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Feb 7, 2012. 10:53 AMajmckay
says:
I'm not sure what the point of this instructable is...
Are you opposed to this concept because you think it's cruel? If so, fine, but what evidence do you have that there is any ammonia at all inside a properly cared for ecosphere? Did you at least take an ammonia measurement with a hobby-grade test kit?
I'm willing to bet that if yours was properly cared for there was no detectable ammonia.
For biological waste (poop) to become ammonia it must go through a bacterial process as part of decomposition. So logically if there is ammonia in the sphere then there are bacteria. Now there are many kinds of bacteria, and they're literally everywhere. If you want a detailed explanation of how this ecosystem works read up on the nitrogen cycle. As part of the nitrogen cycle, other bacteria then further process this ammonia into nitrite, and then into nitrate (which is essentially fertilizer). So the plants consume the nitrate, then the shrimp consume the plants, then the shrimp poop and the bacteria convert that back into nitrate.
Adding different inhabitants is okay, but has to be in proportion to everything else. Realize that by having so much algae in your ecosphere you're providing plenty of food, but you're also raising the pH a lot due to the increased photosynthesis! This can kill the shrimp!
So I refer back to my original question, what exactly are you trying to accomplish with this? In my opinion it would be a good idea to do further research on these biological principles and re-assess the need to modify these ecospheres. Good luck!
Are you opposed to this concept because you think it's cruel? If so, fine, but what evidence do you have that there is any ammonia at all inside a properly cared for ecosphere? Did you at least take an ammonia measurement with a hobby-grade test kit?
I'm willing to bet that if yours was properly cared for there was no detectable ammonia.
For biological waste (poop) to become ammonia it must go through a bacterial process as part of decomposition. So logically if there is ammonia in the sphere then there are bacteria. Now there are many kinds of bacteria, and they're literally everywhere. If you want a detailed explanation of how this ecosystem works read up on the nitrogen cycle. As part of the nitrogen cycle, other bacteria then further process this ammonia into nitrite, and then into nitrate (which is essentially fertilizer). So the plants consume the nitrate, then the shrimp consume the plants, then the shrimp poop and the bacteria convert that back into nitrate.
Adding different inhabitants is okay, but has to be in proportion to everything else. Realize that by having so much algae in your ecosphere you're providing plenty of food, but you're also raising the pH a lot due to the increased photosynthesis! This can kill the shrimp!
So I refer back to my original question, what exactly are you trying to accomplish with this? In my opinion it would be a good idea to do further research on these biological principles and re-assess the need to modify these ecospheres. Good luck!
Nov 3, 2011. 2:03 PMchickmagnet1308
says:
I am starting my ecosphere today and I am going to try and find some volcano shrimp. Any suggestions on what plant (besides the algae) I should include. This is an excellent excerpt from Carl Sagan... http://www.eco-sphere.com/sagan.html
Sep 8, 2011. 12:13 AMbsnob
says:
mine is an egg shape and there is no plug i dont think, it is the same brand from brookstone in the picture though, so say i open it, and put in seamonkeys and the same plant ,whatever it is they have in there, then how long will the sea monkeys live for?
and where can i get my own hawaiian shrimp, and plant to put in there?is there a better plant that can sustain more shrimp? mine only had like 1 or 2, in one but another i had ,had 4 shrimp in it though, but id really like to have more, or even a few that could actually reproduce in there ,would be nice to have an indefinite life cycie in there, i saw these in the 80' or 90's at sharperimage but they were bigger and much much more expensile ,like 1000 or more, and they said that it would last a lot longer
and where can i get my own hawaiian shrimp, and plant to put in there?is there a better plant that can sustain more shrimp? mine only had like 1 or 2, in one but another i had ,had 4 shrimp in it though, but id really like to have more, or even a few that could actually reproduce in there ,would be nice to have an indefinite life cycie in there, i saw these in the 80' or 90's at sharperimage but they were bigger and much much more expensile ,like 1000 or more, and they said that it would last a lot longer
Mar 15, 2009. 8:44 PMTheWelfareWarrior
says:
What's the point of adding more shrimp which increase the ammonia?
Mar 16, 2009. 4:28 AMSciphii (author)
says:
I took out the Red shrimp, drained out all the ammonia filled water and put in a algae rich, sea monkey mixture, which balances the ammonia.
Feb 10, 2010. 9:04 AMchuckr44
says:
Sciphii, did you test the water for ammonia the first time you opened it? I don't think ammonia is the problem here. Some aquatic plants can use ammonia directly, but it's assuming a lot to think the creators of the Eco Sphere got the right balance of plants in there.
Feb 10, 2010. 8:55 AMchuckr44
says:
The Hawaiian shrimp I don't think are a member of the neocaridina dwarf shrimp, which typically live only 18 months. (I've been raising neocaridina for 4+ years.) But for a shrimp that small to live 6 years is amazing. (Typically the smaller shrimp live shorter lives.)
Dec 29, 2009. 2:16 PMmenno
says:
My ecosphere (called Globus biosphere) with shrimp lasted for 6 years before the shrimp died. So I think the shrimp live just fine, and there is no need to remove them.
For Bears0, if your ecosphere is too dark due to algae growing too fast, it means you have your sphere in too much light, so put it in a darker place and the algae should reduce.
For Bears0, if your ecosphere is too dark due to algae growing too fast, it means you have your sphere in too much light, so put it in a darker place and the algae should reduce.
Dec 29, 2009. 4:41 PMSciphii (author)
says:
Some people say that the shrimps are fine in the container, while others argue that it is just the sheer will of surrvival in these creatures that let them live that long. We all have our opinions and i guess there will be no definite answer.
Anyways you can use this Instrucable to open up your Ecosphere if all the shrimp in it perishes.
Anyways you can use this Instrucable to open up your Ecosphere if all the shrimp in it perishes.
Oct 30, 2009. 6:37 AMbears0
says:
make an instructible on how to do that my ecosphere is all dark and you cant see a thing
Nov 15, 2009. 8:28 AMSciphii (author)
says:
All you really need to do is get a knife and cut through the plastic circle on the bottom. (Step 2) Once that's done, you do anything you want with the sphere the shrimp. (I put sea monkeys in there)
May 31, 2009. 2:17 PMSciphii (author)
says:
Brookstone, Target, or any specialty stores. You can alo buy then on the internet too.
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