macroalgae usage

[jarviz]

Anybody have any idea what this is? i have some browning on the sand, kind of like a mild case of diatoms. No snot with bubbles or anything like that. but every once in a while there will be one super long strand of goop/algae/snot ... and it's it moves with the current. I was able to suck out a strand and put it under a microscope. I didn't make a video becaue there wasn't any movement. i placed the strand on petri dish and then slide. Not sure if i'm doing it right tho.. the images below are at 100 and 400x.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pics very fuzzy to determine.

 

[jarviz]

Pics very fuzzy to determine.

do i need a higher powered micrscope? mine only goes up to 400x... but i feel like when i'm at 400x, the lens will end up touching the slide or the goop.. or am i doing somethign wrong?

 

[vetteguy53081]

do i need a higher powered micrscope? mine only goes up to 400x... but i feel like when i'm at 400x, the lens will end up touching the slide or the goop.. or am i doing somethign wrong?

A pic of The actual algae would be better

 

[taricha]

Chrysophytes

 

[jarviz]

Chrysophytes

Just googled that. i think so too. thanks!