Cover the bottom of the 10-gallon aquarium with 4 inches of soil.
Dig a small hole in the soil for each of the plants. Remove the plants from their pots and bury the plant roots in the soil. Water each plant.
Arrange the limestone, sticks and 6-inch diameter shallow clay dish on top of the soil.
Place the algae-covered stone into the shallow clay dish.
Fill the clay dish to the rim with water.
Cover the exposed soil with pieces of moss.
Place the snails into the terrarium.
Insert the terrarium light bulb into the socket within the aquarium lid.
Place the lid on the aquarium.
Plug the light into an aquarium light timer. Set the timer for 12 hours of light per day.
Observe your ecosystem for several weeks to ensure that it is providing for the needs of the plants and animals. Add more water if the plants begin to wilt. Remove some water if mold is growing.
Seal the container with duct tape if the ecosystem appears to be thriving.