse-facing objectives and a really nice body.

The 3002 or exec120 look nice for a lower cost option. The Omax or Amscope I have first hand experience with and have no issue recommending them for a good bang for the buck value scope.

 

[jason2459]

Finally got my laptop set back up. My other one died on me. They don't seem to like it when kids drop juice into them. I've been itching to get back to this so tonight I'll get a sample from my ATS that I haven't touched coming up on a year. I don't expect anything crazy except possibly nothing at all as I haven't looked in it at all.