Which substrate should I choose?
Choosing your substrate is perhaps the most important part of the process. What kind of jarrarium are you going for? Do you want an au natural jar that mimics a pond? Are you going for a finely crafted piece of art, and the jar is just the medium? Are you primarily concerned about caring for some healthy plants? Your goal determines the substrate.
Natural Style
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If you want a little piece of a pond you should, of course, just use pond mud. Gather it by scooping a couple handfuls from shallow water. Transport it in any fashion; just make sure it has a little water covering it. Mud from a natural pond is rich with nutrients, bacteria, and invertebrates that make up the foundation of a healthy ecosystem. It also inevitably carries the seeds of life – eggs of tiny zooplankton like water fleas (Daphnia) and traces of algae that will eventually propagate.
Artistic Style
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If you want a decorative centerpiece, you should just use sand or gravel. It harbors less life, which keeps a jar cleaner, and doesn’t cloud the water. You can gather sand from a beach or simply use pea gravel from a garden store. Aquarium gravel or sand is also fine. If you choose one of these substrates, you will lack some of the stability that an organic substrate provides – your jar will be less resilient in terms of maintaining essential chemical levels. That doesn’t mean that this type of jar is invalid, though!
Botanist Style
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Finally, for the aquatic horticulturists among us, you need to do a combination of both of the above. Regular potting soil capped with sand will allow your plants the freedom to grow roots while remaining securely anchored to the bottom. It is important that you include a little bit of pond mud to inoculate the soil with the appropriate bacteria and invertebrates. This substrate paradigm balances the pragmatism of mud and the aesthetics of sand.
Further Considerations
Take into consideration the needs of the plants and animals you want to include. Many kinds of aquatic plants don’t uptake nutrients through their roots – they merely use them for anchoring themselves to the bottom. Those plants wouldn’t mind a non-organic substrate like rocks or sand. Other plants, of course, do want dirt. Most of the animals we will discuss in this guide don’t require soil of any kind. However, some (like snails) are most comfortable when they have the ability to burrow under the substrate a little bit. The substrate won’t be the difference between life and death in such an instance, but it could make your little buddies happier.
If you choose to omit soil or mud the most impacted group will likely be the micro-organisms. Many of them live part of their life cycle in the top couple inches of mud. You’ll miss out on seeing thread-like polychaete worms wiggling around, but the overall health of your jar is unlikely to be affected. Your plants might grow slower, and chemical levels will fluctuate a little more. You will definitely see more accumulation of debris, too. If you don’t use mud you may prevent some “biofouling” (that brownish green gunk you find on docks and such, which is mostly algae). In my opinion, the pros of using pond mud outweigh the cons though – I recommend it!
Alright, we’ve got dirt. Next is learning about the water part of your jar!
I am trying to set up a jar for the first time. I had some pond mud and water and then I added some potting soil to increase the level of substrate. After adding the potting soil, the water turned a brownish color (and some of the potting soil floats, it doesn’t settle to the bottom).
Do I need to start over? Why do you think the water turned brown?
The water will eventually clear, but it could take a couple weeks. You can reduce the cloudiness by putting in mud/soil then placing a thin layer of sand over it and slowly filling it with water so it doesn’t get mixed up. As for the floating dirt, you’ll need to skim it off the top.
I’m making an ecosphere with a 2 liter jar and am going to use pond mud for the substrate. My question is if I should use plants from the pond or add in some from online. Also thinking of adding shrimp is that a good idea?
You can do either, but if your pond is anything like the ones near me, there aren’t a lot of nice plants in it. You can fit a couple shrimp in a 2 liter jar, so I’d recommend shrimp that aren’t too concerned about having friends around (like Amanos)
What do you think about Flourite Black Sand? If I have that, should I still use soil?
Also, I’ve been reading a lot about the “Walstad” planted tank, and a lot of them recommend Miracle Gro Organic Potting Mix, because the other soils either don’t have what that has, or it has other additives that I wouldn’t want in my jarrarium. What do you think?
I think I’d be going more for the “Artistic” style. I’d like to keep a snail and shrimp or two. Something nice to look at while on my desk.
Would love any guidance. Thanks!
Yeah, what we’re describing here is very similar to the Walstad method. If you’re planting live plants, you’ll want some soil somewhere – underneath a cap of decorative sand works fine. Miracle Gro is a fine option.
It’ll work great on your desk. I have one in my office too 🙂
I’m building jarrarium style in a small aquarium, using soil and sand. Now it’s settling down in its first week before putting plants in, then shrimps and a snail or two. My question is the ph is at 7.6, I believe the ideal should be around 6.5.
How can I change the ph before adding plants and invertebrates?
Do I have inoculate pond mud/water direct into the soil, or can I lay it on sand surface? Thank you!
Hey, sorry I’m a bit late!
You could use an aquarium pH shifter and follow the dosage requirements.
A less accurate, but more natural way, would be to add small bits of peat moss, almond leaves, or a splash of vinegar to your jar and then wait a week to measure again. It will eventually balance out at a lower pH.
Functionally, there’s not much difference where the pond mud goes. Generally people prefer it under the sand cap since that’s prettier.
Should I mix potting soil with my pond mud are out it on top and the cover both with sand? Thank you for your help.