Day 25: These photos show some of the changes that have been going on for the last few weeks. The algae in the water column seems to have multiplied in both bottles, but more noticeably in the chemosynthetic protocol column where the water appears black. The 2nd column seems to have maintained its orange tint. By following the simple diagram listed at: http://www.biology.ed.ac.uk/research/groups/jdeacon/microbes/winograd.htm I might be safe in assuming that both columns have a healthy growth of green and purple sulfur bacteria at the surface of the mud and that the 1st column has a bloom of the purple non sulfur bacteria in the water column. Possibly I have been able to promote the growth of the sulfur reducing bacteria in the first column and that might also explain the color.



Column 2: Typical Winogradsky column with cut grass & magnesium sulfate

Column 1: Chemosynthetic protocol with filter paper, magnesium sulfate, baking soda, and crushed vitamin

The two columns in the enclosed box where they are not exposed to light have shown little change, however the water column is tinted orange in both.



The 2nd column or column with grass has a thicker layer of growth at the surface of the mud and more appearance of growth just below the surface. This was not as I would have expected, as it is the chemosynthetic column that has baking soda and vitamins which were both intended to assist in microbial growth without sunlight.

I have not had a chance to check the temperature or look at any of it under a microscope yet, but I hope to be able to do so this week. I am still looking to answer why I might have so much "white" growth around the edges of the grass in the 2nd column, for which my first guess has been mold or a type of fungus.