Awesome! yeah, there’s a variant where you can seal the jar, but for the most part exactly what you said is the norm. I’ve had mine for roughly 5 years now, but I added shrimp and trim it back about once a month or so . I don’t even feed the tank more than a few times a week.
Look for a dental college. They’re cheap and sometimes even free.
examples:
https://activebeat.com/your-health/6-dental-schools-that-offer-free-or-budget-friendly-dental-work/