Fresh New Micro Aquarium

[KurtM]

So I set up a fresh new micro aquarium with fresh new sample in it, from the same county park pond where my last batch of Hydra came from. I was rather expecting to have hoards of Volvox, Cladocera, Ostracods, Conochilus, and who knows what else, based on what I've gotten from this place before. But so far (24 hours later) just one or two Volvox, and lots of Hydra. Brown Hydra, I want some green Hydra now! Oh well, at least Hydra is very cool, not like I'm tired of it. Hope you aren't either.

Oh yes, this sample has tons and tons of Vorticella, have never seen so many. I'm sure other pondwater denizens will put in their appearances with time, but for now let's get back to studying Hydra.

These two shots show a bud separating and striking out on its own. I observed the event, but it happens too fast to photograph. The bud grasps the glass with its tentacles, pops loose from Momma, and somersaults over to land on it's own footing. Colonies of Vorticella look on.

[einman]

Incredibly nice. Clear and detailed.

[lorez]

I, hereby, award you a Medal ! Redeemable, where fine Medals are redeemed.

lorez

[rnabholz]

They just keep getting better Kurt.

Fantastic stuff, and no sign of tiring of Hydra here, keep em coming.


Rod

[charlie]

Really awesome Kurt! I want some of that pond water.

What are you using for those shots?

[DaveH]

Outstanding photos you have a good sample there, I haven't seen a hydra since 1963, look forward to seeing more.

Dave

[75RR]

Thanks for the treat.

[zzffnn]

Kurt,
Your very nice photos keep getting even better!
Did you use flash?
Similar (size) micro aquarium as before?
Are those hydras over 1mm in size?

[mrsonchus]

Simply outstanding!

[charlie g]

Sweet hydras, Kurt. Have you tried to feed them? charlie guevara

[Crater Eddie]

Excellent images, as always. I especially like the vorticella colonies, they give a great sense of scale.
CE

[gekko]

As good as it gets (I can't see how it could be any better). Great images. Have you thought of shooting video? Thanks Kurt for those wonderful images. Maybe we should chuck our microscopes .

[KurtM]

Let's see if I can answer all the questions. First, what am I using for the shots?

Camera equipment:
Canon T3i body
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens
Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Canon EOS Lenses
Pixel Mago ETTL Speedlite for Canon
LED Ring Light illuminator (eBay item number: 271435251906) <---incredible value!
Burton 1170 Research Illuminator (a refined Spencer No. 370 clone)

Didn't use a flash on these. Yes, same size micro aquarium. These animals are in the 12mm body length range, minus tentacles.

No, I don't feed them. They seem to get all the prey they need naturally, mostly ostracods.

No, I haven't thought about doing videos. Getting these stills is already futzy enough, video would add a whole 'nuther layer of complexity.

Now, on to a few new pictures. First is a very busy Momma Hydra: she has twins!



Next is a Hydra with an Ostracod in its gastrovascular cavity. After digesting all it can of it, it will expel the remains by spitting them out.



And in case your eagle eye spotted a couple unaccounted-for tentacles in that last picture, here's where they came from:



Ooops, I cheated. the second picture is upside down. Now how did that happen?

[KurtM]

And now for a little behind the scenes action. Instead of using a flash, I have been experimenting with slow shutter speeds, moderate f-stops, and high ISO -- and a heck of a bright light. Most shots in this thread are roughly 1/20 second, F/11, 1600 ISO. The lamp is a Burton 1100, which is a refined clone of a Spencer No. 370 lamp. The LED ring light is from eBay, see eBay item number 271435251906 (no affiliation, etc., etc.).

Fan once asked for pictures of the pond I draw these samples from, and I have finally taken some. So here they are for Fan, and anyone else who may find it interesting. This little pond is in a county park, just about smothered in an invasive plant called alligator weed, is no deeper than 36" at this stage. It occasionally gets as deep as 5' in the center after heavy rain, and often dries up utterly. A Very strange little pond in very strange little park (gotta wonder what some of those people are doing sometimes). Here's a map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... sp=sharing

[gekko]

Thank you, Kurt. A wonderful post, and more exquisite images.

