HOW TO Make An Ecosphere + What's Inside?

[@chrislecky710]

I'm new to ecospheres but I'm a really fast learner, I have noticed something about tubifex worms that actually makes them detrimental to your ecosphere, they not only live in the sludge at the bottom of rivers and ponds they actually create it. The sludge is a mixture between the sediment mud or sand and the tubifex`s excretions. Like fish they are better suited to much larger ecosystems as in all honesty they will have no real purpose in a volume of water in a jar. Even if your ecosphere is fully colonised with plants they will not produce enough organic waste to make tubifex worth keeping. Which means they suit no purpose in the creation of a micro ecosystem other than making more sludge and wiggling a hole lot. The sludge smells anaerobic which means its presence and growth in your jar will limit what little oxygen is being produced by the plants. Best to leave them out.

[@jarplanet]

Wow! Great info! I can confirm they are probably best left out. I had an ecosphere in the past overrun with them and it ended up failing.

[@chrislecky710]

I was thinking of setting up a ecosphere community to share such information but I have had no takers as yet lmfao

[@jarplanet]

@@chrislecky710 That would be cool! Sign Jar Planet up

[@chrislecky710]

@@jarplanetThere is a bit of off key science floating about from what I can tell. The volume of what that you use has a maximum capacity, what people are trying to achieve from what I can tell is the largest amount of diversity for their volume of water. In reality ecosystems develop over time they do not suddenly arrive with a fully intact food chain which is why they fail so quickly in some cases. Creating an ecosystem is a balancing act of different dynamic qualities working together. Tubifex worms are mostly found in places where the water quality is bad mostly because of organic waste. If you do add them only add a few after a week or so, in that way they will only be able to reproduce in accordance to how dirty your ecosphere is rather than you mindlessly filling up your jar with a large amount of them plus enough undigested pond sludge to make the nutrient levels spike quickly, leaving you with an anaerobic mess. oh and add a few peace's of chalk to maintain PH levels..

[@Amrafel]

@@jarplanet You didn't put a link at the end of the description of the video to buy the microscope from Amazon

[@FtanmoOfEtheirys]

These videos are why I think back and shudder when I think about how much ocean water I used to swallow out surfing when I was younger.

[@CarsonJay]

5:50 what a cool close up of Mr Snail!

[@jarplanet]

Mr. Snail is an icon

[@interestingasfck]

Hey buddy, the video is really informative and interesting! Keep up the good work :)

[@jarplanet]

Thank you! Lots more on the way.

[@notdcman]

simple, informative, straight tot he point. Doesn't need anything insanely expensive. cool to watch this video is so good. Keep up the good work. TH9is made it seem way more manageable than other videos. Cheers

[@Sun-Kudji]

Imagine having a ecosphere of every country of the world ! Anyway, i love your video, it help a lot ! Are u planning on a "dirt" ecosphere ? Like, making a ecosphere of a forest, with dirt, plants and animals ?

[@jarplanet]

Definitely, I hope to create all kinds of ecosphere jars!

[@robertarrowood]

What about maintaining them? Do you use natural or artificial light? And how much light per day do you give them? Should i do anything different in winter time? REALLY thinking of making a few. Thanks!

[@jarplanet]

0 maintenance as long as you set it up right and don’t open it. I like led lights. I’ve seen success with natural light, but I would avoid direct sunlight. Around the area I make ecospheres, the sun shines for 10 to 14 hours. I try and imitate the ecosphere’s natural light patterns. I keep my ecospheres in the garage. My garage isn’t insulated but it doesn’t freeze during the cold. This gives them some sort of fluctuations in temperature. I hope this helps. If you have anymore questions I’m happy to help. I’d love to see a picture of your ecospheres when you get finished.

[@luv444vixen]

im planning on doing this very soon, i originally saw it on tiktok but im searching for more videos to see how i can correctly make one

[@jarplanet]

Hey awesome! I’d love to see it when you’re finished! You can reach out in instagram

[@A_Rainworld_Fan.]

Did you do it?

[@Free.Weejjj]

This video was super interesting as well as cute/funny keep it up

[@jarplanet]

Thank you so much!!

[@JarMaster]

Great video!

[@isaacdavis7979]

Also at 3:35 that other Aquatic Insect Larva is a CaddisFly Larva which build protective Cocoon out of Substrate and other things !

[@jarplanet]

I did not know that! How interesting

[@isaacdavis7979]

@@jarplanet NP

[@ScenicSloStick]

How much lighting should the jar get?

[@A_Rainworld_Fan.]

