I've set up a small (about 5 liter) marine tank about two weeks ago. This was furnished with some pebbles, gravel, old shells and a blade of seaweed - and of course whatever organisms were clinging to these at the time - scooped from a rocky pool at the coast. I also added an air-stone to induce some water movement. This morning I've dropped in two slides, and hopefully something of interest will settle down and cling to its surface by this evening.
Removed the slides, wiped the underside, and had a look. For an extended examination, I had to use a cover glass, otherwise all I ended up seeing after three minutes were salt crystals. Here are my finds (my classification is, of course, open to correction):
Arthropods
Diatoms
Moluscs
( At least, I think this is a tiny shell and a radula )
Ciliates
This Hypotrich appears to be making more of itself. Also, it wouldn't hold still to allow for proper focusing!
That was a bountiful experiment.
I take it that you used "fresh seawater" as opposed to the reconstituted stuff some aquariumists use?
Fun GIF at the end!
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
That's right, the sea water was from the same pool where I gathered the stones etc. I've now added a few grains of rice to the tank to see if the bacterial and concomitant wildlife count can be boosted a bit.
Thank you for sharing, it's interesting to read about the project! According to a book I have it is possible to create a rice infusion by simply adding grains of rice, so my guess is that it will affect the amount of microbes in a positive way.
It is great to have someone doing marine (as opposed to fresh water) critters. And you have such a wonderful variety. I think the goose-necked ciliate may possibly be Lacrymaria? (My previous post does not appear in this thread so I must have clicked "Preview" but forgot to "Submit" )