$10 vs $1,000 Terrarium Ecosystem!

TerraGreen

2 Apr 202414:00

Summary

TLDRIn this creative video, the host embarks on a unique challenge to construct both a $10 and a $11,000 terrarium to explore the value of investment in such projects. The $10 terrariums are ingeniously made from found and inexpensive materials like jars, dirt, and rocks, with each representing different biomes—forest, desert, and an improvised 'lake'. Meanwhile, the lavish $11,000 terrarium is a grand project featuring a rainforest ecosystem with a working river, showcasing the potential of a higher budget. The video humorously highlights the DIY spirit against the backdrop of extravagant spending, concluding with the clear superiority of the expensive terrarium while advocating for practicality and subscribing to the channel.

Takeaways

🌿 The video is about building a $10 and a $11,000 terrarium to compare the differences and determine if spending a large amount is necessary.
🛒 The creator skips the small tanks at PetSmart and opts for a larger tank from Amazon for the expensive terrarium build.
🔍 For the $10 terrarium, the creator uses Facebook Marketplace to find affordable materials, including jars and decorations.
💡 The idea of creating different biomes (forest, desert, and lake) within the $10 terrariums is introduced.
🏕️ The 'forest' terrarium is made using free dirt, rocks, and found materials, highlighting creativity within a budget.
🏜️ The 'desert' terrarium uses purchased sand and a budget-friendly cactus from a store called Michaels.
🌊 The 'lake' terrarium is created by collecting water and sand from an actual river, emphasizing the use of natural resources.
🐟 Life is added to the terrariums in the form of a cricket, a worm, and an albino mystery snail for the $10 builds.
🎉 The $1,000 terrarium includes a working river, plants, and guppies, showcasing a high-end, complex ecosystem.
🛠 The process of building the expensive terrarium involves careful planning, including water flow and plant placement.
💸 The video concludes with the message that while the $1,000 terrarium is impressive, it's not necessary and the $10 builds can be equally enjoyable.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?
-The main purpose of the video is to demonstrate the process of building both a budget-friendly $10 terrarium and a high-end $11,000 terrarium to compare if spending a large amount of money is necessary for creating a terrarium.
Why did the creator decide to build two terrariums with such vastly different budgets?
-The creator wanted to explore whether it's necessary to spend a significant amount of money to create a terrarium and to show the differences between a budget and a high-end terrarium.
What was the initial plan for the $10 terrarium?
-The initial plan for the $10 terrarium was to purchase a cheap tank on PetSmart, but since even the cheapest tank was $20, the creator decided to look for alternatives on Facebook Marketplace.
How did the creator obtain the materials for the $10 terrarium?
-The creator obtained materials for the $10 terrarium by using free resources such as dirt from outside, rocks for drainage, and repurposed plastic as a substrate separator. They also bought jars and a cactus within their budget.
What challenges did the creator face while building the $10 terrarium?
-The creator faced challenges such as finding a tank under $10, sourcing materials within a tight budget, and creating a drainage layer without spending money on a window screen.
What was the idea behind creating different biomes in the $10 terrariums?
-The idea behind creating different biomes in the $10 terrariums was to showcase the potential of a terrarium to replicate various ecosystems like a forest, desert, and lake within a limited budget.
What was the main feature of the $11,000 terrarium?
-The main feature of the $11,000 terrarium was a large tank designed to replicate an entire chunk of the rainforest with a working river running through it, complete with plants, fish, and a filtration system.
What issues did the creator encounter while setting up the water flow in the $11,000 terrarium?
-The creator encountered issues with the water flow being too strong, which was disturbing the sand and making the water dirty. They attempted to fix the issue by taping the end of the tube to make it narrower.
How did the creator approach adding life to the $10 terrariums?
-The creator added life to the $10 terrariums by introducing a cricket for the forest, a worm as a 'sandworm' for the desert, and an albino mystery snail from a previous project for the lake.
What was the final message of the video?
-The final message of the video was that while the $1,000 terrarium was better, it was not necessary to spend such a large amount of money on a terrarium. The creator also encouraged viewers to subscribe to the channel.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Building Budget Terrariums

The video script begins with the host's intent to construct both a $10 and a $11,000 terrarium to explore the necessity of high costs in creating one. The $11,000 terrarium starts with a shopping trip to PetSmart, where the host realizes the budget won't cover even the smallest tank there. Instead, they opt for Amazon for a larger tank. For the $10 terrarium, the host turns to Facebook Marketplace and ends up purchasing three jars for $5, with plans to create different biomes in each: a forest, a desert, and a lake. The forest terrarium is initiated using free dirt from outside, rocks for drainage, and an improvised plastic separator. The host gathers outdoor decorations to enhance the forest theme and introduces a cricket as the terrarium's inhabitant.

05:03

🏞️ Constructing the $1,000 Terrarium

The host shifts focus to assembling the $1,000 terrarium, which includes a water filter chamber and a rainforest with a functioning river. After assembling the tank, the host sprays silicone on the glass, applies spray foam, and adds dirt to the back for a natural look. The floor area is then prepared with foam, rocks, and wood to simulate an underwater environment. Sand is added, and the host encounters issues with the water flow, which they attempt to fix with tape. The video then transitions back to the $10 builds, where the host completes the desert terrarium using cheap sand and a $1 cactus from a store called Michaels. A worm is added as a 'sand worm' to bring life to the terrarium.

