Microscopy Thread

[EnterName]

Digitate Hydroid
(Class: Hydrozoa)​

In post #51 you can see a hydroid in its medusoid form (jellyfish-like).
I was fortunate enough to find a different hydroid form in my tank today. Usually it is impossible to find these things in older tanks, but since I have upgraded tanks these things pop up again.

You might have seen these white or transparent tentacles in your tank. They like to attach to reef rock and irritate corals:

(Semi-Transparent "tentacle" moving in the current)​

BRS has a better image which they attribute to Reef2Reef, but I did not find the original source yet.

​

Common Name	Digitate Hydroid
Classification	Class: Hydrozoa (genus/species unknown)
Verdict	Attention (can irritate corals)
Size	≤ 15cm (6")
Found	Rockwork, Filter sump
Rarity	Common (new tanks), Rare (old tanks)

(The very same tentacle under a microscope)
​

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Certainly not the most impressive image, but I feel like documenting different algae types is a decent idea so people can compare what they have found on their live rock. This is a piece of macro algae (Halymenia durvillei to be specific). It's a quite nice looking red macro algae that is growing in my sump. As my tank has very low nutrient levels I don't really need macro algae, but I'm keeping this one because it looks nice.

(Branched Halymenia - Halymenia durvillei - "Dragon's breath")​

I'm always a fan of this sort of documentation (even with species that the documentation already exists for); it's a lot of work, but I always appreciate when I find sites or studies with pics of a species at a few different levels of closeness: like one of the full algae; one of a single "leaf" of the algae; one of any macroscopic specific unusual features common to the species; general microscopic features; specific microscopic features, etc.

 

[EnterName]

Certainly not the most impressive image, but I feel like documenting different algae types is a decent idea so people can compare what they have found on their live rock. This is a piece of macro algae (Halymenia durvillei to be specific). It's a quite nice looking red macro algae that is growing in my sump. As my tank has very low nutrient levels I don't really need macro algae, but I'm keeping this one because it looks nice.

(Branched Halymenia - Halymenia durvillei - "Dragon's breath")​

I'm always a fan of this sort of documentation (even with species that the documentation already exists for); it's a lot of work, but I always appreciate when I find sites or studies with pics of a species at a few different levels of closeness: like one of the full algae; one of a single "leaf" of the algae; one of any macroscopic specific unusual features common to the species; general microscopic features; specific microscopic features, etc.

Thank you,

I'm aware that I'm not doing anything new or of actual scientific value here, but I think posts like the "common hitchhiker guide" or "dinoflagellate identification guide" are more accessible to reef keepers than studies or huge books (often behind paywalls) for which you already have to know what you are looking at in order to find what you just discovered in your tank.

Maybe some day I can summarize this thread into a guide as well. I would be really happy if people started using my images for identification purposes just like the hitchhiker and dinoflagellate guide

Maybe I should include bright-field images for every post as DIC won't be available to most

 

[Alexraptor]

Cool thread! The sharpest microscope image I've managed to capture, is one of this polychaete-larvae that was swarming in one of my tanks, a few years ago. No idea what it actually is.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Thank you,

I'm aware that I'm not doing anything new or of actual scientific value here, but I think posts like the "common hitchhiker guide" or "dinoflagellate identification guide" are more accessible to reef keepers than studies or huge books (often behind paywalls) for which you already have to know what you are looking at in order to find what you just discovered in your tank.

Maybe some day I can summarize this thread into a guide as well. I would be really happy if people started using my images for identification purposes just like the hitchhiker and dinoflagellate guide

Maybe I should include bright-field images for every post as DIC won't be available to most

I actually think including both would make it even more useful. DIC images are fantastic for revealing detail but having the corresponding bright field image gives people something they can realistically compare with what they see through a standard microscope.

 

[EnterName]

Thank you,

I'm aware that I'm not doing anything new or of actual scientific value here, but I think posts like the "common hitchhiker guide" or "dinoflagellate identification guide" are more accessible to reef keepers than studies or huge books (often behind paywalls) for which you already have to know what you are looking at in order to find what you just discovered in your tank.

Maybe some day I can summarize this thread into a guide as well. I would be really happy if people started using my images for identification purposes just like the hitchhiker and dinoflagellate guide

Maybe I should include bright-field images for every post as DIC won't be available to most

I actually think including both would make it even more useful. DIC images are fantastic for revealing detail but having the corresponding bright field image gives people something they can realistically compare with what they see through a standard microscope.

Yes, if I post bright-field images I most certainly will still include DIC. It just looks so much better

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thank you,

I'm aware that I'm not doing anything new or of actual scientific value here, but I think posts like the "common hitchhiker guide" or "dinoflagellate identification guide" are more accessible to reef keepers than studies or huge books (often behind paywalls) for which you already have to know what you are looking at in order to find what you just discovered in your tank.

