Mosquito fish don't have eggs, they are livebearing fish. They were
probably just hiding amongst the plants and debris in your
container...that's what mine do.

--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Keiser" <bk2@...> wrote:
>
>
> > what will the guppy eat?
> >
> >   ----- Original Message -----
> >   From: smartboy5765
> >   To: homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com
> >   Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 4:58 AM
> >   Subject: [Homemade Biospheres] will this last long?
> >
> >
> >   I put 1 male guppy and an anubius nana plant in a 1.6L jar. I
picked
> >   one of my uglier(i have hundreds) guppies and took water from the
> tank
> >   he was in. I left air room at the top to allow for exchange of
gasses
> >   from the water to the air and then sealed it. Will it last long?
> >
>
>  i've had small gambusias, (mosquito fish) live in an open gallon jug
> for months. actually, they appeared spontaneously months after i
> collected the wild stream water. at first one appeared, then 4 or 5
> more. i'm not sure if the eggs had been dormant all that time, or what.
>  i doubt they would have survived with the jar sealed, though.
>  i have had a sealed quart jar with amphipods, cyclops etc. and
> hornwort survive for 5 or 6 years in a windowsill.
> bill keiser
>

I've been keeping a biosphere with one mosquitofish in it and its
survived for almost a year now with a few snails and plants. Now I've
added another mosquito fish to the sphere and a crayfish....I'm
wondering how long it'll survive with the added creatures.

I've also created another biosphere along side my first one that looks
exactly the same except it doesn't have a crayfish.

I was doing some research on a fish called the Red Shiner, which is
native to my state, and found they thrive well in poor conditions and
adjust well where most fish would stress and die. I'm temped to try
these out in a biosphere and see how long they'll last.

Anyone try this yet?

Also, has anyone ever tried a biosphere with a baby crayfish in it??
I've tried ghost shrimp before, but they don't do so hot (Stress easilly).

Unless your office has the exact same conditions as your home then
the sphere you are planning to take to work will change dramamtically
once it's there. Quality of light, day/night length, and ambient
temperatures are all going to have an effect. Good luck with them
though. You might consider sealing it after you have transferred it
to the office and it has stabilized in those conditions.

--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, "harrybrindley"
<harrybrindley@...> wrote:
>
> <http://slapphappe.com/2008/02/04/fresh-water-biospheres/>
>
> The freshwater biosphere idea came from a recent Make magazine
article. My biospheres
> included more plant and animal life than suggested in Make's
article. Each also contained
> some algae covered pond stones and some sand dredged from our local
Hecksher Park lake
> spread over a base of crushed sea shells. Initially we could see
some of the larger
> microscopic animals scurry around as dark dots and rods. A few
specimens were a millimeter
> or two long. I see very little of that original microscopic life
four months into the experiment.
> From a pair of snails we now have many. Check out the link to
photographs on my blog. The
> water is clear and the plant life still looks fresh and green!
>

I have a 1/2 gallon biosphere that I started in the beginning of
April. It started out with a very small fish, a snail for keeping
things cleaned up, and a cryptocoryne spiralis plant to assist with
the 02 levels. For the first 6 weeks, things weren't going so well.
The plant looked sick, and then the fish died. About one week after
the fish died, things stabilized very well. The plant is now looking
extremely healthy, and the snail has doubled in size.

The problem is that when I put the bioshpere together, I didn't
understand the physiology of snails -- and now there are about 18
small snails in the sphere. My question is, what can or should I do?
On one hand, I think that maybe I should just let things run the
natural course. But on the other hand I am really thinking that they
will keep mulitplying. Any suggestions?

Also, I want to create a marine biosphere with a very small
Halocaridina Rubra (or similar) shrimp. I don't have an establised
marine tank, so where can I get some water and sand to create a
marine biosphere? What kinds of plants should I use? What else should
I include?

Oh, another question - someone mentioned that they had a bioshpere
with live bloodworms living in the sand - where do you get those? I
live in the PAC NW, so I cant just get them out of the local streams,
can I?

