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How to Construct an Ecosphere

An ecosphere is a self-supportive, underwater ecosystem that's completely enclosed. The system produces its own food in a continuous cycle utilizing bacteria, algae, shrimp or other bacteria-feeding organisms. An ecosphere requires little to no care and can last between two and seven years. You can create ecospheres consisting of dry land only -- considered terrariums -- just as easily by substituting small worms and bugs in place of the aquatic life while incorporating a water drip system rather than being completely submerged in water.

Things You'll Need

Plastic bottle
Scissors
Tape
Sand or dirt
Plant life
Organisms
Aquarium thermometer strip

Instructions

- 1
  Get a clear plastic bottle. Remove the labels and cut the top of the bottle at the point where the bottle slope becomes straight. Rinse out the bottle with hot water and allow it to air dry. Introducing soap can kill the organisms that will live in the bottle. Wiping it out with a rag could introduce unwanted substances.
- 2
  Add sand or dirt taken from the floor of a pond, river or lake to the bottom of the bottle until a few inches of the bottle are filled. Fill the bottle with lake, river or pond water until the bottle is three-quarters full. Substitute the bottom substrate with ocean sand or dirt and fill the bottle with ocean water if you have access to it.
- 3
  Collect algae, a few small twigs and a small, leafy plant from the same source the water and dirt were supplied from. Sew the plant's roots into the dirt floor of the ecosphere, spread the twigs around and wrap the algae on them. Allow the system to sit for a few hours before continuing.
- 4
  Introduce a few small life forms, such as two aquatic snails, small fish, phytoplankton, small shrimp or other bacteria-eating microorganisms. Ensure that all of the organisms placed in the ecosphere are compatible with the water type chosen. Salt water creatures will not survive in a fresh water system.
- 5
  Attach the lid to the top of the bottle with clear plastic tape. The top can be attached either inverted or straight up. Ensure there is still at least one-fourth of the bottle full of just air for the ecosystem to be able to maintain itself.
- 6
  Place the bottle in a window where it will get indirect light. Too much light can cause an overgrowth of algae.
- 7
  Stick an aquarium thermometer strip on the outside of the bottle to regularly monitor the ecosphere temperature. Keep the temperature at a steady rate between 60 degrees F and 85 degrees F. Fluctuations in temperature can kill aquatic life inside.
- 8
  Monitor the system regularly, watching for algae overgrowth and temperature changes. Move the system to a different indirect light source if necessary.

Nature