[zzffnn]

Thank you, Kurt.

I really enjoyed your latest posts and photos.

I wonder if biodiversity in your sample is related to rich vegetation. From my own experience, I seem to see a trend - the more vegetation, the more biodiversity. And both surface, vegetation and bottom mud can produce different protists.

And a question for your camera setting: what happens if you try:
1/20 second, F/5.6 and a lower iso (say iso 400 if you can get there)?

I am guessing you would get even better photos, as iso1600 produces lots more noise than iso400, and your Cannon lens should be sharp enough at F/5.6, IF focus depth is enough at that F stop.

[KurtM]

Fan, interesting questions!

Re: biodiversity: what you postulate is plausible, but does cause me to recall strange samplings from the past. One was a small pond at an RV park (near SH 146 and Dickinson Bayou) which had obviously undergone aggressive chemical treatment to minimize aquatic growth and maximize appearance. At the time of the sample in question, it was COLD. Well, for Texas anyway. Air temp was like 34, water temp read 44F, and that's darn cold water around here. I assumed the worst, but the sample was chock full of all kinds of protists, but mostly wall to wall Stentor. The word 'soup' was applicable to this container, I found it gobsmackingly astonishing, sure wish I had pictures. On the other end of the spectrum, I've pulled samples from mighty "fishy looking" waters and found little. One of the other richest sampling places I've ever known was my sister in law's concrete bird bath. My takeaway is you can never know what any body of water may contain short of trying, and we certainly can't tell from looking.

Re: photography: the big f-stop number is for max depth of field, that's the idea. Noise doesn't seem problematic at 1600, but at 3200 it is. But what the heck, I'll give a smaller value a go next time, easy enough to try. In the meantime, I've been eyeballing the T6i, which sports an ISO range of 100-12800, expandable up to 25600. Wow! Wonder if the 1600 on it is the same as the 1600 on my T3i, or maybe "better" since it isn't crowding the upper end? (Also wonder how the "expandable" bit works?) At any rate, 24.2 MP, oh baby. But $750, oh man. Dear Santa...

[zzffnn]

Thank you Kurt for your comments. Very interesting.

So far, I have only sampled about 4 water bodies. Hermann Park's has been the most productive. As you know, many birds live there. Maybe it is like a huge bird bath?

Re iso, my micro 4/3 camera can go to iso25600 too, but with a 30mm F/2.8 Sigma prime lens, its video is terrible at iso3200 (I don't remember about iso1600 as I always try to stay below iso800). With flash and photos, it performs much better (I don't remember iso there as I don't shot micro photos that much, but I bet it would be terrible at iso3200 without flash).

Your T3i has a bigger APSC sensor than my micro4/3 and T3i's iso is expandable to 12800. I am guessing in reality, your camera's light sensivity is probably better than mine.

[KurtM]

One of the "twins" has grown up and stands on his own foot, but hasn't ventured too far. Together they make a fine family portrait.

[billbillt]

Hi Kurt,
These hydra photos are by far some of the best I have ever seen...

BillT

[rnabholz]

One of the "twins" has grown up and stands on his own foot, but hasn't ventured too far. Together they make a fine family portrait.

Once they leave the nest, the best you can hope for is a card on Mother's day.

Fantastic shot, again....

[gekko]

A superb series of shots: both the quality of the images and the fascinating creatures. Thank you again for this absorbing thread.

[billbillt]

I agree with gekko.. This is a very interesting thread..
BillT

[vasselle]

Bonjour.
Très belles séries images.
Et très bien détailler.
Merci pour le partage
Cordialement seb

[cpsTN]

Kurt:

Once again, award winning photos!