Thanks,

Cary

<http://slapphappe.com/2008/02/04/fresh-water-biospheres/>

The freshwater biosphere idea came from a recent Make magazine article. My
biospheres
included more plant and animal life than suggested in Make's article. Each also
contained
some algae covered pond stones and some sand dredged from our local Hecksher
Park lake
spread over a base of crushed sea shells. Initially we could see some of the
larger
microscopic animals scurry around as dark dots and rods. A few specimens were a
millimeter
or two long. I see very little of that original microscopic life four months
into the experiment.
From a pair of snails we now have many. Check out the link to photographs on my
blog. The
water is clear and the plant life still looks fresh and green!

I don't know know if they are Cannabilistic by nature. I always had food
enough for them. They are carnivors so it would not suprise me. I put a big toad
in with them though, thinking they would get along together. I came home all six
Anoles were gone. The toad still had the tail of the biggest Anole (about 4"
long) hanging out of it's mouth.
     I will tell you something I did once that turned out pretty neat. I went to
a small creek, I got mud, leaves, crayfish, small suckermouth catfish, pebbles,
snails, rocks, waterlogged sticks, algae and water plants. And who knows how
many different water bugs in the gathering the put all it in side a large
aquarium. I did not filter but I did aerate it. It went through astounding
changes for about  three months before it stabilized    At one time it turned
cloudy, but upon looking very close it was billions of almost microscopic  water
bugs of some sort. One time the whole bottom was covered in red hair like worms.
Then I thought the fish and crayfish died, but looked again a couple days later
and there were small ones. I think they could not get enough food when they got
bigger and died but there were always small ones .Then one time the snails took
over hundreds of them. Then these little transparent shrimp like things. But
when it stabilized it still had all the same
  things they just hit a balance. I never fed anything and kept it four about 6
years just adding water until I moved.

http://www.ameyzoo.co.uk/Caresheets/anole.htm
jack





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Check this site out: http://www.highmars.org/niac/education/cemss/  If my didn't
hate mice so much I'd give it a try after making a few mods.  Should also work
for lizards assuming you adapt it correctly.

Also ... google terms related to vivarium and palidarium (not sure of spelling).
You should get some sites related to combining aquaria, plants and reptiles in
an enclosed but not sealed, environment.

Nick


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Can you tell me if they eat smaller members of their species? I suspect
that could be one way of managing population and I think it would be
more humane than letting them starve from population pressures.


--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, Jack Northrup <jahral@...>
wrote:
>
> I forgot to add,  I have raised Anoles in a terrarium. That is why
the knowledge. I raised crickets in the same terrarium to feed them. I
used 1/4" wire mess as you mentioned to give the crickets a safe harbor.
>
> Jack
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I have green anoles in mind as they would be easier to get hold of
for me. They are also common in the pet trade and I would feel more
confident with them. Geckos are a real good idea too and I hadn't
actually considered them so thanks for that.

I prefer a climbing species so they can make use of vertical space.
That allows a more compact structure that would require less
financing. I have a very tight budget which doesn't allow me to even
try this yet, but maybe someday.

My dream is for a multi-generation set-up. If the population expands
and adapts to the biosphere then my dream would be realized.

--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Keiser" <bk2@...>
wrote:
>
>  i don't know what species of anole you're talking about, but we
have
> cuban anoles and green anoles here in florida. they do climb bushes
> and small trees, but i see them more on the ground so i don't think
> trees are necessary(unless you introduce cats that they need to
escape
> from!).
>  you might want to consider a smaller species for this biosphere,
> maybe a smaller lizard that is less voracious, like the
mediterranean
> gecko(also wild here). or small treefrogs or toads. they might be
> viable in something as small as 30 gallons or so if you can find the
> right kind of insect that feeds on a fast growing plant.
>  for an aquatic system, i've had gambusia fish living in a gallon
jug
> for a couple years with nothing added to the container except
> replenished water.
> bill keiser
>
> > I often ponder the possibility of developing a biosphere around
the
> > needs of anole lizards. One day I hope to actually build it. I've
> > gone to some lengths to figure out what I need to keep one going
for
> > a few generations.
> >
> > I would like to go as big as I could get of course with an
enormous
> > tank but something the size of a greenhouse strikes me as the
> > smallest practical limit. Since anoles live in trees (most
species
> > anyway) I would need to provide height for them to climb.
>
> >
> > I have also decided on laying a floor of wire mesh (I haven't
quite
> > determined the gauge) to keep the anoles out of some of the
habitat
> > which I would reserve for smaller animals that would ultimately
be
> > their food sources. I am somewhat concerned the anoles would eat
up
> > the vast majority of invertebrates if they had full access to the
> > habitat and so I thought it would be best to conceal breeding
areas
> > for the insects, snails, worms and spiders they would eat. This
way
> > the food items could breed at will and the excess population
would
> > have to migrate into the rest of the habitat. If the prey set up
> > alternative breeding areas then so much the better but at least
some
> > breeding areas would always be secure from the anoles and would
> > continue if the breeding areas in the main habitat were
compromised
> > in any way.
> >
> > In a glass box, water would likely condense on the sides and
ceiling
> > and so perhaps a drinking area might not be necessary as water
would
> > likely drop onto everything below just like rain or dew. . . .
>
> > My plan would also include artificial lighting . . .
>