Maybe some day I can summarize this thread into a guide as well. I would be really happy if people started using my images for identification purposes just like the hitchhiker and dinoflagellate guide

Maybe I should include bright-field images for every post as DIC won't be available to most

Definitely agree on the accessibility; guides in layman's terms are a lot easier to use than taxonomic keys (which can be tough to find) even when you know how to read them (and learning how to read them for various critters can be an exercise in perseverance at times).

Personally, I'd say the more the pics the better, but don't try to do more than you're up for!

 

[EnterName]

Ball Sponge
(Tethya sp.)​

Today I decided to take a closer look at some ball sponges that are quite numerous in my tank. They are relatively common but I rarely see them on this forum. Most people are asking about pineapple sponges which I might be able to dissect in another post. Both sponge types are harmless and beneficial. If you feed phytoplankton you can see them turning green from all the plankton they filter out of the water.

(Various Ball sponges on reef rock, probably Tethya sp.)
​

These sponges are common hitchhikers that reproduce by "budding" a process that (in simplified terms) means they are growing small versions of themselves on their own body and release them into the water once large enough.

(Ball sponge during the "budding" process)
​

Common Name	Ball Sponge
Classification	Tethya sp.
Verdict	Beneficial
Size	≤ 1cm (0.4")
Found	Rockwork
Rarity	Common

(Full view of a bud in Darkfield at approx. 100x magnification)​

To support their structure and not just be a round blob of jelly these sponges form silica based spicules which are these needle-like structures. You are basically looking at its "bones".

(Close up of the bud's spicules at roughly 400x magnification coming out of the sponge's sides.)
​

 

[EnterName]

Sea Lettuce
(Ulva sp. / Ulvaria sp.)​

Maybe a bit less interesting than the previously posted Ball sponge, but still important for this thread:
Sea lettuce (Ulva sp. or Ulvaria sp., I assume it's Ulva lactuca also known as Ulva fasciata but I'm not sure)

I don't have much algae growth in my tank, but during my recent tank upgrade I damaged a small part of my Stylophora pistillata. The small section grew a tiny bit of this algae, probably as the decaying coral tissue allowed for the accumulation of amino acids and other nutrients.

(Algae cells under approx. 400x magnification)​

Julian Sprung writes in his booklet "Algae A Problem Solver Guide": This algae is "Very palatable to most herbivorous fishes." My Yellow tang agrees with him . It's usually relatively easy to remove and control compared to other green algae and needs a lot of light to grow. Most flow pumps/gyres are located quite high in a tank and get a lot of light which unfortunately makes them a perfect place for Ulva to grow and negatively impact the pump's output.

Common Name	Sea Lettuce
Classification	Ulva sp. / Ulvaria sp.
Verdict	Nuisance (but good herbivore food)
Size	"unlimited", single "leaves" usually ≤ 2cm (0.8")
Found	Rockwork, Flow pumps, Glass
Rarity	Common

 

[MegabiteOG]

Awesome thread and thanks for your help today on mine. This is so cool. I really didn't have a concept of how many microscopic critters are inhabiting our tanks.

Great pictures by the way!

 

[EricR]

@EnterName , this is a great thread and you have some excellent pictures!
I only have a digital microscope that I got as a gift but it worked great for things like identifying ostreopsis dinos.
Haven't used it in a long time but this thread might give me the motivation to dig it back out.

For now, one picture I found (amphipod):
*I'm so lame that I didn't even use the digital microscope to take the image, just snapped a shot of the screen with my phone,,, doh!

 

[EricR]

I did finally pull out my digital microscope that I haven't used in quite some time, thanks to this thread.
Was able to suck a copepod off the glass and find it in a small bit of water under the microscope.
My plan was to get one on a slide and switch to higher power lens with backlit slide holder I have but didn't get that far and had to leave. (Maybe next time).
*I'm pretty rusty at this, to say the least

 

[EnterName]

I did finally pull out my digital microscope that I haven't used in quite some time, thanks to this thread.
Was able to suck a copepod off the glass and find it in a small bit of water under the microscope.
My plan was to get one on a slide and switch to higher power lens with backlit slide holder I have but didn't get that far and had to leave. (Maybe next time).
*I'm pretty rusty at this, to say the least

Thank you for sharing this image

Copepods are quite hard to capture as they move a lot. If you don't prepare the slides correctly you can end up squishing them, which is another hassle.
I like to take focus-stack images (multiple images with slightly shifted focus) and combine them to get a sharp image capturing every detail, but I didn't manage to have a copepod stay still for long enough yet

Maybe I should try again. I got a copepod nauplii in post #11 though.

 

[Peer.Boerner]

Thank you,

I'm aware that I'm not doing anything new or of actual scientific value here, but I think posts like the "common hitchhiker guide" or "dinoflagellate identification guide" are more accessible to reef keepers than studies or huge books (often behind paywalls) for which you already have to know what you are looking at in order to find what you just discovered in your tank.

