More Phytoplankton Photomicrographs!

[MattM]

O.K. Guys (and Girls),

Here are the latest pics off the microscope.

These are at the same magnification as the last set, 400X.

Kent Marine Chromoplex

Two Little Fishies Phytoplan

Loads of stuff in the Chromoplex. This was the same size drop as the other planktons, but there is more in here than any of the others we've looked at so far. There seems to be at least 3 distinct cell types, with the smallest ones almost always clumped together.

Phytoplan also shows at least three different cell types. The largest red ones are the same as in Chromoplex, we believe this is Haematococcus pluvialis. The elongate cells in Phytoplan also look like some of the cells in Chromoplex, but they're red in Chromoplex and green in Phytoplan.

All in all, both of these look like they'd be pretty tasty to corals.

 

[Anonymous]

i just added some Phytoplan to next months wish list. My polyps and gorgonias salute you. Thanks Matt. I appreciate your research.

po

 

[Len]

Matt,

Great work. If I may ask, how are you capturing these images? What microscope are you using?

 

[yellowfiji]

Nice pictures. Where can we get them on line?

 

[MattM]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Leonard:
<strong>If I may ask, how are you capturing these images? What microscope are you using?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Len -

Check near the bottom of this thread.

 

[MattM]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ping:
<strong>Where can we get them on line?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Any of the better online retailers - Us, Marine Depot, Premium Aquatics, etc.

[ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</p>

 

[Marcosreef]

Matt, is the Chromaplex out yet? Haven't seen it except at your store (next to the sink)

 

[MattM]

Yeah, that was our sample from Kent. We've got the product on the shelves now.

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

I bet if you keep posting those pics you could get them to pay for the microscope.

 

[liquid]

I think that's the idea, Rover.

Shane

 

[MattM]

No one is more surprised than us at what the Kent products look like.

I can't tell you how many times Dennis Tagrin (the DT in DT's) has lectured us about how crappy Kent is and how it only contains fragments of cell walls, etc. Dennis can talk for quite a while when he gets going.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey this microscope/CCD is a big hit!

Next: maybe look at plain old tank water, see how much live plankton/dead stuff is in it (not sure if the concentrations would be high enough for you to see much within a couple of samples though), and maybe take a comparison look at seawater (would need fresh, tropical seawater, probably not very practical).

Secondly, suck up some water samples from within the sand bed & see what all shows up.

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: Cheese Sandwich ]</p>

 

[Mouse]

Nice pictures MattM,

Thanks a million, these two defenately look much better than the ones you posted yesterday. I was surprised at the two little fishes solution, it actually looks quite good.

I like cheese's suggestions, but id love to see some skimmate too. Maybe it would work better if you processed the skimmate somehow. Washed it out and only took out the real big bits of crud to see what they were. Ill be looking forward to your next post.

 

[SPC]

Thanks again Matt for the info, just to be sure I understand this, the Kent product is dead, correct?
Steve

 

[MattM]

Steve -

Yes. Of all the products we've done so far, only the DT's is alive.

Just for the record, I don't question that DT's is alive, but it looks exactly the same through the microscope. I mean, phytoplankton doesn't move, so I don't know how you tell if it's alive.


Mouse -

We did the skimate. It's in this thread.

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MattM:
<strong>Yeah, that was our sample from Kent. We've got the product on the shelves now.

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Just to be sure, I think you should check the product on the shelves to see if it matches up to the sample they sent you. Boy, I guess I am a little paranoid at 730 am!

Matt, thanks so much for buying the scope and taking the time to put images up for us to see. Great. Makes you wonder why the companies that make the stuff don't do similar stuff. Next thing I can buy is commin from you guys you rock.

RR

 

[MattM]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Righty:
<strong>Just to be sure, I think you should check the product on the shelves to see if it matches up to the sample they sent you.</strong><hr></blockquote>

We already used up all of the sample. These photos came from a random bottle off the shelf. (In fact if you check veeeery carefully, you'll find exactly one drop missing from one of the bottles that are for sale...

)

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

<strong>Boy, I guess I am a little paranoid at 730 am!</strong>

Never confuse a healthy skepticism with paranoia. We've seen enough "fast ones" pulled by this industry (combi-san, miracle mud, marc weiss, etc.) that we're pretty paranoid ourselves.

I'm guessing the manufacturers don't do this because they already assume no one would believe them.

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</p>

 

[Leopardshark]

Marine snow wasn´t even worth it right?

 

[Anonymous]

Well - these photos basically show density of the product. The nutritional value of each product cannot be deterimined from a photograph.

Chromaplex is a liquid form of Haematococcus pluvialis, which is sold in the mariculture industry as a prime source for Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid and is a color enhancer and is very prominent in crustaceans.

The same stuff is found in Phytoplan and Ocean Rider's Vibrance. As a food for corals I'm not sure any studies have ever been done and it didn't reach market soon enough for Rob Toonen's recent phytoplankton study in the Marine and Reef 2002 Annual.

It would be interesting to see how rotifers or larvae responded to it as a general food source. [*** HINT ROB, HINT HINT

***]

I wouldn't say Marine Snow is worthless. If you look at the Rotifer Growth Rate chart in Toonen's article you'll see that it outperformed ESV's Spray Dried Marine Phytoplankton, however that could have been a particle size issue.

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: MickAv8r ]</p>

 

[wetone]

Hey Matt

Unreal photos !!
Now I have no scientific background, but looking at the photos between Phytoplex, Dt's and the Chromoplex it seems Chromoplex has lts and lots more "stuff" in it. Do we take this as a lead to a better product or is this a quantity vs quality issue?
I have used DT's and tank is healthy and happy, but sometimes DT's is difficult to get because of mail order/live shipping.
Any recomendations