About Ecospheres

The Inside Story
Inside each EcoSphere or biosphere are active micro-organisms, bright red shrimp and algae, each existing in a clear "soup" of filtered sea water. Because the ecosphere is a self-sustaining ecosystem, you never have to feed the life within. Simply provide your EcoSphere with a source of indirect natural or artificial light and enjoy this aesthetic blend of art and science, beauty and balance.

Because the living resources within the EcoSphere utilize their resources without overpopulating or contaminating their environment, the EcoSphere requires no cleaning and only minimal care.

EcoSpheres have an average life expectancy of two years. However, it is not uncommon for shrimp populations to be thriving in systems as old as 7 years. EcoSpheres are available in either pod or spherical shapes, in a range of sizes.

A Glimpse Into the Future
The EcoSphere is the result of technology developed by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA was researching self-contained communities for space explorers to live in during long-term space flights. Out of this research came the EcoSphere - an ecosystem of animal and plant life in perfect balance.

How EcoSpheres Work
The EcoSphere is a display of a working ecological system. While it is beautiful to view, it also demonstrates the delicate balance of a closed ecosystem like the Earth. Contained within the completely sealed glass is a small variety of shrimp, algae, and microorganisms living in a filtered sea water environment.

The EcoSphere 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 two-thirds of the system while air fills the balance of the space. Fire is the light, which streams in each day. Finally, life: the algae, shrimp and microbes that float and swim in the water.

The EcoSphere's biological cycle represents a simple version of Earth's' own ecosystem. Light together with carbon dioxide in the water enable the algae to produce oxygen by photosynthesis. The shrimp breathe the oxygen in the water while nibbling on the algae and bacteria. The bacteria break down the animal waste into nutrients, which the algae utilize. The shrimp and bacteria also give off carbon dioxide, which the algae again use to produce oxygen. And so the cycle renews itself.

What is in the EcoSphere?
Along with the shrimp there are algae and filtered sea water. The EcoSphere also contains gorgonia and gravel as a part of the working ecosystem. Gorgonia, the non-living branch like material, and the gravel are surface area in the ecosystem. The gorgonia and gravel are also a hiding place for microorganisms - a place where they can not be eaten by the shrimp. All other areas in the water are accessible by the animals. By having more surface area for the bacteria to grow on, the eco-system has the ability to break down more of the waste materials.

What is a Closed Eco-System?
A closed eco-system is a group of organisms placed in any sealed container along with nutrients to sustain and regenerate life. Water is the most essential item in the system, for without it nothing lives. There are numerous microorganisms inside that keep reproducing and dying, each time they give off and take in oxygen and carbon dioxide. The key component is energy in the form of light. With light energy, chemicals are changed into nutrients that are then available to the higher organisms.

The nature of all closed ecosystems is to wind down. Eventually the major chemical building blocks get "locked up" and are no longer available to the microorganisms. There is no weather inside the EcoSphere to pull these chemicals apart from each other. However, on Earth this action takes place in the oceans and on land continuously. Replenishing is done by the weather always mixing and returning nutrients back by the actions of wind and rain.

How Long will They Live?
The average life of the small sphere and small pod is 2-3 years. The other units tend to last longer because they have more shrimp. The life expectancy of these shrimp is known to exceed 5 years. We do not know how long your EcoSphere will live due to different light and temperature conditions throughout the country; and we do not know the exact age of the shrimp when we make an EcoSphere. The oldest EcoSpheres are now over 8 years old and are still going strong. Some systems without shrimp are still living even after 18 years. As long as there is one shrimp alive in the EcoSphere, it is a functioning unit.

How were EcoSpheres Discovered?
The EcoSphere was originally discovered by two scientists, the late Dr. Joe Hanson and the late Dr. Clair Folsome.

NASA became interested in these systems during the early 1980s for two reasons. First, this tiny model of the Earth could add information to NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program aimed at studying Earth's biosphere. Secondly, it could help NASA's research on human life support systems directed towards the construction of space stations for exploring our solar system.

Ecospheres have been produced for fifteen years and we are sure no one from NASA had any idea that these little shrimp could live to be over 12 years old. Today, the EcoSphere is sold world-wide and is still one of the greatest ecological teaching tools created by NASA technology.

The EcoSphere is a NASA-JPL Technology Transfer Program.

EcoSphere Shipping Requirements:
The EcoSpheres are shipped to you directly from the manufacturer to insure that the system arrives in the best possible condition. Shipments are only made Mondays thru Thursdays and will arrive the next day. This is required to insure that the package is not subjected to temperature extremes for extended periods and that the algae is not deprived of light sitting in a truck or warehouse over the weekend. We will notify you via email of the anticipated shipping date so that you can make the proper receiving arrangements. Typically the shipment will be made the week after you place your order. Please contact us by telephone (281) 545-9014 or email us if you have a specific date that you need the EcoSphere to arrive on (remember EcoSpheres will only arrive on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday). We will try to accommodate your request, but we cannot make any guarantees.

The manufacturer may delay shipment if temperature extremes are anticipated at the shipping destination (below freezing). We will try to notify you of any such delays.

The EcoSpheres contain living organisms that are sensitive to temperature extremes. Accordingly, we require that someone sign for the package rather than leave it at your doorstep. You should arrange to have someone available to sign for the package on the first delivery attempt. FedEx requires a signature for delivery. You may want to consider having the EcoSphere shipped to a commercial address to ensure that someone is available to receive it.

Open your EcoSphere as soon as possible upon arrival. The algae in the system needs light to grow.

EcoSphere products are not eligible for free standard shipping. All EcoSpheres must be shipped via FedEx overnight shipment. This is required to keep the live organisms in the EcoSphere healthy. Shipping charges will be applied for each EcoSphere ordered based on the following table:

Although the EcoSphere products are not eligible for free shipping, the price of the EcoSphere order will be included to meet the free shipping requirement for other products ordered at the same time.