I Built a Tiny Ecosystem

Summary

The video chronicles a 30-day journey of building a self-sustaining mini-ecosystem. Starting with foam and cork wood, the creator sets up a tank and introduces living organisms like isopods, moss, and tropical plants. With guidance from 'Sean at Gecko World,' they add isopods, springtails, dart frogs, geckos, and even a fogger to simulate a rainforest. As the ecosystem evolves, the animals thrive, interact, and grow. The creator becomes deeply attached to Bobby the gecko, marveling at the life and complexity of the miniature world they've built.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker is fascinated by scale and dreams of creating a tiny, self-sustaining ecosystem within 30 days.
• 🦎 The journey starts at 'Gecko World,' where the speaker buys materials and guidance from a man named Shawn.
• 🪵 The first step is building the back wall of the ecosystem using foam and cork wood, creating a naturalistic habitat.
• 🌱 Moss is added to the foam to enhance the ecosystem's appearance and contribute to the living environment.
• 🐞 The ecosystem's first inhabitants are isopods and springtails, which help maintain cleanliness and balance.
• 🐸 The speaker is eagerly waiting for the ecosystem's organisms to thrive, including watching for changes after adding food like carrots and algae.
• 🦗 Day 25 introduces new apex predators, Kevin, Joe, and Nick (dart frogs), and flightless flies as additional food sources.
• 🌿 Tropical plants and mossy vines are added to enhance the ecosystem's aesthetic, making it more lush and jungle-like.
• 🦎 Two new geckos, Bobby and Ray, are introduced to the ecosystem, and the speaker becomes emotionally attached to them.
• 🌫️ A fogger is installed to replicate the water cycle, creating a rainforest-like environment, making the ecosystem feel alive and dynamic.

Q & A

What is the creator's initial goal for the ecosystem project?

The creator's goal is to build a tiny, self-sufficient ecosystem with living organisms in 30 days.

What materials did the creator use to start building the ecosystem?

The creator used foam and cork wood to build the back wall of the ecosystem.

What was the first living organism introduced into the ecosystem?

The first organisms introduced were isopods, small insects added to the ecosystem.

What role do springtails play in the ecosystem?

Springtails clean up after the isopods, helping to maintain the balance in the ecosystem.

Why did the creator add moss to the ecosystem?

The moss was added to enhance the ecosystem’s color and provide a source of food and shelter for the organisms.

What concerns did the creator have by day 5 of the ecosystem project?

By day 5, the creator was concerned that no noticeable changes had occurred in the ecosystem, even though it contained living organisms.

How did the creator try to stimulate growth and activity in the ecosystem?

The creator added a mister, carrots for food, and turned up the moss into the dirt to stimulate growth and activity.

Who are Kevin, Joe, and Nick in the ecosystem?

Kevin, Joe, and Nick are the apex predators of the ecosystem—dark frogs that were introduced to control the isopod population.

What additional species were introduced towards the end of the ecosystem project?

Bobby and Ray, two geckos, were introduced into the ecosystem, and they seemed to get along well with the dark frogs.

What is the overall outcome by day 30 of the ecosystem project?

By day 30, the ecosystem was thriving with active animals like geckos and frogs. The ecosystem had become a fully functional, multi-leveled environment.