Each Eco Sphere is a completely sealed ecosystem. It contains active micro-organisms
- thats red shrimp & algae to you & me
- in a clear 'soup' of filtered sea-water. Simply provide the Eco Sphere with indirect natural or artificial light & the ecosystem will thrive without needing further attention. Eco Spheres have a life expectancy of two to three years but it is not uncommon for a system to last much longer
- some have continued for over 10 years.
If you really want to impress then the Extra Large Ecosphere is the one for you. Almost the size of a football, & weighing in at around 5 kgs, this sphere houses over 35 shrimp. & contains fantastic pieces of Gorgonia which enhance the beauty of these amazing self-contained worlds.
Space Age Technology.
The Eco Sphere is the result of technology developed at NASA's research laboratories. NASA scientists were researching self-contained communities for space explorers to live in during long-term space flights. & out of this work came the Eco Sphere
- an ecosystem of animal & plant life in perfect balance with nature. What is an Eco Sphere?
An Eco Sphere is a working ecological system & its biological cycle represents a simple version of Earth's own ecosystem. While beautiful to look at, it demonstrates the delicate balance of a closed system like the Earth & contains some of the same essential elements that are found on our planet. The Earth is represented by the gravel at the bottom, with water filling Approx. two-thirds of the system & air filling the balance of the space. Fire is represented by the light. & finally to complete the system, life
- the shrimp, the algae & the bacteria.
Who developed Eco Spheres?
Originally discovered by two scientists, the late Dr Joe Hanson & the late Dr Clair Folsome, the Eco Sphere is the result of technology developed at NASA's research laboratories. NASA scientists were researching self-contained communities for space explorers to live in during long-term space flights. & out of this work came the Eco Sphere
- an ecosystem of animal & plant life in perfect balance with nature. The Eco Sphere is a NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory Technology Transfer Program.
What's inside an Eco Sphere?
Each system comprises a clear 'soup' of filtered seawater containing gravel & gorgonia (the non-living branch like material) together with some shrimp, algae & bacteria. Each is a key component of the ecosystem. The gravel, gorgonia & glass all provide surface areas to which the micro-organisms can attach themselves. How does it work?
The Eco Sphere works by gathering energy from the light & converting it biochemically. Light, together with the carbon dioxide in the water, enables the algae to produce oxygen by photosynthesis. The shrimp breathe the oxygen in the water & graze on the algae & the bacteria. The waste from the shrimp is broken down by the bacteria into nutrients, which in turn feed the algae. The shrimp & the bacteria also give off carbon dioxide & the cycle is renewed when the algae use this once again to produce oxygen.
How Long Will The System Live?
If you think the Ecosphere is cruel then fear not. The average life of the Eco Spheres is two to three years, which is longer than if they were in the real ecosystem as they have no predators to worry about. The larger systems tend to last longer because they contain more shrimp. It is not possible to be precise about this because much