Initial setup

This project began October 15th.

For my micro-aquarium project I chose to use water from the Carter Mill Park spring source (Carter Mill Park at spring source, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. Tennessee Partial shade exposure N36 01.168 W83 42.832 940 ft 10/12/2014).   Two plant species: Amblestegium varium [(Hedwig) Lindberg. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/12/2014 ] and Utricularia gibba  [L. Flowering plant. A carnivorous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN. 10/12/2014] were also included.

After construction of the micro aquarium was complete (a relatively simple task consisting of inserting the small glass container into a small stand ) I added the water sample along with some soil from the water source and the two plant species.  After some mild rearranging of the plants with a pair of tweezers I placed the water sample under the microscope to obtain some initial observations.  The micro-aquarium was teeming with tiny life-forms (some were rather amorphous while others were elongated and worm-like) as well as some larger ones that were even visible without a microscope [in particular there was a large squirming worm about the diameter of mechanical pencil lead].

(The above image was taken after the initial construction was completed.)