Our tank's biology up close

This critter was awesome to watch. I can't wait to see the video. It has uploaded and will watch it again later. First time I've caught this one on the side view and super fast when it wants to be.

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0022 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0023 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0024 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0026 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0027 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0028 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0029 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0030 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0031 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

This was another interesting one to watch.

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0032 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0033 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0034 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0035 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0036 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0037 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0038 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0039 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0040 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0041 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0044 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0045 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0046 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0047 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

This ciliate was hard to capture. Can you see it. the video to come

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0057 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0059 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

Always finding these

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0060 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0061 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0062 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0063 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0064 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

I thought I found an amoeba looking at the shape... until I saw it moving... awesome fine

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0065 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0066 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0067 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0068 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0069 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0070 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0071 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0072 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0076 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0077 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

I was about to hang it up for the night after that last last find... then I found this crazy "hairy" ciliate with weird stuff all over it. And the dark field really bought it out.

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0078 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0079 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0081 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0082 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0083 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0084 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

Then it just stopped moving... And turns out it was covered in bacteria. Either it was dyeing and the bacteria was feasting or it died because of the bacteria. But the bacteria after the ciliate stopped moving started moving on.

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0085 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0086 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0087 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0088 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0089 by Jason, on Flickr

I stepped away and came about about 30 minutes later... Seemed to be not much left of the ciliate and more bacteria was wondering off still.

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0090 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0091 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0092 by Jason, on Flickr

Sandbed_3in_down_09302018-0093 by Jason, on Flickr

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

Video playlist for this series.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN_wI2B-a8vpaj1Gr0eX85wQh07lx1qwS

jason2459 · Sep 30, 2018

Notable videos from above.

30 minutes later

bh750 · Oct 1, 2018

Very cool share Jason. Love this stuff!! I have a deep sand bed and will try this sometime. The thing in the 3rd video looks so crazy it seems fake, like it was superimposed. in the first video, I love when things go flying by, like at the 46-47 second mark. I always wonder what things like that could be? And where's it going?!?!

jason2459 · Oct 1, 2018

Thanks. I'm guessing a type of rotifer.

Monkeytank · Jan 6, 2019

Wow. I just went through the entire thread. I got kinda lost when you were listing all the stuff you looked at for your current setup. What is the total I would have to spend to get the specific gear you are using now?

jason2459 · Jan 6, 2019

Monkeytank said:
Wow. I just went through the entire thread. I got kinda lost when you were listing all the stuff you looked at for your current setup. What is the total I would have to spend to get the specific gear you are using now?

Thanks. Can go with my initial setup with camera and all for under $500. That was an OMAX setup and was perfectly adequate. Amscope is perfectly fine too.

Or my new setup that was bought for some features I wanted and slightly better optics and much higher resolution camera.
Microscope central:
Accuscope exc350 around $1400
20x objective to replace the 4x ~$190
60x dry objective ~$340
100x dry to replace oil objective ~$600
C-mount 1x adapter for camera ~$100

AVP emporium
20MP sony bsi camera ~$600

I'm hoping only 1 more month of hell. Get back to posting some more. I've made it through 2 acquisitions in 2.5 years to put it simply. Work and life balance has been off balance for quite some time.