i don't know what species of anole you're talking about, but we have
cuban anoles and green anoles here in florida. they do climb bushes
and small trees, but i see them more on the ground so i don't think
trees are necessary(unless you introduce cats that they need to escape
from!).
  you might want to consider a smaller species for this biosphere,
maybe a smaller lizard that is less voracious, like the mediterranean
gecko(also wild here). or small treefrogs or toads. they might be
viable in something as small as 30 gallons or so if you can find the
right kind of insect that feeds on a fast growing plant.
  for an aquatic system, i've had gambusia fish living in a gallon jug
for a couple years with nothing added to the container except
replenished water.
bill keiser

> I often ponder the possibility of developing a biosphere around the
> needs of anole lizards. One day I hope to actually build it. I've
> gone to some lengths to figure out what I need to keep one going for
> a few generations.
>
> I would like to go as big as I could get of course with an enormous
> tank but something the size of a greenhouse strikes me as the
> smallest practical limit. Since anoles live in trees (most species
> anyway) I would need to provide height for them to climb.

>
> I have also decided on laying a floor of wire mesh (I haven't quite
> determined the gauge) to keep the anoles out of some of the habitat
> which I would reserve for smaller animals that would ultimately be
> their food sources. I am somewhat concerned the anoles would eat up
> the vast majority of invertebrates if they had full access to the
> habitat and so I thought it would be best to conceal breeding areas
> for the insects, snails, worms and spiders they would eat. This way
> the food items could breed at will and the excess population would
> have to migrate into the rest of the habitat. If the prey set up
> alternative breeding areas then so much the better but at least some
> breeding areas would always be secure from the anoles and would
> continue if the breeding areas in the main habitat were compromised
> in any way.
>
> In a glass box, water would likely condense on the sides and ceiling
> and so perhaps a drinking area might not be necessary as water would
> likely drop onto everything below just like rain or dew. . . .

> My plan would also include artificial lighting . . .

I forgot to add,  I have raised Anoles in a terrarium. That is why the
knowledge. I raised crickets in the same terrarium to feed them. I used 1/4"
wire mess as you mentioned to give the crickets a safe harbor.

Jack





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Most biospheres are made to balance. Everything has a food source and
everything is a food source. Meaning if your anoles If happy will reproduce with
no nothing to control their population
      Anoles have a lifespan of 2-3 years. They mate late spring to early summer
and lay 1-2 eggs at a time( the group of eggs laid at a time is called a clutch
). They produce a clutch about every two weeks. The eggs take about 70-80 days
to hatch.






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I often ponder the possibility of developing a biosphere around the
needs of anole lizards. One day I hope to actually build it. I've
gone to some lengths to figure out what I need to keep one going for
a few generations.

I would like to go as big as I could get of course with an enormous
tank but something the size of a greenhouse strikes me as the
smallest practical limit. Since anoles live in trees (most species
anyway) I would need to provide height for them to climb. I have
already decided that I would not plant actual trees in this tank as
they would ultimately grow too large and could damage the walls or
ceiling or even the floor from being so massive. I have decided on
poles made from wood and hung with ropes. Possibly I would start
plants growing on them so they fill the role of trees a little more
accurately.

