I made this ecosphere with water and dirt/rocks/sand from a creek in my back yard. Plants were from petco because I couldn't find any local aquatic plants. It sat for 3 years on a shelf next to a window that doesn't get direct sun.
Originally it had small aquatic snails and scuds but they all died after a year or 2 and left no offspring. There were other tiny critters but by year 3 it was mostly just the plants with very little other life, but still alive with clean water.
We just moved, and obviously 1) jostled the bottle quite a bit and 2) changed its location. Next to a new window that doesnt get direct sun.
I just noticed that after about 3 months since the move the plants are dying and there's an algae buildup.
Yesterday I moved it to a sunny window in an effort to revive the plants (I know sunlight increases algae too). Today I am seeing so many critters in there that seem very active! Which seems like a good sign, but now the soil is bubbling and giving off gas. Can't tell if the plants are perking up at all.
Wondering if I should leave it in the sunny window or if a day of sun was enough to Jumpstart it. Also since this is a keepsake for me I don't want to add anything to it that isn't true to the original source. Some of the water has evaporated but I don't want to add random water to it.
Any ideas?
by sthewright
3 Comments
https://www.reddit.com/r/Ecosphere/s/o21ruNmWLs
Link to my ecosphere when it was still thriving
Bubbles after moving it into more light are oxygen from increased photosynthesis.
Just dont overdo it as direct sun can easily overgeat an enclosed system.
The plant looks like *bacopa monnieri* these naturally grow in sunny places not all day shade so it should like some light.
Its not very fast grower and is tolerant of low nutrients – good choice for an esosphere.
Increased amount of critters are probably copepods or rotifers feeding on increased microscopic algae in the water column.
To be fair, if there’s an algae buildup and lots of critters it is still very much alive!
Algae is more than enough to support an ecosphere.
If it starts turning black or brown and you start seeing less movement inside, then it might be a good idea to open it up and air it out for a bit (open it outside as it may absolutely stink)