Q&A for How to Build a Self Sustaining Ecosystem

Yes, you can put in ladybugs, just make sure they have food (they eat plant louse). Ants are not solitary insects, they cannot live without their colony and the queen.

Sure, as long as the water has enough nutrients for the living things inside the fish tank.

Any plant can be planted, just as long as it doesn't get too big and has proper sun and care.

It can range from free (recycled mason jar and biota collected outside) to hundreds of dollars (custom-built ecospheres) or more. It depends what kind of ecosystem you want to build.

Yes, you can.

No. Activated charcoal is not like BBQ charcoal or coal. It has the ability to purify, filter, and cleanse water of unwanted substances, which BBQ charcoal does not.

Algae will only grow when there are sufficient nutrients and indirect sunlight. Moss will not affect algae growth.

You can put fish like guppies or other small and pygmy fish species. Don't mix tropical fish with cold-water fishes like goldfish. Each species of fish have different environments, diet, water parameters, and temperaments. Also, don't mix aggressive fishes with peaceful fishes, and make sure you don't overpopulate the environment.

Once every other day, or anytime it is too dry for the inhabitants. Moisture and water is important for every living organism.

Yes, as long as none of them are aggressive or a lot bigger than each other. Make sure all the fish like the same environment (don’t put tropical fish with cold water fish, for example).

There are saltwater and freshwater slugs that can swim, but I doubt your land slugs can swim. However, they probably won't drown either.

Not necessarily, you just need a source of UV light, such as sunlight, as this is what plants need to grow.

No, you cannot use LED lights as these lights don't give energy to the plants. Only fluorescent lights are good for the photosynthesis of plants. You can use natural sunlight also.

Yes. You can use 2 litre bottles for terrariums, but if you make an aquatic ecosystem of that size, then you can’t put fish in. Try snails, or small shrimp and triops.

Usually any pet store that has fish will also sell charcoal. It will usually be in a section near filters as for fish tanks, activated charcoal is a main part of filters.

Catfish, which are most often found in tropical ranges, sea snails (such as apple sea snails, but it’s not their main line of food), and mussels can clean your tank walls and bottom and filter water. Also, try a filter.

Try to leave about 2 inches at the top to make sure you don’t have any water coming out.

Put in succulents and other plants that don’t grow too quickly, so you have plenty of time before you have to prune them.

Only enough to hydrate the plants and try not to soak them. This way you won’t need to worry about evaporation and loss of water.

Cut a hole in the side of a plastic bottle, then turn it so the ends point right and left to your perspective. Then fill half of It with potting mix and then plant seeds. Once they start growing, try to make the plant’s stem come out of the bottle though the hole on the side. There you go! An Eco bottle will work to make the smallest of gardens, so it is perfect for apartments and other small spaces!

Worms eat decaying plant matter. They'll eat almost anything you can throw in a compost. Avoid feeding them meat, dairy, citrus or grain.