I have also decided on laying a floor of wire mesh (I haven't quite
determined the gauge) to keep the anoles out of some of the habitat
which I would reserve for smaller animals that would ultimately be
their food sources. I am somewhat concerned the anoles would eat up
the vast majority of invertebrates if they had full access to the
habitat and so I thought it would be best to conceal breeding areas
for the insects, snails, worms and spiders they would eat. This way
the food items could breed at will and the excess population would
have to migrate into the rest of the habitat. If the prey set up
alternative breeding areas then so much the better but at least some
breeding areas would always be secure from the anoles and would
continue if the breeding areas in the main habitat were compromised
in any way.

In a glass box, water would likely condense on the sides and ceiling
and so perhaps a drinking area might not be necessary as water would
likely drop onto everything below just like rain or dew. I have
thought I might suspend strips of plastic over ceramic or
plastic "saucers" to direct some of this condensation into pools
(puddles).

My plan would also include artificial lighting on a regular day/night
cycle for a consistent level of light as opposed to the sometimes
there, sometimes not there quality of the sunlight in my area. And
considering the need to have a consistent supply of O2 I have thought
that a second connected tank filled with algae and lit artifically in
the alternate day/night cycle might be a good balance.

Anyone have similar thoughts?

> what will the guppy eat?
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: smartboy5765
>   To: homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 4:58 AM
>   Subject: [Homemade Biospheres] will this last long?
>
>
>   I put 1 male guppy and an anubius nana plant in a 1.6L jar. I picked
>   one of my uglier(i have hundreds) guppies and took water from the
tank
>   he was in. I left air room at the top to allow for exchange of gasses
>   from the water to the air and then sealed it. Will it last long?
>

  i've had small gambusias, (mosquito fish) live in an open gallon jug
for months. actually, they appeared spontaneously months after i
collected the wild stream water. at first one appeared, then 4 or 5
more. i'm not sure if the eggs had been dormant all that time, or what.
  i doubt they would have survived with the jar sealed, though.
  i have had a sealed quart jar with amphipods, cyclops etc. and
hornwort survive for 5 or 6 years in a windowsill.
bill keiser

Perhaps you could consider:
http://www.carolina.com/p2p/endecaSearch.do?keyword=131207

;)

--
flip
Just on the border of your waking mind, There lies - Another time,
  Where darkness & light - are one. And as you tread the halls of sanity,
   You feel so glad to be, Unable to go beyond.
   ELO - Twilight Prologue

I think that I would use the pond water and not worry about
purchasing the algae. But I have never used pond water like that
before, so I have no experience in that... Also, if you just put all
of those items in regular tap water, there is a chance the the
chlorine (and other additives like flouride) could harm or kill the
live stock you purchased.

For the last biosphere I created, I used water from an established
fresh water aquarium, and it is doing very well. Other than the usual
sand etc, the only things that I added were one plant, a snail and a
very small fish (it is 1/2 gallon).

Good luck,

Cary

--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, jknilinux <no_reply@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi everybody,
>
> This was my original unanswered message from a month or so ago.
>
>
>
> I'm starting a new ecosystem, and I'd like some feedback on the
setup
> I'm working on, tips and previous experiences with making artificial
> ecosystems. I don't have a pond nearby, so I'm thinking of ordering
> all this stuff from Carolina Biological Supply/Siencekit:
>
> Hornwort, Duckweed, Brown Planaria, green hydra, cyclops, daphnia,
> amphipods, pond snail, Live Food for Freshwater Invertebrates
> (includes Ankistrodesmus, Chlorella, Scenedesmus, and Selenastrum).
>
> Or, should I just get the mixed pond water
> (http://www.carolina.com/product/pond+water%2C+1+gal.do?keyword=16-
3380&sortby=b\
> estMatches)
> which might have some algae etc... already in it.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>

If you want live plants, you will need to provide special lighting
for photosynthesis. Blue and Red wavelengths are the most important
but indirect lighting from a nearby window (not in the window, that's
too direct) can satisfy many species of tropical plants you might
use. If you get your lamps at a garden center they can help you pick
out what you will need. Plastic plants can be useful if you're more
interested in the frogs and don't require so much upkeep or fancy
lighting and your frogs won't be bothered in the least.

