The EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem is a fully enclosed glass ecosystem meant to sustain salt-water organisms and microorganisms. In each EcoSphere, you find algae, shrimps, gravel, and various microorganisms dwelling in the enclosed saltwater.
The EcoSphere is special in such a way that you would never have to feed the shrimp inside. This is because it is a self-sustaining environment that contains all necessities for life to thrive. Just ensure that there is a light source wherever you place your ecosphere and a room temperature between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
How the EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem works
This self-sustaining EcoSphere is made from special hand-blown glass that gives it a unique look. This glass is transparent to allow light in, which in turn causes an algae bloom. Light is integral for the algae to grow which in turn becomes food for the shrimp.
Since these plants form the base of the food chain in the EcoSphere, without light the ecosystem wouldn’t thrive. Interestingly, it does not have to be natural light! Artificial lighting such as light bulbs would work just fine as long as you ensure the amount of light produced is just enough to allow enough algae, that can sustain the number of shrimps in the Ecosphere, to grow.
The shrimps then take in oxygen released by algae and exhale carbon dioxide which is used by the algae to manufacture food. Bacteria then breaks down shrimp’s droppings and other waste products, then convert them into nutrients for the algae to utilize. You don’t need to filter or change the pets’ water in the EcoSphere. Neither do you have to add food inside.
Although the EcoSphere is touted as an ecosystem that doesn’t require any maintenance, it needs some albeit minimal. Over time, the microorganisms in the EcoSphere form a film within the glass. This formation may not threaten the rest of the marine life inside, but it may be an eyesore if left unchecked for extended periods.
To deal with this issue, there are magnets provided alongside a user manual in the EcoSphere. Which you can use to get rid of the film in a matter of minutes without having to relocate the shrimp or any other organisms in the aquarium.
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Wouldn’t the shrimp starve?
The shrimp used in the EcoSphere is found in Hawaii, where they live in a special environment around the islands. They can go for almost a year without food, which is why they can live comfortably on the number of algae produced in this enclosed ecosystem, that is designed to feel like their original home.
If you feel this idea is inhumane or you feel like saving the shrimps, you shouldn’t release them in the river or the oceans, which don’t resemble their brackish natural habitat, because they will die. Instead, you should construct a proper salty water shrimp aquarium for them.
Advantages
- Beautifully designed to represent a perfect mix of advanced technology and modern art.
- It offers some insight into how plant life and animal life depend on one another in the ecosystem.
- One of the easiest to manage fishbowls on the planet.
- It is a good educational tool for children since it helps them understand the mechanism behind ecosystems.
- It can also make an ideal gift for friends, lovers, or teenagers.
- There is an outlet at the bottom for removing the shrimp if necessary
Disadvantages
- The little world in the sphere is entirely in your care. You may observe everything including when the tiny shrimps get sick or die. However, you can do nothing about it and you may begin to wonder whether it’s animal cruelty to keeps these animals enclosed in a crystal prison. On the brighter side, you can reassure yourself that they are much safer than in the ocean where they would have faced pollution by humans or suffer from predation.
- The main selling point of the sphere is the thought that it is a self-sustaining system. This capability still has its limits though. Given that the EcoSphere aquarium is a closed system, shrimps can die of oxygen starvation, especially when left in places without light. Shrimps need to be able to breathe just like any other animal out there and for this to happen, they require a constant supply of oxygen. To avoid this, you can transfer these shrimps to an open-air tank aquarium. Shrimps also need more algae than what the tiny ecosphere, which entirely comprises brackish water, offers. It leaves them with no choice other than feed on whatever is available.
- In the enclosed conditions, these shrimps have a lifespan of about 10 years. However, some people have reported that the shrimp died within a few days. This lifespan is a clear flaw since these shrimps should be able to live for around two decades. The sphere also limits their survival chances and ability to reproduce.
Should you buy it?
Despite all the concerns of the EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecoystem, it is still a beautiful ecosystem that will put a smile on the face of whoever it is gifted. It is also an interesting addition to your office since it is a sight to behold and a beauty to watch that doesn’t require much effort to maintain.
It comes in 8 different sizes that you can select from depending on your needs. The EcoSphere is available on Amazon where you can check its price and customer reviews and ratings. However, if you don’t like the idea of having shrimps in the enclosure, you can go for a proper coral shrimp tank.