This is a picture of pond water poured into an aquarium. It contains bacteria so small that it cannot be seen by eye. If the pond has existed for a long time and has living creatures in it, it contains two kinds of bacteria called Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter needed to converter animal waste to plant fertilizer. This pond water also contains algae, microorganisms, insect larvae, like mosquitos, and snails, a complete food chain for a biosphere. We don’t need mosquitos for our biosphere. If you are lucky enough to have captured ponds snails, they are invaluable to a small biosphere. Small ponds snail are considered an infestation in a home aquariums, because they are so hardy. But, because they are small and hardy, they are ideal for a biosphere. Water with the nitrification bacteria can also be found in healthy aquariums, so don’t throw away the pet store water when purchasing plants, streams and lake. Use aquarium, pond, river, or lake water for you biosphere. Wearing latex gloves and washing hand with antibacterial soup afterwards protects from harmful bacteria.