I tried to make two jars with moving water (I dont think that was a good idea.) and im letting them settle rn, but tommorow im going to a pretty damp rainforest kinda region with lots of ponds so ill be sure to make a jar there!^^ (Edit) I've got the pond jar and its going really well! Ive got lots of plants, a snail, tiny weird bugs, mosquito larvea, etc!! Edit 2) i made two morre pond jars... There is a whole bunch of those weird ground worms in one. But the worms got out of he ground and are now nearig the surface, some of them have tamgled together to make a terryfing ball of squiggly worms, please tell me whats wrong.

[@The-Real-Noel]

How did it go??

[@DefinitelyNotEryk]

Question: What animals do i need to keep my ecosphere alive? i made an aquatic ecosphere a couple days ago and it looks kinda dead, is it because there are too few animals or there's something wrong with my plants? There are many snails and a couple of amphipods btw.

[@jarplanet]

There is a delicate balance in an ecosphere. Too much of anything on thing can throw it all off. You definitely need a primary producer such as algae or an aquatic plant. Having a strong primary producer gives other organisms something to eat. Give it a week or two and if you still see nothing, make another. I hope this helps.

[@DefinitelyNotEryk]

@@jarplanet There are plants but no algae. But what creatures do i need to add?

[@haynabrahma3635]

​@@DefinitelyNotErykI don't think you have to add any really cause the water,sediment and other materials like plants that you add into the ecosphere will already contain majority of the animals and stuff . If you want you can hunt for some other creatures around the body of water but make sure they aren't to big tho

[@datenkrakee5210]

Did my first right after watching this Video, thank you for the Tipps ✌🏻

[@jarplanet]

Hey cool! Glad it help you out! Let me know how it goes.

[@mdrolando2011]

Super great video! I want to build one. Any advice on light source? Can i have one in my office? Does it need sunlight?😎

[@jarplanet]

I prefer LED. It would be great in your office!

[@realjacko_smako272]

Hey mate, I made one today and it got two large cracks on both sides from the top to bottom, I sealed it with silicone do you know why it cracked?

[@jarplanet]

I’ve actually never used silicone to seal a jar. I would like to try that. It could be bacteria inside the jar producing co2. Silicone makes a much stronger seal than a rubber gasket causing the pressure to build until the jar cracked. That’s just my guess, it could have been a number of things. If you try again with a rubber seal, I’d love to know it turns out.

[@msdecleir6389]

When the nymphs grow how do you release? Here we have beautiful blue dragonflies around. They grow in the water. But i would have to release them….

[@jarplanet]

From the ecospheres I’ve made, the nymphs typically don’t live longer than a few weeks. Maybe you could spoon them out before they die?

[@msdecleir6389]

I will. U could too????

[@msdecleir6389]

Going to do this with my 2 girls here in Ireland. Cant wait. But how do we replenish oxygen in the water? Do the plants do the job ? Thanks

[@jarplanet]

Wow! How cool! Yes, the plants and algae replenish oxygen. Best of luck with your ecosphere!

[@msdecleir6389]

Great. We ve done it today … although the substrate in an Irish river is very very muddy indeed. Much muddier than yours… Yikes. If it settles that would be cool.

[@A_Rainworld_Fan.]

Was it cool?

[@wh1zpy.w1ll_wz]

I dont have a pond near me at all:( I also cant go anywhere, my mom wouldn't let me. Is there anything else I could use??

[@VinlandAlchemist]

No-one else has replied just yet, so if you don't mind my poking in with a few words... I can only think of two legitimate possibilities... have your mom take you on a nature walk, where such might be possible, or send a friend that you can meet (like, at school, perhaps) this video (and/or others like this one), and have that one make a sample in a jar for you that you can take when you two meet - I hope this helps! 🙂

[@wh1zpy.w1ll_wz]

@@VinlandAlchemist Tyty i will try both

[@isaacdavis7979]

Also Jar Planet at 3:27: the Insect Larvae at 3:27 is a MayFly Nymph Larva but I'm not sure what type it is but I just wanted to say . Also I do not mind anyone else in the Comment Section Correcting me beacuse I could be Wrong .

[@jarplanet]

Cool! Thanks for letting us know.

[@isaacdavis7979]

@@jarplanet NP

[@MIsopods]

You didn't link to the lens/microscope thing you mentioned in the video. Nice video, I'm going to be starting one of these soon myself. Thanks! Go easy, Me

[@jarplanet]

I apologize! It was there originally. I need to try and add it back. Good luck on starting an ecosphere!

[@Amandahugginkizz]

​@@jarplanet did u find the link??

[@olufemilawal]

hello, how do you clean the algae build up on the glass so you can still see into the ecosphere~

[@jarplanet]

I typically wouldn’t clean off any algae because it is a vital part of the ecosystem.

[@olufemilawal]

@@jarplanet ah i see, I'll be going to my local river this weekend to set up mine. Thank you for this video!

[@jarplanet]

Best of luck to you!!

