Some time ago I mentioned to my partner that I've always wanted a microscope as a hobby ๐ฌ they saved some money and got a cheap one for me recently, and I'm having so much fun!
Pictured is the thin peel that's intimate with the garlic clove, stained with eosin (I think) and magnified x1200. It's great because it's already 1 cell thick ๐ค
What are some tips you guys have for a beginner? I'm looking into buying methylene blue for staining too.
Cool! I'll try with some seawater later.
These don't need staining, right?
That's an interesting idea, think I'll get a notebook to register each. This gave me the idea of making different kinds of terrariums with different conditions to analyze how their microbe ecosystems develop
Nope, no need to stain. I actually haven't really looked at seawater much to be honest, but you're definitely going to get a different set of lifeforms in seawater than you will from fresh pond water. Making comparisons between them might be a good thing to record in your notebook, which is a great idea btw. In the sea water you might see some tiny crustaceans like copepods but not likely to see rotifers for example. Could see tardigrades in either, though!
In either case, pond or sea, you shouldn't need to worry about staining anything. Most of these things have their own pigmentation, especially diatoms. The critters will tend to look semi-transparent or transparent but with very distinct edges, something like this so no, no need to stain. In fact you shouldn't stain anyway because it will likely kill the creatures in your sample so you won't see their activity.
As for the terrariums, awesome. There is a lot to be considered there, but what an amazing way to truly delve into those questions. If or when you do set something like that up, I hope you post about it here. I'd love to read about your findings.
I will! ๐