Trying to make a self-sustaining environment

[danishanish]

Hey guys!

As a project, I have to make a self-sustaining aquatic ecosystem in a 2 liter bottle. I put in an animal and a plant, and then seal the bottle for a month. (if the organism is in danger (malnutrition or anything of that sort), I will open and help the organism. not animal cruelty. ) I'm putting halocardina rubra (the supershrimp ) for my organism. For my plant, I'm placing a hygrophila corymbosa inside, it generates plenty of oxygen and is often used in aquatic self-sustaining environments. Here's where I need help: I'm not sure how best the shrimp would thrive. What does the supershrimp feed off in nature (specific plants or families please) and does ph/light exposure hurt/help the shrimp? Oh, and would they eat the hygrophila corymbosa if they need more food?

Thank you for taking time to answer.

[Mustafa]

This is just a bad idea. From what you posted it's pretty clear you have not read up much information about these shrimp. You want to put a freshwater plant into a highly brackish environment..then seal the whole thing, which is always a bad idea. The shrimp won't have a problem being in there for a month, but that's because these shrimp are tough. It does not mean that your bottle is "self-sustaining." I highly recommend that you read all of the information in the "Supershrimp!" link on top of this page. If you are still interested in these shrimp afterward, just give them a proper aquarium.

[LeShrimp]

Plants don't "generate" oxygen. They need co2 which they will run out of when in a sealed bottle. Thus the shrimp will have no oxygen.

[Iwantshrimp]

The light would help the shrimp, I'm not sure it would eat the plant though...