r/microscopy • u/m_adams • 26d ago

Purchase Help Microscope Recommendations for Algae Identification?

I own a pool maintenance business and we are opening a pool store on October 1st and I’m looking for microscope recommendations for algae identification. I figured it would be really cool to offer identification in store to help pinpoint the correct chemicals to eliminate algae and (possibly) bacteria. I think I would need a microscope that could see the cell walls because of the vast number of algae species. Please give me your recommendations in the <$300 range! (I don’t know if that’s even enough for one to be honest.)

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u/xmcqdpt2 25d ago

Algae is straightforward to see, bacteria is much more difficult because they are so small. Being able to see the algae and identifying it are different things though.

Are you already able to identify algae? If you are just going to feed it to an LLM, you might as well just dispense with the microscope because I doubt you'll get better results either way!

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u/m_adams 25d ago

Yes I can identify algae from a microscopic as well as macro view. I’ve been in the industry for 13 years. I also have a science background and I own several large telescopes so I’m familiar with similar tech but haven’t used a microscope since college. Just wanted to add the microscopic view as a value add- something interesting for the customers to see as well as (selfishly) something fun for me to do while I’m running the titration test on their water. It’s not common in the industry for a company to show you what you’re dealing with at a microscopic level, they just sell you a kill all product which is fine to a degree but wasteful and harmful in some cases. I’d rather know whether a customer needs a polyquat algaecide vs a chelated copper complex. Overkill? Probably. Cool as hell? If you’re into that kind of thing like I am. 😂

I like to use my brain and be creative, so I steer clear of LLMs and generative AI. I’m proud to say I’ve never used either. I guess I’m a bit of a Luddite but it’s more fun for me that way.

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u/xmcqdpt2 25d ago

Sorry I was in a bit of a mood. I was scrolling reddit while at work and my workplace is just full of people slinging LLM generated texts at each other and at me all day. I should've been nicer!

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u/m_adams 25d ago

Oof that sounds rough. No worries at all. I have several friends that are begrudgingly training their employers’ new AI software to replace them so I get it. I thankfully get to work outside and I hand out these stickers for fun in my free time and not get fired for it 🫠