Maybe some day I can summarize this thread into a guide as well. I would be really happy if people started using my images for identification purposes just like the hitchhiker and dinoflagellate guide

Maybe I should include bright-field images for every post as DIC won't be available to most

I really appreciate this kind of content. Many thanks for sharing! Might have to buy a microscope now. So many n FB marketplace when school lets out.

 

[EnterName]

I really appreciate this kind of content. Many thanks for sharing! Might have to buy a microscope now. So many n FB marketplace when school lets out.

I can highly recommend it!

There is always something to discover if you know where to look. You don't have to spend a lot of money, just find a compound microscope that goes up to 400x magnification and you are good to go. Most scopes will go up to 1000x but contrast will be very limited at this point and everything beyond 1000x is useless.

 

[EricR]

Thank you for sharing this image

Copepods are quite hard to capture as they move a lot. If you don't prepare the slides correctly you can end up squishing them, which is another hassle.
I like to take focus-stack images (multiple images with slightly shifted focus) and combine them to get a sharp image capturing every detail, but I didn't manage to have a copepod stay still for long enough yet

Maybe I should try again. I got a copepod nauplii in post #11 though.

Thanks for the tips. I get what you mean about some of the hassles (now).
I was determined so spent a solid hour on this and still, at the end, realized a couple of newbie dumb things I was doing that I'll hopefully remember for next time.

Won't bore anyone with the details...

Here's pre-squish, still swimming around:

Here's post-squish with slide cover (sorry, little dude):

 

[EnterName]

Thank you for sharing this image

Copepods are quite hard to capture as they move a lot. If you don't prepare the slides correctly you can end up squishing them, which is another hassle.
I like to take focus-stack images (multiple images with slightly shifted focus) and combine them to get a sharp image capturing every detail, but I didn't manage to have a copepod stay still for long enough yet

Maybe I should try again. I got a copepod nauplii in post #11 though.

Thanks for the tips. I get what you mean about some of the hassles (now).
I was determined so spent a solid hour on this and still, at the end, realized a couple of newbie dumb things I was doing that I'll hopefully remember for next time.

Won't bore anyone with the details...

Here's pre-squish, still swimming around:

Here's post-squish with slide cover (sorry, little dude):

You can put some petroleum jelly on the cover slide's edges. This will ensure the cover slide doesn't squish whatever you want to observe.

Another possibility is to build a little bridge by putting a cover slide left and right from the actual sample. The third cover slide can be placed on top of the sample and won't squish it because the other two slides keep if slightly elevated.

 

[EricR]

You can put some petroleum jelly on the cover slide's edges. This will ensure the cover slide doesn't squish whatever you want to observe.

Another possibility is to build a little bridge by putting a cover slide left and right from the actual sample. The third cover slide can be placed on top of the sample and won't squish it because the other two slides keep if slightly elevated.

Thanks again.

The hard part for me was:
- I can suck up a couple of pods off the glass easy enough, but then I have a dropper with maybe 2-3 mL of water
- trying to get the part of that water that has the pods to stay on the slide was interesting

I follow this thread because I think it's awesome and I'll probably be motivated enough to try again the next time I see something different that's interesting and small enough.

Somewhere in my invert QT, there's now at least one slide cover blowing around that I can't find.
*I had left a slide in the tank overnight and there were pods on it today,,, but I naively thought I might be able to get a slide cover on in the tank -- uhhh,,, yeah,,, don't bother trying that!

 

[EnterName]

The hard part for me was:
- I can suck up a couple of pods off the glass easy enough, but then I have a dropper with maybe 2-3 mL of water
- trying to get the part of that water that has the pods to stay on the slide was interesting

Yes, that's not so easy. There are different dropper/pipette sizes which can help a little, but it's always a little difficult. I usually just dump in a detritus or algae sample. Copepods are everywhere anyways

Somewhere in my invert QT, there's now at least one slide cover blowing around that I can't find.
*I had left a slide in the tank overnight and there were pods on it today,,, but I naively thought I might be able to get a slide cover on in the tank -- uhhh,,, yeah,,, don't bother trying that!

I fortunately did not try that yet
I pretty much always use pipettes or tweezers to get my samples. Very often I just collect some detritus and put it in a beaker with some tank water so I can try again and again to get that one pod, flatworm, or whatever under the scope.

 

[EnterName]

Hydroid
(Obelia sp.?)​

Apparently we have another Hydroid-Post . These roughly 3 to 5mm long specimens attach to surfaces and were found on a few new zoa frags I recently received. They remotely resemble Obelia hydroids, but I'm not sure this is the correct genus.

(Macro shot of the hydroids)​

Common Name	Hydroid
Classification	Hydrozoa (maybe Obelia sp.)
Verdict	Attention (can irritate corals)
Size	≤ 5mm (0.2")
Found	Rockwork
Rarity	Unknown

They don't seem to irritate Zoas as much as the usually found digitate hydroids would (see post #61), but if you see thin hairs on a frag, you can try to remove them. It's not so easy to get them with tweezers as they are very thin, but it's possible.