Frogs will do better with heat from under the tank and some shade
from any light source. Of course, they need water in which they can
immerse themselves and plenty of live food. Some species have been
adapted to formulas and ask at the pet shop what they will need
specifically. Even formula fed frogs will benefit from the
occassional live bug or worm. They will eat whatever they can fit in
their mouths and that includes other frogs so be careful with
roommate arrangements. If the shop keeper seems even remotely unsure
about how to care for the frogs, put the decision off until you can
research their needs for yourself.

And if you do have doubts about your ability to keep them going, try
a less expensive specimen first and gain some experience. My area
has "peep frogs" that chorus us at night which can be very annoying
when trying to sleep. All the same they are cute and climb so can be
fun.


--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, <Rigby4@...> wrote:
>
> Thank you Anthony. When I asked for this advice I was planning to
use only plants for my project.  Now the idea of a couple little
red/yellow/black frogs for contrast against all that greenery and
hearing them peep all night has me intrigued.  My only hesitation on
frogs is my fear that I won't know how to take care of them well
enough and they'll die.  I've been known to help earthworms cross dry
sidewalks - maybe I could trial it with ordinary pond frogs, which I
expect are hardier. Now I'm off to measure my tank.

Hi everybody,

This was my original unanswered message from a month or so ago.



I'm starting a new ecosystem, and I'd like some feedback on the setup
I'm working on, tips and previous experiences with making artificial
ecosystems. I don't have a pond nearby, so I'm thinking of ordering
all this stuff from Carolina Biological Supply/Siencekit:

Hornwort, Duckweed, Brown Planaria, green hydra, cyclops, daphnia,
amphipods, pond snail, Live Food for Freshwater Invertebrates
(includes Ankistrodesmus, Chlorella, Scenedesmus, and Selenastrum).

Or, should I just get the mixed pond water
(http://www.carolina.com/product/pond+water%2C+1+gal.do?keyword=16-3380&sortby=b\
\
estMatches)
which might have some algae etc... already in it.

Thanks in advance!

Thank you Anthony. When I asked for this advice I was planning to use only
plants for my project.  Now the idea of a couple little red/yellow/black frogs
for contrast against all that greenery and hearing them peep all night has me
intrigued.  My only hesitation on frogs is my fear that I won't know how to take
care of them well enough and they'll die.  I've been known to help earthworms
cross dry sidewalks - maybe I could trial it with ordinary pond frogs, which I
expect are hardier. Now I'm off to measure my tank.

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Anthony
   To: homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 2:13 PM
   Subject: [Homemade Biospheres] Re: Off Topic question about a terrarium


   --- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, "nurseofclay" <Rigby4@...>
   wrote:
   >
   > Can anyone give me any insight into appropriate light for a terrarium?
   > I have a lidded 20 gallon fish tank that I'd like to use as a terrarium
   > in a room that is poorly lit. Is there any particular kind of light I
   > should look for that won't be too bright and won't create too much
   > heat?
   > Thanks for any suggestions.
   >

   The kind of lighting you want will depend on the species you wish to
   keep and the style of twenty-gallon tank you have.

   Twenty-gallon tanks come in two principle styles: "long" and "high"

   A 20-gal long will not be as tall as the "high" and the lamp will be
   closer to the tank's inhabitants.

   Some animals want lots of light and less heat while others want some
   (or even no) light and lots of heat. Fluorescent lamps usually give
   off some heat but not a lot. They usually also give off a different
   set of wave-lengths than incandescent lamps. If using fluorescent
   lamps you may have to supplement the heat in the tank with special
   pads under the tank or with special decor items that look like rocks.
   Some species will not accept this kind of arrangement: especially many
   species of desert reptiles which specifically want heat from above and
   you will need to use incandescent lamps.

   Halogen lamps are the hottest and offer the most light as well and may
   be suitable if the lamp is kept well above the tank but be careful,
   they can burn animals that touch them or get too close.

