A new experimental column was created to study how plankton move up and down in water. The column can be placed in the water to control the plankton's behavior. It has tools to collect water samples and measure temperature, oxygen, and light. The column can also have a light to mimic day and night. Tests showed that the column can be quickly put in the water to study the plankton. When tested with rotifers, the plankton moved up and down in the column just like they did outside of it.