Final Viewing of microaquarium

This final observation has concentrated on finding any new species, and also to give population estimates compared to initial findings.


I used the depth viewing Nikon microscope to view the fern-like plant material, where a colonization, or general concentration of paramecium and rotifers surrounded it. There were also very peculiar brown sacs litering the area, perhaps spores or nutrient piles? I estimate the final plant growth from the first week to be around 150%.

Looking at the bedrock I noticed a much greater density, where hyphae or root systems riddle the substrate. Ameoba and paramecium have become sparse now, the only existing ones are small, and come out to look for smaller organisms floating just above the substrate.

My final population estimate are as follows (based on counting life in an area and multiplying):

Ameoba 2/10
Paramecium 20/ 1,000+
Epistylis 5/ 20
Diatoms 100/ 100,000
Philodina 10/ 50
Tachysoma 20/ 250
Actinosphaerium 2/ 50
Euglenoids (green) 30/ 200+

Third Viewing 11/4/08

Initial look at the entire tank shows a dispersal of the organisms, probably because the food source was used up this past week, only twenty or so paramecium still exist in the feed area. Rotifers have multiplied in the middle area around green plant life mostly. Green life has skyrocketed, many root like systems are running through the water and substrate. The ball of what i suppose to be some sort of silicate, has become a bed of activity, it supports many algae colonies (green) and paramecium feeder colonies. On the busiest areas of plant and protozoa life I saw a few small fresh water aphids on leaces, identified as Aspidisca.



I took pictures of several interesting new creatures in the aquarium they are (From top left to bottom right): 1. Dinomeoba mirablis, a rigid protozoa 2. A collection (or graveyard) of diatoms and paramecium husks 3. A true amorphous ameoba compare din scale to a paramecium.

Second viewing

It looks like a completely different environment in the tank this week! Primarily because of the small food pellet used to help spur growth, this was seen by a mass of biological material (some moving ameobas and some not) at the top of the aquaria.

The paramecium population has skyrocketed to, as close as I can tell, over a hundred total. I also noticed a large increase in the number of rotifers, with some very striking sample of Philodina. These rotifers must have tripled or so in number, and seem to spread out in the middle area of the aquarium. Also in the middle layer, we see some Tachysoma rotifers, growing larger rather than more populous.

The bottom of the tank is almost like a material graveyard at this point, with a large amount of unidentifiable material along with many more diatoms. A new organism I noticed is a small, almost immobile ameoba called a Chilomonas.

Amidst the growing brown algae (noticeably), I found some filamentous green algae called oscillatoria.

Setting up and First View of Tank

My Microaquaria was filled with a local pond water, mixed with three different types of algae to promote growth and establishment of colonies.

The first voyage into the depths of the microaquarium was one of discovery, the populations of organisms was not proliferate, allowing for an easy count of populations which will grow through the next few weeks.

The top layer and middle layer were quite sparse in life, i did spot some small sunburst type organisms which look like Actinosphaerium. There were several floating paramecium also in the plant life.

The bottom (or primordial ooze as I call it) is where most life seems to be placed at this point. I counted a total of about ten parameciums. Five or so of these growths which attach to a bottom surface and float almost like seaweed called Epistylis. Also, I saw about three rotifers, relatively small, I did identify one large cyclops type. Amidst the dirt along the bottom I could also pick out some small photosynthetic Euglenoids, and a few diatoms with a barrel shape at the bottom (perhaps Binderana).