   I can be more specific if I know what species you are trying to keep
   in your terrarium.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, smartboy5765 <no_reply@...>
wrote:
>
> I put 1 male guppy and an anubius nana plant in a 1.6L jar. I picked
> one of my uglier(i have hundreds) guppies and took water from the tank
> he was in. I left air room at the top to allow for exchange of gasses
> from the water to the air and then sealed it. Will it last long?
>

I wouldn't imagine it would last very long at all. I doubt a 1.6L jar
would hold much O2 in reserve during the night hours when both the
guppy and the anubius will be using the O2 that was built up over the
day. It might last a few months but I doubt it would last much longer
than that.  Once the guppy dies, the anubius should fare pretty well
although O2 might build up, this should eventually be off-set by the
bacteria in the jar building up to a sustainable population.

If you want to keep a guppy as an inhabitant for a biosphere, you
might try a larger system like a ten gallon tank 1/2 filled with water
and possibly tilted to one side to increase the air/water interface.
  Gravel and/or sand yadda yadda and some small plants spread
throughout. Duckweed and azolla can be invasive and I would avoid them
for the most part, but there are a number of small water plants that
can be used. Don't over plant however. Chain sword is a favorite of
mine and it doesn't grow out of control but can be hard to find. Not
all pet stores carry it but some of the larger ones should be able to
get some in for you if you request it. 4 or 5 guppies to start the
tank should be sufficient. This should last a bit longer and be more
interesting to boot. If all goes well, the guppies might even have
babies to replace them as they die. Starting the system
under-planted/under-populated allows the system to grow together. This
should make a stronger and more lasting biosphere.

Set the tank up for a few weeks before adding the plants and then a
week later add the guppies. Seal the tank when you feel comfortable
(at most two weeks later) but before it starts to grow in thick and
lush. Keeping the nutrient load low will help to reduce the risk of
oxygen starvation and severe pollution. Furthermore, don't place the
system in direct sunlight. An east or west facing window is usually
sufficient and keep the direct sunlight to a minimum even then. A
better situation would be artificial lighting via fluorescent tubes
which would be more controllable and generates less internal heat.
Keep the tank away from drafts and air conditioning.

--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, "nurseofclay" <Rigby4@...>
wrote:
>
> Can anyone give me any insight into appropriate light for a terrarium?
> I have a lidded 20 gallon fish tank that I'd like to use as a terrarium
> in a room that is poorly lit.  Is there any particular kind of light I
> should look for that won't be too bright and won't create too much
> heat?
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>

The kind of lighting you want will depend on the species you wish to
keep and the style of twenty-gallon tank you have.

Twenty-gallon tanks come in two principle styles: "long" and "high"

A 20-gal long will not be as tall as the "high" and the lamp will be
closer to the tank's inhabitants.

Some animals want lots of light and less heat while others want some
(or even no) light and lots of heat. Fluorescent lamps usually give
off some heat but not a lot. They usually also give off a different
set of wave-lengths than incandescent lamps. If using fluorescent
lamps you may have to supplement the heat in the tank with special
pads under the tank or with special decor items that look like rocks.
Some species will not accept this kind of arrangement: especially many
species of desert reptiles which specifically want heat from above and
you will need to use incandescent lamps.

Halogen lamps are the hottest and offer the most light as well and may
be suitable if the lamp is kept well above the tank but be careful,
they can burn animals that touch them or get too close.

I can be more specific if I know what species you are trying to keep
in your terrarium.

the same way i said i do it every other time.  i'm chaos engineer man, i
prefer to toss it all together and see what happens over carefully spec'ing
the whole system out and controlling it.  i will be doing it with greenwater
though, probably bought from lfscultures.com to speed it along cuz i just
don't have the space or time to cultivate it anymore.

that, and my house threw out all my fish tanks and gear when they renovated
the basement.  not cool at all.

