So, after my last ecosphere died for red algae bloom I started from scratch, got some substrate and some plants (idk them if anyone helps with id I'd be grateful), the water is tap water, as it is, if it does find a balance and the plants thrive, do you think they will be enough to sustain some smaller critters like scuds if I introduce them to the ecosphere in two weeks (wild caught from a slow river) or the oxygen will still not be enough? (The last time I tried scuds died overnight I think for oxygen difference shock)
by sambuca94
2 Comments
Questions:
Why don’t you use river water instead of tap water, which would make it the natural environment for scuds.
Algae comes from too much light, so reduce that and you won’t have that problem.
Having said that, here’s what I would do:
The jar itself looks great, could use a bit more substrate but not necessary.
I would exchange 3/4 of that water with river water and scuds and hopefully some snails and also grab something from the river like slimy stone, a rotting submerged leaf or a small stick. Nothing big.
I found most critters hang on sticks and leaves since decay is their diet.
Lastly, as long as u got those plants in there you don’t need to worry about oxygen.
So it actually looks pretty good, the big plant is hornwort and it famously does well in jars. It will remove nitrates from the water. The only thing you’d want for a lively jar as mentioned is some critters. For that I’d just grab some water from a natural source as well as some mud. Let it settle and watch them emerge. If you would like scuds, those can be found in clumps of weeds below the surface, as it’s they’re food and hiding place. You gotta grab a hunk of weeds and shake them out in some water, you’ll probably get scads of scuds that way.