[@ShadowThrall]

I'd also like more info on how to deal with algae build up? Wouldn't the algae build up become so great that it starts to block light coming into the jar and also prevent you from seeing inside?

[@abidingdude222]

How many ounces is your jar?

[@ppm5960]

Nice

[@jarplanet]

Thanks!

[@AyshCrop93]

This might be a silly question, but why do some of the jars look dirtier than others? And is there ever a point where you’d have to intervene?x

[@jarplanet]

That’s a great question. Dirty water can mean several things. Wood or leafs could be leaching tannins in the water turning it a brown color, similar to tea we drink. Dirty water usually means it contains high levels nutrients. Another thing to consider is the algae that grows on the glass, I am unable to clean it off making it appear darker. Before I started this channel, I had several ecospheres die. I prefer not to intervene. I like the idea of creating something self sustaining and hope to find ways to make that more achievable. The oldest one I have is 3 years old, so it is definitely possible. I hope this answers your questions. If you have anymore, let me know.

[@ethanbennett9349]

planning on making one here in new zealand in under a months time!

[@jarplanet]

Very cool!! I would love to see a picture when you are finished. You can reach out to us on instagram.

[@hallucinatinghawk3917]

Enjoy a new subscription! I love terrariums

[@jarplanet]

Glad you found us then!! Lots more on the way.

[@Nobab_Chowdry]

5:13 there are exactly 565 microorganism where is my surprise?

[@user-et4lj5jz8i]

Question! How do you know definitively when an ecosphere has failed? Also, is it okay to open the jar to, say, clean the glass or is it best to leave it alone?

[@jarplanet]

When I say an ecosphere “failed”, I mean everything died. It could be caused by a number of things. And for opening the jar, it depends what you’re going for. Opening these jars to do maintenance can destabilize the ecosystem. Beneficial bacterial and algae grow on the glass which are essential to the life of the ecosystem. But if you were to make a jarrarium and did water changes with regular maintenance, you probably wouldn’t have as many issues. I hope this answers your questions! If you have anymore, let me know.

[@animekiller1523]

Can I put it alone?

[@ishedits4226]

Can I make a ecosphere with rainwater plzz reply

[@jarplanet]

You can try. Never a bad idea to experiment!

[@ishedits4226]

I tried this today and it worked !! who knew rainwater can make a ecosphere !! life is everywhere isn't it.

[@cupcakegod3695]

I am your 930 th sub

[@jarplanet]

Thanks! Glad to have you

[@Fish72835]

Mr snail is probably a ramshorn snail

[@sherecewilmoth3938]

Mr snail is probably lonely

[@ishedits4226]

Plzz help I want to do this but I have no ponds near me

[@jarplanet]

Hmm..maybe look for parks that are on a lake? If you don’t have anything like that, you could look next time you go out of town? I hope that helps! Best of luck!

[@ishedits4226]

Sure I thank u very much for replying and I will surly do this sometime

[@ishedits4226]

And I realized there is a lake near me which is 20 min away soo yeaaa

[@ishedits4226]

Lol

[@Kool_kid8]

Yayayayayya thank u

[@josh5641]

Made on today, it’s been a few hours but nothing is popping up yet, I know it might take some time but I’m just cared i did it wrong

[@MeatGoblin88]

well how'd it go?

[@josh5641]

@@MeatGoblin88 the first one had a bunch of life in it(from a clean creek) but died a few months after. The second one I made was made in a river that was very polluted and and had high mercury levels. I never saw any life in it at all, and after a few months it turned a dark dark brown

[@MeatGoblin88]

@@josh5641 nice, 3 months for your first try is really good

[@SunSheepOfLight]

3:25 😕… Not sure what that is.

[@audreyaguirre3019]

my ecosphere is black what does that mean

[@jarplanet]

Could mean several things. Is it the glass that changed color or the water? If the water is all black, everything may have died. If it’s the glass, then it could be algae blocking your view. Another option is magnesium. When magnesium is mixed with oxygen it turns black. Hard to say without more info. Hope this helps.

[@vletamor5807]

i had one but all my shrimp that i manage to collect died: (

[@whattheshit4936]

So…my confusion with ecospheres is how there’s no movement of the water and constant refresh of the micro fauna type of stuff. Do these ecosystems really survive long periods in the same water? I imagine something dying would release a LOT of chemicals into the entire ecosystem and poison something else, given it’s sealed environment, but I’ve also seen some jars sealed for YEARS and still thriving! Definitely a cheap and wondrous hobby

[@jarplanet]

Not all ecospheres last long term. Many different things can upset the ecosystem and everything will die. The oldest ecosphere I have is 4 years old and still thriving.

[@gabrielw4720]

Nice

[@jarplanet]

Thanks!!😁

[@gabrielw4720]

@@jarplanet a like

[@gabrielw4720]

@@jarplanet of Brasil