10:05

🌊 Finishing the $10 and $1,000 Terrariums

The host returns to the $1,000 terrarium after a mishap with plant pots placement and uses a hot glue gun to attach them to the terrarium's back. Various plants, including aquatic ones, are added to complete the build. The host acknowledges the terrarium's complexity and imperfections. The $10 terrariums are completed next, with the host creating a 'lake' by visiting an actual lake to collect water and sand. An albino mystery snail is added to the lake terrarium. Finally, the host adds guppies to the $1,000 terrarium after introducing bacteria to start the cycling process. The guppies explore their new environment, and the host concludes that while the $1,000 terrarium is superior, it's not worth the cost, and encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Terrarium

A terrarium is a partially closed environment that houses a miniature ecosystem, typically consisting of plants, substrate, and sometimes small animals. In the video, the creator discusses building both a $10 and a $11,000 terrarium to explore the value and complexity of these ecosystems. The terrarium serves as the central theme of the video, with the $10 and $11,000 versions representing different approaches to creating a miniature habitat.

💡Ecosystem

An ecosystem refers to a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. In the context of the video, the creator aims to bring a 'chunk of an ecosystem' into a room by building terrariums. The $11,000 terrarium is described as an 'ecosystem' because it includes a more complex arrangement of plants, water, and animals, simulating a natural environment more closely than the simpler $10 terrariums.

💡Biome

A biome is a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat. The video script mentions creating different biomes within the $10 terrariums, such as a forest, a desert, and a lake. This concept is used to illustrate the diversity of environments that can be replicated within the small-scale terrariums, each with its unique set of plants, substrate, and sometimes animals.

💡Drainage Layer

A drainage layer is a crucial component in a terrarium that allows excess water to escape, preventing the roots of plants from sitting in water and promoting healthy root growth. In the video, the creator discusses the importance of a drainage layer and demonstrates how to create one using rocks found outside, which is a practical and budget-friendly solution.

💡Substrate

The substrate is the material in which plants are rooted, providing support and nutrients. In the context of the video, the creator mentions needing a substrate for the terrarium but opts for free dirt collected from outside due to budget constraints. The substrate is essential for the survival of the plants within the terrarium.

💡Plants

Plants are the primary life forms in a terrarium, contributing to the aesthetic and the ecological balance. The video features the selection and placement of various plants to create different biomes. For example, the creator uses a cactus to represent a desert biome and various plants collected from outside to create a forest biome.

💡Budget

The budget refers to the financial constraints within which the creator operates to build the terrariums. The video contrasts the $10 and $11,000 budgets, showing how creativity and resourcefulness can lead to the creation of terrariums with limited funds, while also highlighting the extravagance and complexity possible with a larger budget.

💡Amazon

Amazon is an online marketplace where the creator plans to purchase a large tank for the $11,000 terrarium build. The mention of Amazon in the script illustrates the convenience of online shopping for specialty items that may not be available locally, and it also sets the stage for the contrast between the high-end and low-cost terrarium projects.

💡Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a platform within the social media site Facebook where users can buy and sell items. In the video, the creator uses Facebook Marketplace to find inexpensive materials for the $10 terrarium, specifically jars, demonstrating an alternative and cost-effective way to source supplies for a project.

💡Aquarium

An aquarium is a similar concept to a terrarium but is designed to house aquatic plants and animals in water. The video script humorously mentions creating a 'lake' terrarium, which would be more akin to an aquarium, as it involves water and possibly aquatic life. This highlights the flexibility and creativity in designing enclosed ecosystems.

💡DIY (Do It Yourself)

DIY refers to the practice of individuals creating or modifying things without the aid of experts or professionals. The entire premise of the video is DIY, as the creator is building terrariums from scratch, sourcing materials from various places, and assembling them in a homemade manner. This concept is central to the video's theme of self-sufficiency and creativity.

Highlights

Building a $10 terrarium and a $11,000 terrarium to compare the necessity of high costs.

Choosing a large tank for the $11,000 build from Amazon instead of PetSmart.

Finding a $5 jar on Facebook Marketplace for the $10 terrarium.

Creating different biomes in each $10 terrarium: forest, desert, and lake.

Using free dirt and rocks from outside for the terrarium's drainage layer.

Innovative use of plastic with Chinese writing as a substrate separator.

Decorating the forest terrarium with found materials.

Adding a cricket to the forest terrarium for life.

Arrival of the package for the $1,000 terrarium.

Building a water filter chamber for the $1,000 terrarium.

Creating a river with a working water flow in the $1,000 terrarium.

Using spray foam and tree branches to create a rainforest effect.

Incorporating plants and aquatic life into the $1,000 terrarium.

Challenges with the water flow in the $1,000 terrarium river.

Building the $10 desert terrarium with sand and a $1 cactus.

Adding an earthworm as a 'sandworm' to the desert terrarium.

Completing the $10 terrariums before finishing the $1,000 build.

Creating a 'lake' terrarium by collecting water and sand from an actual river.

Adding an albino mystery snail to the lake terrarium.

Introducing guppies to the $1,000 terrarium and observing their reaction.

The conclusion that the $1,000 terrarium is better, but not worth the cost.

A call to action for viewers to subscribe to the channel.