Microscopy resources

[CindyKz]

I am on an "enforced staycation" for the next couple of weeks without much to do. I figure it's a good time to get better at using my microscope. So far I've only used it for identifying cyanobacteria and flatworms.

Does anyone have any good resources (accessible from home, so online or available through online order) for identifying the invisible critters in our tanks?

 

[ichthyogeek]

Hoff and Snell's Plankton Culture Manual has a few pages dedicated towards black and white phyto cell culture pictures for identification of phyto.

Depending on how small the critters you're looking at are (dust speck? visibly moving dots on glass? etc.), you might be able to identify them based on order (copepods, rotifers, etc) and then further google search to find what exactly you have.

 

[CindyKz]

Hoff and Snell's Plankton Culture Manual has a few pages dedicated towards black and white phyto cell culture pictures for identification of phyto.

Depending on how small the critters you're looking at are (dust speck? visibly moving dots on glass? etc.), you might be able to identify them based on order (copepods, rotifers, etc) and then further google search to find what exactly you have.

Thanks, I will look for that.

Lately I've been on a quest to see pods - any pods! - in my tank. I see all sorts moving dots on the glass at all hours so I know something is there LOL. I found a few in a sample of sand, but I can't seem to collect the ones on the glass no matter how I try.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Thanks, I will look for that.

Lately I've been on a quest to see pods - any pods! - in my tank. I see all sorts moving dots on the glass at all hours so I know something is there LOL. I found a few in a sample of sand, but I can't seem to collect the ones on the glass no matter how I try.

I’ve had good luck with using a razor blade to scrape them off, and then using something like a turkey baster to suck them immediately up once the razor blade’s dislodged them!

 

[CindyKz]

I thought of trying that today, since I know now that it worked for you il definitely try tomorrow

Here a quick video of what I am trying to get. Sorry about the weird focus and the tank corner in the view, I had to trick my phone into focusing on the glass instead of the tank.