On Fri, Apr 11, 2008 at 1:23 PM, jknilinux <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>   How will you make your biosphere?
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

How will you make your biosphere?

for those of you who haven't read the article or just wanna check it out,
MAKE released a video podcast last august for the biosphere article.  i
forgot about it cuz...i don't check my podcasts anymore, lol.  i have it in
itunes, but it's probably available from their website.  check it out.

oh yeah, i might start a new one this summer with a coupla cultures from
lfscultures.com and just let it run feral, see what happens.  anyone
interested in something from there but either can't order live cultures to
their homes for whatever reason (ie mom) and live in or around nyc, or just
doesn't want a whole culture but rather a small amount of one or several to
start their own, email me privately, maybe we can work somethin out.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

seconded.  i had bloodworms living in about an inch of sand at the bottom of
the bottle that my guppies would pick at whenever they were hungry.  if you
can support a culture, or don't care about dropping most of it into the
bottle, buy a small daphnia or other equal-sized culture and toss it in with
it.  how big is your air gap?

On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 2:23 AM, Pedro Amorim Pereira <
pedroamorimpereira@...> wrote:

>   what will the guppy eat?
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: smartboy5765
> To: homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com<homemadebiospheres%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 4:58 AM
> Subject: [Homemade Biospheres] will this last long?
>
> I put 1 male guppy and an anubius nana plant in a 1.6L jar. I picked
> one of my uglier(i have hundreds) guppies and took water from the tank
> he was in. I left air room at the top to allow for exchange of gasses
> from the water to the air and then sealed it. Will it last long?
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

what will the guppy eat?

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: smartboy5765
   To: homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 4:58 AM
   Subject: [Homemade Biospheres] will this last long?


   I put 1 male guppy and an anubius nana plant in a 1.6L jar. I picked
   one of my uglier(i have hundreds) guppies and took water from the tank
   he was in. I left air room at the top to allow for exchange of gasses
   from the water to the air and then sealed it. Will it last long?





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I put 1 male guppy and 1 anubius nana plant and water from my fish
tank in a 1.6 L jar and sealed it. Will this last long??

I put 1 male guppy and an anubius nana plant in a 1.6L jar. I picked
one of my uglier(i have hundreds) guppies and took water from the tank
he was in. I left air room at the top to allow for exchange of gasses
from the water to the air and then sealed it. Will it last long?

Also, has anybody tried putting activated charcoal in one? It is used
in water filtration systems, and might be able to remove toxins that
build up in there...

