Making your own Marine Ecosphere

Ikelite Underwater Video Housing

I ordered a used Ikelite Underwater Housing for a video camera but it doesn't fit any of my cameras. Instead of reselling it or throwing it away, I decided to make something out of it. The underwater video housing is now becoming an ecosphere; a self contained miniature world.

Things you need to make an Ecosphere

A jar

Sand or gravel

Water, ocean salt and dechlorinater

A small ocean live rock

Supplies for Ecosphere

Coral or other marine plant

1 peppermint or red-tail shrimp

5 small marine hermit crabs

2 turbo snails

20 to 100 plankton cells

1 to 4 sea shells

Step One: Get a jar that will seal closed, like a canning or peanut butter jar. You should choose something unique to yourself but make sure it's transparent so sunlight can pass through it. I am using my underwater housing.

Live rocks inside Ecosphere

Step Two: Wash out your jar with warm water. Don't use soap because it will kill the society growing in your world. Use a towel and dry off the jar.


Step Three: Collect sand from either the playground, or buy it. Don't take sand from the beach because it's illegal. Wash off the sand with hot water and drain the water out and let it dry. Be careful not to lose sand while draining it. Put the sand in your jar so there is about an inch across the "ocean floor." 


Step Four: Add ocean water. You make the water by mixing dechlorinated water & ocean salt. Don't use table salt because it is too poisonous for your little world. Best is to use real ocean water if it is available. Fill the jar, leaving about 2 inches of air at the top. Before moving on to the next step test the pH levels of the water. The animals will die without the right pH level. 


Step Five: Then add a small live sea rock which should have both phyto & zooplankton. Now add plants. You can either buy coral or grow algae for your plants. 


Step Six: Now add small sea shells. This will stabilize the pH levels and stimulate the ocean floor. It can take a couple of days before the water is ready for step seven.


Step Seven: Now the fun part; adding the animals. Add a peppermint shrimp, five small marine hermit crabs, two turbo snails and 20 to 100 plankton cells.


Step Eight: Now with the members of your new society in place, seal the jar and never open it again. Put it by a window to get light and watch your world evolve over time.