I saw an ecosphere at a fair about 15 years ago. My parents wouldn't buy me one at the time, but I've been wanting one ever since. After doing some research about a year ago, I've decided to jump into it, minus the closed environment. I've never managed an aquarium, but it seems like opae ula are pretty easy. This forum has provided some awesome information, and I'm hoping to use this as an update thread! I've been lurking a while, but people here seem friendly and super knowledgeable.
I ordered the Anchor Hocking jar that some people recommended (1.5 gal) and little aquarium decoration, and plants, salt, substrate, calcium, rock, and snails from Mustafa.
Really excited to start cycling once the packages arrive! If I understand correctly, I can mix the salt w/RO water and add the plants right away and the snails in a week or two.
Just a couple minor questions:
- How do I need to clean the jar/non-petshrimp.com decor? Is rinsing in RO and drying enough?
- Do you recommend buying emergency food? It seems like there are a lot of posts here where people may be overfeeding, so I was not planning on feeding at all, but is it a good idea to have some on hand?
- How sensitive are they to sound/light/cold? It's fairly cold here (heated apartment obviously) but I'd like to have the jar by the window (not in direct sunlight). What about near the tv?
- From what I have read elsewhere, PLA 3D printed items are NOT safe for saltwater. What other materials are safe/unsafe? Ceramics? So far I've gathered: glass, resin, some plastics and many glues are safe, wood, paints are not safe.