immersion oil question

[mintakax]

I ask forgiveness io advance if this is a bit "over the top". I have a small pond aquarium and I have a procedure which, to my thinking, results in the least harm to the organisms I observe. I hope I'm not just fooling myself.

I use a well slide with a glass cover and after observing, I dunk the entire slide in the aquarium water until the cover slide floats off a bit. I lift it off with a pair of tweezers and rinse it in the aquarium, then toss it. I similarly rinse the slide, but re-use it.

I'm wondering if following the same procedure with a slide that had immersion oil (after being wiped off) on the cover would eventually foul up the aquarium water ? I know it will float on the surface, but the surface exchange with the air must be a pretty big deal.

Thanks,
Dan

[wporter]

I would think that the oil, especially if it eventually spreads out to form a sheen or layer, would probably negatively impact the air-water gaseous exchange rate or process.

[MicroBob]

This is probably no design criteria for the formulation of immersion oil so I would be careful.
You might look for a clear natural oil of suitable refractive index instead. This oil might not be perfect optically and it is not tested for use on microscope objectives but this may not be a big problem.

Bob

[75RR]

One solution would be to not oil the condenser and to lift the cover slip off before dunking the slide.

As it is a well slide, that is where most of the animalcules will be.


Note: Higher magnification objectives have a shallower depth of field, they are not ideal for well slide use.

I lift it off with a pair of tweezers and rinse it in the aquarium, then toss it.

There is no need to toss cover slips after one use when observing pond water. I reuse them several times.


Have a look at Oliver's video. It does look a little stressful at times but it does have a happy ending

[Roldorf]

What do you expect to see from an aquarium with a 100x lens that can't be observed under a 60x? you wouldn't need to use oil at all.

[Sauerkraut]

Perhaps instead of dunking the slide, you could get a squirt bottle that has a good water stream so the microbes could be jetted back into the tank with minimal oil contamination.

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Bottle-S ... 0497&psc=1

[mintakax]

One solution would be to not oil the condenser and to lift the cover slip off before dunking the slide.

As it is a well slide, that is where most of the animalcules will be.


Note: Higher magnification objectives have a shallower depth of field, they are not ideal for well slide use.

I lift it off with a pair of tweezers and rinse it in the aquarium, then toss it.

There is no need to toss cover slips after one use when observing pond water. I reuse them several times.


Have a look at Oliver's video. It does look a little stressful at times but it does have a happy ending

Thanks 75
Yikes on the video ! Resilient creatures they are. I think I'm going to give up on the 100x oil immersion, since I think the depth of field will be driving me nuts anyways.

[mintakax]

What do you expect to see from an aquarium with a 100x lens that can't be observed under a 60x? you wouldn't need to use oil at all.

I would certainly prefer 60x. I have10,20,40 and 100x DIC inserts in my turret but not 60x.

[mintakax]

Perhaps instead of dunking the slide, you could get a squirt bottle that has a good water stream so the microbes could be jetted back into the tank with minimal oil contamination.

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Bottle-S ... 0497&psc=1

Thanks Heather-- I actually had considered just that.

[mintakax]

I would think that the oil, especially if it eventually spreads out to form a sheen or layer, would probably negatively impact the air-water gaseous exchange rate or process.

Completely agree. Thanks.