ACTIVITIES

Make an Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Aquarium
Imagine being able to watch macroinvertebrates feed, swim and interact with each other! It can be done by making your very own macroinvertebrate aquarium!

What you need
• A plastic or glass aquarium
• Gravel
• A few large stones
• Sticks/small logs
• Some water plants.

Instructions
• Cover the bottom of the aquarium with about 5cm of gravel and put in the large stones. The gravel will provide a home for microscopic animals that will help to keep the water clean by eating bacteria and algae.
• Place a bowl upside down on the base of the aquarium and pour water over it slowly. This ensures the gravel is not disturbed. Remove the bowl once the gravel has been completely submerged, and continue to fill the aquarium.
• Root the plants into the gravel and put in the sticks/small logs.
• Go to your local waterway and collect some macroinvertebrates. Click here to find out how to do it.
• Place the invertebrates into the aquarium and observe.
• Waterfleas are good to have in your aquarium because they help to keep it free from algae and bacteria. If you don’t have waterfleas at your site you can purchase them from a pet shop.

Please note: You may need to aerate your aquarium with a bubbler to keep your sensitive macroinvertebrates alive.
As the food runs out for predators you will need to add more invertebrates.