Ecosphere FAQ

[Schorhr]

What is an ecosphere?
An ecosphere is a closed aquarium tank, often with shrimps and plants such as algae.
The shrimps eat the algae and produce CO2, while the plants grow and produce Oxygen for the Shrimp!
All they need is a bit of sunlight.

ecodefault.jpeg

Do I need to feed them or change the water?
No, ecosphere are little worlds for themselves.
Shrimps and plants form a balance of ressources for each other.

What if the shrimp die?
Even if they die, new ones will be born, and the circle of life continues once more.

Can I make one myself?
It is very hard to create a stable, well ballanced ecosystem, but it is doable!
We'dd love to see your atempt on a ecosystem, just keep in mind that you must make sure there are enough plants to produce oxygen, and that the tank must be very clean so nothing else starts growing...

If it needs light, do I simply put it close to a window?
No, direct sunlight might heat up the ecosphere too much. Watch the temperature and place it into a light spot without direct sunlight.

Do you sell ecospheres at your shop?
Not quite yet. Since they are very fragile and they must have a constant temprature, we will not sell them yet. They could only be delivered express, especially if shipping internationally.

[Yip-Yips]

These things are so cool. i want one so let me know when these are available.

[BillabongBug]

Is it possible to make an ecosphere with sea dragons? The shrimp usually die so the tank lasts for about 2years but would the sea dragons reproduce(keeping the cycle going on)?

[UncleBodman]

Great question
Biospheres or ecospheres have been a fun interest of mine for many years and I have experimented with many different combinations. I have actually tried exactly what youve mentioned in the early days of my experimentation but I found these particuler critters not to be well suited (surprisingly!). What I noted was after about the second generation or so they begin to die off from old age and not replace themselves. They just stop reproducing via live hatching babies and only produce the inactive resting type eggs. That's the main problem that I have found.

[BillabongBug]

That was the first reason why I bought sea dragons. Now as I think about it maybe I'll just abandon that idea.
Maybe if there is less sea dragons and more algae they have enough food to have live babys? And if they would all die and the algae would grow back wouldn't better conditions cause hatching of the dormant eggs?
That way you would get a next generation after the first one dies, which would also be quite interesting.

[UncleBodman]

Its been ages since I tried to do an ecosphere with critters like sea monkeys but one thing I often find is that to much algae has always lead to a quick crash. Once the algae runs out of nutrients it starts to die and then you get a runaway pollution problem. If there are too much nutrients in the habitat it tends to go to the blue-green algae side of plant life pretty quickly and the scenery starts to look a bit gloomy with the blue green algae growing over everything.

[YankTank]

The problem with doing it well is that certain factors are required and the company that makes the Ecosphere closely guards their secrets. I can tell you that they use a specifically formulated solution for their spheres. They also use specific bacteria, algae and shrimp to balance the effects of the enclosed habitat and all you have to do is maintain proper light to darkness ratios and ensure it stays within comfortable, sustained temperature range. Reproduction of the shrimp within the Ecosphere is very limited, but sometimes occurs in the larger spheres. While species of shrimp, Halocaridina rubra, is a species that triggers its mating urges from a slight change in salinity and the lunar cycle. More on these little wonders can be found at http://www.petshrimp.com/hawaiianredshrimp.html If I can be of further assistance, you can always message me.

If you are wondering what we are talking about, check out http://www.eco-sphere.com/

Sadly while they advertise their key reason for their product is education, it costs a mint, and they are not doing much in research to further the design or quality of the product. It seems they are complacently happy with the original design by it's creator. Sadly the more recent models no longer carry the snail the original orbs did. The snail has been replaced with a small magnetic scrubber that aids in cleaning the glass for better viewing. Myself, I prefer the snail, but I have to admit the scrubber does better and cleans where you want it to. There are many Do it yourself Biosphere projects on the internet, but none of them is truly 100% self sustained so they are merely acceptable.

Russ

[HamatoKameko]

I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but sealed Ecospheres and Open Top No Feed tanks are, frankly, animal cruelty. The opae-ula (Micro Lobsters), instead of growing and thriving and being active, are inactive and shrink every time they molt, eventually dying of starvation. The companies that sell these "perfectly balanced" containers use opae-ula because the animals can survive for a long time in this cruel environment. Surviving they may be, but thriving they are not.

I personally boycott the no feed/sealed "ecospheres" in favor of happy, healthy, active opae-ula environments produced by Fuku-Bonsai. I haven't yet been in a position to afford and care for their pets, but they've gotten rave reviews--and their opae-ula are so happy they even reproduce (they do not [or very rarely] reproduce in ecospheres)! I'm hoping to order my first opae-ula tank in the next month or two, and I'll be sure to take pictures.

[BillabongBug]

The fuku-Bonsai tanks with micro lobsters sound very atractive. I must say, I really want one now. But would it be possible to get one to Australia??

[HamatoKameko]

I know they're cleared to ship anywhere within the US (even California, which sort of surprised me), as well as cleared for handcarry into Japan and Canada. Other than that, I have no idea. It can probably be done, but the shipping wouldn't be cheap as they use expedited shipping for the safety of the opae-ula (that being within two days in the States). I have no idea what would happen in Customs.

I suggest contacting them via email and asking them yourself.

[YankTank]

I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but sealed Ecospheres and Open Top No Feed tanks are, frankly, animal cruelty. The opae-ula (Micro Lobsters), instead of growing and thriving and being active, are inactive and shrink every time they molt, eventually dying of starvation. The companies that sell these "perfectly balanced" containers use opae-ula because the animals can survive for a long time in this cruel environment. Surviving they may be, but thriving they are not.

I personally boycott the no feed/sealed "ecospheres" in favor of happy, healthy, active opae-ula environments produced by Fuku-Bonsai. I haven't yet been in a position to afford and care for their pets, but they've gotten rave reviews--and their opae-ula are so happy they even reproduce (they do not [or very rarely] reproduce in ecospheres)! I'm hoping to order my first opae-ula tank in the next month or two, and I'll be sure to take pictures.

Thanks, for the post. I basically was trying to say what you said so eliquently in your post. I have seen the Fuku-Bonsai thread many times, but unfortunately I found that until recently their products were too expensive. I prefer their old line, but with their new line I can finally afford to add a nice micro tank to my ever expanding zoo of little critters... Thanks for your post. I enjoyed the Ecospere until reading some of the write-ups included in my second link above, and would love it if Mr. Bodman could replicate something like the Fuku_bonzai products for the Australian customers using local crustacea or even the once present L.A.P. pet Hermies. I feel it would easily be a worthwhile endever, and I would be quite happy to show it off.

[li21]

Anyone know if EcoSpheres are sold in Austrlalia anywhere or whether they can be imported though Austrlian customs?

I'm so desparate to get some!

[li21]

Not sure if anyone has seen this?

http://www.littleaussieproductsshop.com ... co-001.htm

Looks exciting!

[li21]

Anyone see the Little Aussie's version of EcoSphere?

http://www.littleaussieproductsshop.com ... co-001.htm

I'd be interested to see what these look like close up.
Anyone ordered?

[ilikepuggles]

I would order but I can't ... I'm in the USA LOL

[li21]

So has anyone pruchased one of Little Aussie's ecospheres?

Any reviews or photos ?