Creating a Self-Sustaining Ecosystem

As someone who loves nature, I always wanted to keep it close to me. I garden, hike, fish, and camp. But it wasn’t enough, I wanted it around 24/7. Who knew that it was possible? I didn’t, until I fell down a YouTube rabbit-hole about closed terrariums. This is where I learned that I was able to create a closed ecosystem that could sustain itself. Of course, I gave my boyfriend, Ryan, a whole mini-biology lesson on closed terrariums and self-sustaining ecosystems. We weren’t going to do anything until I asked Ryan if he wanted to make one with me as a date. I swear it was as if he had asked me to marry him; I was so happy and excited when he agreed.

At first, we were confused as to how we would make it, so we did a bit more research. We thought: If we gave an aquarium, and its creatures, all it needs, then it can thrive without any outside help, just like it would in its real ecosystem. So that’s what we did! The purpose of this activity was to form a successful self-sustaining ecosystem, raise two shrimp and a snail in this ecosystem, and have a steady growth of algae in the aquarium.

To create the aquarium, we needed to buy materials- so we went to Hobby Lobby to pick a few things up. We bought an air-tight jar and some rocks to create the base. Afterward, we went to a pond. We needed to go there to fish out rocks with algae on them, we also filled a container with water just in case the pet store wouldn’t allow us to take some of their water for the aquarium.

After the lake, we went to a local Walgreens to get activated charcoal. We needed this weird item to clear the water of any toxins that may be lingering and that could potentially hurt our new pets. Activated charcoal is a major part of this ecosystem because although the shrimp and snail would “clean up” after themselves, there is still so much bacteria in the water that could harm them. And, of course, Ryan and I had to go to the pet store to pick up our new pets! Ryan bought two Amano Shrimp (they are very closely related to Ghost Shrimp) and a Zebra Snail for me as a gift, and I bought a live plant and moss balls. After that last stop, we picked up some food and went back to Ryan’s house to eat and set up the closed aquarium!

When we arrived at my boyfriend’s house, his sisters were very curious about what we were doing, so I had them help me and Ryan set the aquarium up. His youngest sister washed off the rocks we bought at Hobby Lobby, and his other sister wiped the air-tight container down so no unneeded bacteria was present. We then placed a few capsules of activated charcoal at the bottom of the container, and then placed the, now clean, rocks over the charcoal and created a one to two-inch base of them.

I planted the live water grass in the rocks, placed a few moss balls on the rocks, and then stacked three algae-covered rocks on one end of the bowl. Then, I poured the bag of shrimp into the container! They adjusted very quickly to their new home, and they seemed even happier when I placed the Zebra Snail in with them!

After letting the water settle, I placed the air-tight lid over the bowl. I was scared.

My anxiety and rational mind debated in my head; what if they don’t have enough oxygen? They will, the live plants will give them what they need, if not- we can open the lid for a few hours at a time. What if they run out of food? They won’t, the algae from the rocks will create more- they will have enough to eat. What if the water gets too cold and they go into shock? You own a heat lamp, place it against the bowl, it will create enough heat for the shrimp and snail.

A few days passed and the aquarium seemed to be thriving. There were algae spots along the walls of the aquarium, there were oxygen bubbles along the top of the water, and I could see the digestive tracts of the Amano Shrimp moving (meaning that they were eating). I was so ecstatic that this little ecosystem that I created was doing so well- I was even more proud of myself than anything.

Today, I wake up in the morning and turn on the heat lamp. The Amano Shrimp freak out and do laps around the bowl. Then I go to school. I come back later in the day, sit next to the table they are perched on, and watch my little pets do their thing- playing with moss balls, hiding under rocks, walking through the water grass. There is still algae forming, there is still oxygen bubble lining the top, and they are still doing very well.

I would say trying my hand at creating a self-sustaining ecosystem was a success.