MicroReef - Microscope pictures
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Posts that don't fit in any of the other categories.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6354
Printed Date: June 28 2025 at 8:51am
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Topic: MicroReef - Microscope pictures
Posted By: Adam Haycock
Subject: MicroReef - Microscope pictures
Date Posted: April 26 2005 at 4:16pm
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Ok, so I was really bored today. I've been having problems with diatoms in both my aquariums. I pretty sure it from fertilizing my tanks and using tap water high in silicic acid (SiO2nH2O). I also have limited amounts of bryopsis and cyanobacteria. So whats the difference between the three? I took some pictures of them just for fun. Im not sure how many here will be interested in this, but i'll post it anyways. Diatoms Diatoms are the brown slime algae seen in most new tanks. They depend on silicates for growth and normally go away once the supply is depleted. If you use tap water and have high nutrients, then you are more likely to get outbreaks. Here are several types of diatoms. The one in the center is a centric diatom (Bellerochea sp.) The others are some species of epiphytic diatoms.
Here are some epiphytic diatoms growing on Caulerpa prolifera. This is the type that grows all over the glass, rocks, macro algaes etc.
CYANOBACTERIA (blue-green algae). This bacteria is very familiar to many reefers. They are not algae (a eukaryote) but are actually prokaryotes. These bacteria use nitrogen gas in the water to form bio-available forms of organic nitrogen.
HAIR ALGAE
...and finally seagrass. Notice the chloroplast bundles in the cells.
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Replies:
Posted By: coreyk
Date Posted: April 26 2005 at 4:20pm
Those are AMAZING! Thanks! 
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Posted By: dkle
Date Posted: April 26 2005 at 4:29pm
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What magnification did you use for the cyanobacteria? They are really big for a prokaryote. I used to be a microbiologist in my previous life; and the bacteria that I saw (most of them human pathogens) are small and usually don't show any cellular details under microscope. ------------- If you can't bedazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bs! Dinhkim Le - Procrastinator extra-ordinare |
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: April 26 2005 at 4:34pm
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Very cool. Thanks. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: Adam Haycock
Date Posted: April 26 2005 at 4:41pm
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Its 400x -------------
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Posted By: ssilcox
Date Posted: April 26 2005 at 6:06pm
| Sweeeet |
Posted By: dkle
Date Posted: April 26 2005 at 8:49pm
Yep, it's big alright. I routinely used 1000x (the oil lens) to check bacteria out; and couldn't see any intracellular structures like in your picture. Great job! ------------- If you can't bedazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bs! Dinhkim Le - Procrastinator extra-ordinare |
BananaTropics wrote:Posted By: Xacttech
Date Posted: April 27 2005 at 9:54am
| Awesome, Smart people are cool. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 27 2005 at 10:59am
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Awesome Adam.
Was that common hair algae or Bryopsis. You named the file bryopsis. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Adam Haycock
Date Posted: April 27 2005 at 12:11pm
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Not exactly sure Mark, but I think its actually Derbesia sp.. I need to get my algae classification down. Im pretty sure its not Bryopsis sp. after a couple quick searches. -------------
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Posted By: Adam Haycock
Date Posted: March 17 2008 at 8:50pm
| bump for jonafriend :) |
Posted By: EagleEyez5
Date Posted: March 17 2008 at 9:57pm
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very cool ------------- http://www.highendcorals.com/"> 
WMAS PAID SPONSOR |
Posted By: Jeff Morrill
Date Posted: March 17 2008 at 11:13pm
  ------------- WHAT KINDA GUM????... Give em 2 sticks. |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: March 18 2008 at 10:56am
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Ok, now I want a microscope so I can take pictures like that! Mike -------------  |
Posted By: Jhamb
Date Posted: March 18 2008 at 11:54am
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wow those pictyres are cool, i bet they are way more fun to look at in real life!
------------- Jeremy 40B INW USAF |