MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

It looks like my beach sampling method was wrong. I scooped the wet surface sand as soon as the
water receded. I got a cup every other minute, and a good dousing in between! However no diatoms
are showing up. How should I do this in the future?
Dale

2 were tourists, the other was the beach attendant. Perhaps because I was using our room ice bucket, or perhaps why was someone my age playing in the sand! They were all entertained by my explanation. My suitcase is almost always opened, surely not because it is neon green. This time they skipped it...

I did miss him, but just pm'd for address, thanks for reminding me. I'm still reading all those links! Bag list updated. I should keep everybody's address for next years trip to Kauai, after that trip we intend to just rotate the same islands. BTW, I was asked 3 times why I was scooping sand from th...

Back in Seattle and preparing to ship sand. Hoping to put ziplocks of samples in USPS small one-size-fits-all box, and ship at book rate. Other option, that I have never used is to put the sand into a pill bottle, and then into a plastic fedex envelope. I kinda lean toward the ziplock as it would ma...

Lorez...........,! Most of our drinks are like 500ml! Still a good idea, but there are no turkeys on diz islan mon. I hope the lat-lon of the sample is sufficiently precise. Damp sand it will be, at collection time, but by the time you receive it?? Please don't send me any sand, yet, I have a ways t...

As I sit here poolside, sipping my 1st MaiTai, I am planning my sand forray. I brought the ice pitcher down, thinking I could wade out to the moist sand area. Most of the water would be poured off, and I would fill the few ziplock's with perhaps 3 cups of sand. Now, I guess just plain ol dry sand is...

Looks like 4 samples, plus 1 for myself. When I get home I'll need addresses.
No shipping fees, just glad to return something for all the help, and enter-
tainment I get here.
Next year I'll be better prepared to collect from Kauai.
Dale

I was asked to bring back a sample of beach sand for a forum member, so there
must be something of microscopic interest in it. Sorry I didn't post earlier, as I'm
leaving Tuesday morning, but I still have time to get more.
Dale

Currently using the B&L Stereozoom 4, with 10 15, and 20X eyepieces, a 2X aux lens, and a variety stage attachments. What make and model scope would be an improvement? I don't use the higher magnification very often. The loss of WD with the aux is a pain. A boom arm is very appealing, but the good g...

Set-up equals technique. My collection is pages of the many different steps. I was curious why the 'technique' was not more uniform. One of the consistencies was to use a stained specimen, so I assumed they had some optical property that facilitated the adjustments. If that was the case, why don't t...

While waiting for my first scope I started collecting different Kohler lighting set ups. At around 20 I quit, and started comparing them. Many similarity's, just as many were really different. One thing that many had in common, even a recent one from Nikon, was the use of a stained specimen. The onl...

I sent for those and they came all totally smashed to bits. One email and I got ten in perfect shape. It's hard
to believe they can make and ship ten for $2.21. I'm still looking for small square ones to use on an inverted scope.
Dale

I read the specs several times and could not tell if the phase condenser had the non-phase position that allows the phase abjective to be a brightfield objective... Dale You need to put your reading glasses on Dale. :) Under the Features: 'Four phase contrast lenses and one bright field Abbe conden...

How would you compare this light to a gooseneck lamp? There are times when
the contrast from the side is very dramatic, but the gooseneck lamp is sometimes
not handy.
Dale

I read the specs several times and could not tell if the phase condenser had the non-phase position that allows the phase abjective to be a brightfield objective. I have used 10x, 15X, and 20x on all 3 types of scopes, and I found the 10X and 15X to be very useful, the 20X was useless. I found the f...

ruined my evening, will probably have nightmares, thanks a lot RR.
Dale

Thanks for the links, at one time I was looking at a telescope but nothing happened.
It just dawned on me that I'll be moving from the smoggy poluted subburbs to the
crystal clear skies of Sequim, perhaps a telescope?
Dale

I thought a Barlow lens on a telecope gave it increased magnification, the same as
an eyepiece on a microscope. Never had a telescope..........
Dale

Amen. I thank my lucky stars I found this site in time. I made a huge spreadsheet of Amsco, and a few other new brands. The terms were difficult, but after reading a few different explanations, well, I had many 'a ha' moments, I still struggle with N.A. I think it comes down to getting a new scope l...

Welcome Starguy, you are in a forum populated with incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and helpful to all microscopists, and those who want to be. I was in your shoes a very short time ago, and it was this same advice that steered me away from a new scope. I googled every term I did not understan...

I copied the 'new' floor plan, and am considering it. I don't want to be walled in. There is a sink in the laundry room maybe 20' away that will have to do for awhile. I saw a lot of portable designs. The interior walls are North and East. Having to reinstall operating system in big pc, so I'm socke...

11' minus 2 2' desks leave a little less than 7'. I will devour you plan, as I am not locked into anything until I tell the electrician where the light boxes need to be. I am going to mount all desks the same height, and use only one chair. I can't figure if I need 8' or 10' for the 3 scopes, by the...

RR, That 'window' is 10" high, and 7' from the floor. Putting much of anything along that wall starts to narrow the room. Instead of a computer desk I decided to use another linoleum prefab countertop. Okta, there are no windows, that would have been a great idea. The builder suggested I install a '...

Finalized plans, but with 2 changes. No air, but a good exhaust fan. and a wall heater. Ventilation will be
negative, but better than none.
Dale

After laying things out to scale, a desk under the window would narrow the room too much. The window is a high mounted 1' by 8'. Putting the 8' countertop there would leave a lot of useless space on each end. I am moving 4 tall bookshelves for temporary storage. They can be stripped for shelving. Th...

Details not on plan are: one piece linoleum floor, multiple rows of 10'' shelving around 3 walls, rubber covebase. Not sure how we will vent heat from room, or best door sill/threshold. I am toying with having groups of fixtures on their own switch. Meeting with builder tomorrow, but little details ...

What format does Microbe Hunter allow? Could not find anything.
Dale

Our builder called today, we meet Tuesday to incorporate all our likes and dislikes, and get a price. I asked
him about the heat pump filters, he said they were HEPA, and expensive, but we get a box of 12. Hopefully
one filter on the intake will suffice.
Dale

Peter, your lab, and my proposed are almost identical. Mine got boosted to 8'6'' by 10'10''. If I assume your desks are against the walls, how far from the walls are the fixtures? I'm guessing if I center the fixture between me and the edge of a 12'' deep shelf there would be shadowless light on the...

Does your stage float, or does it fit into those little holes?
Dale