What to do

1. Take a previously unopened bottle of mineral water and empty the contents. A mineral water bottle is ideal for this as it’s been sterilised, but don’t drink from the bottle – just tip the contents into a glass.

2. Fill it two thirds full of fresh pond or river water.

3. If there aren't any small creatures swimming around, add Daphnia. These are tiny water fleas that you can buy at tropical fish or pet shops. While you’re there you might like to get a small bit of an aquarium plant like pond weed.

4. A bit of sediment is helpful, but don't add too much, because rich organic matter may have too high an oxygen demand.

5. Leave the bottle uncapped for 5 days, and then seal it up with the bottle top.

6. Put the bottle where it gets light for at least a few hours per day, but not direct sunlight. If you give your system too much light, the algae will use up all the nutrients and the system will die. Remember that you are working with tiny organisms which eat tiny plants! It’s likely that you will have animals swimming around for at least a month, and possibly several months.

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