--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, Rymel <rymelsleeps@...> wrote:
>
> never tried either.  keep us posted if you try them out
>
> On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 1:36 AM, jknilinux
<no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
> >   pez_gon said:
> >
> > "what makes you think river water doesn't have any bacteria or algae
> > in it? try whatever though, you might get lucky with one over the
> > other."
> >
> > - I think I misunderstood what nurseofclay asked... I thought s/he
> > asked if pond water is better than tap water. Also, this isn't my
project.
> >
> > Also, has anybody tried using hydra or planaria in an ecosystem? I'm
> > afraid that the planaria might use as much oxygen as a fish would.
> > Green Hydra sound like a cool addition- they have no known lifespan
> > (a.k.a immortal under the right conditions... see here:
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra_%28genus%29#Senescence ) and have
> > symbiotic algae in them.
> >
> >
> > --- In
homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com<homemadebiospheres%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > Rymel <rymelsleeps@> wrote:
> > >
> > > i don't think anyone got offended really, just more irked at the
> > > expectations of some high-knowledge secret society type thing going
> > on here
> > > that really is quite the opposite.
> > >
> > > at least, that's what i got out of it.
> > >
> > > most of what you'll EVER do in this field will be wait and see,
because
> > > you're not a scientist, you don't plan on being on doing it THAT
> > detailed,
> > > and you're probably gonna screw up the first few anyway. to say
> > dozens of
> > > times is kind of understating it - i can't remember how many
i've had to
> > > flush and re-start. you're never gonna know the full details of why
> > you get
> > > one to work. just a better picture on what you should probably do
> > to get
> > > another working one, hopefully.
> > >
> > > pond water's just densely populated. what makes you think river
water
> > > doesn't have any bacteria or algae in it? try whatever though, you
> > might
> > > get lucky with one over the other. and tap water's chlorine content
> > > evaporates if you leave the water out and uncovered for a night,
maybe a
> > > full day.
> > >
> > > regarding a baby food jar and daphnia - you've never tried them huh?
> > they
> > > breed like crazy, and when food's scarce, they just make eggs that
> > hibernate
> > > til it's ideal again. hydra i'm not sure about, never gotten any
> > yet. but
> > > while i still say try it anyway, i wouldn't expect it to work.
> > >
> > > On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 10:43 PM, jknilinux
<no_reply@yahoogroups.com<no_reply%40yahoogroups.com>
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > From what I've gathered, sealing it a day or two later isn't
bad, but
> > > > we'll just have to wait and see. Many people try this dozens
of times
> > > > before they randomly get a working ecosphere. Pond water is
probably
> > > > better for your eco, since:
> > > >
> > > > a)It already has algae/bacteria in it
> > > > b)It has no chlorine, etc... that might be in tap water
> > > >
> > > > Finally, a baby-food-jar-sized eco might be really hard, since you
> > > > have even more limited space than before. Snails are probably
out...
> > > > You might be able to get it work with a single hydra and a daphnia
> > > > culture, though.
> > > >
> > > > Let me know how it turns out!
> > > >
> > > > --- In
> > homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com
<homemadebiospheres%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <homemadebiospheres%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > > "nurseofclay" <Rigby4@>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Okay, I have a couple basic questions. I found this group when
> > > > > searching for one of those expensive sealed ecospheres and was
> > > > > intrigued with the idea that it's possible to make one myself. I
> > have
> > > > > started one in a large pickle jar following the advice I
found here,
> > > > > using water from the river. I sealed it a day or two after
> > filling it -
> > > > > when the water was clear. My question is: did I seal it too
soon? I
> > > > > get the sense that you're supposed to let it sit for awhile
longer
> > > > > before sealing. Also, I suspect I'll have better luck with
*pond*
> > > > > water. One more question, please... I'd like to make a
really little
> > > > > one for my desk at work. Have any of you made one as small
as a baby
> > > > > food jar?
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks!
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I read the makezine article, but it also lists as one of the steps
"go to a pond and get amphipods, copepods, yada yada yada...". I don't
have one nearby, but am thinking of getting pondwater from Carolina
Bio Supply... However, it might not have everything I need.


P.S It would be nice if there were detailed how-to's in the files
section. If not that, then at least the makezine article.

P.P.S Have you tried using planaria/Green Hydra? Green Hydra sound
pretty cool.

--- In homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Kemp" <nkemp1165@...>
wrote:
>
> Read the Make Magazine article for the most informative way to
start.  It is available at www.makezine.com.  Sorry but I don't have
the direct link.
>
> Also, there is not one right way,  Try a number of jars and
experiment.  Be cautious about getting your expectations too high.
some will last a few weeks others years, none may look as nice as a
commercial one.  But none will cost nearly as much nor will you learn
as much.
>
> That gets to the fundamental question ... Do you want an enclosed
biosphere or do you want to figure out how to make an enclosed
biosphere.  The former needs cash, the latter needs experimentation.
There is not (yet) a lot of science available on this topic.
>
> Nick
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: jknilinux
>   To: homemadebiospheres@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 4:27 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Homemade Biospheres] Is this forum dead?
>
>
>   I searched the forum, but the main results I got went something like
>   "go to a stream and put some water in a jar." I can't do that, though.
>   I also couldn't find any posts on planaria/Hydra. This was my original
>   question:
>
>   Hi everybody,
>
>   I'm starting a new ecosystem, and I'd like some feedback on the setup
>   I'm working on, tips, and previous experiences with making artificial
>   ecosystems. I don't have a pond nearby, so I'm thinking of ordering
>   all this stuff from Carolina Biological Supply/Siencekit:
>
>   Hornwort, Duckweed, Brown Planaria, green hydra, cyclops, daphnia,
>   amphipods, pond snail, Live Food for Freshwater Invertebrates
>   (includes Ankistrodesmus, Chlorella, Scenedesmus, and Selenastrum).
>
>   Or, should I just get the mixed pond water
>
(http://www.carolina.com/product/pond+water%2C+1+gal.do?keyword=16-3380&sortby=b\
\
>   estMatches)
>   which might have everything already in it?
>
>   Thanks in advance!
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>