29 replies to this topic

[Gregory2455]

So as my colonies grow, I have started to experiment with making formicariums. My primary materials will be hydrostone and firebrick. Obviously, I am not going to be making works of art, such as Tarheel Ants, byFormica, or even dspdrew. Also, I do not plan on selling. This thread will show the finished products, and not document things in between as Drew's formicarium threads. This may change in the future. My first formicariums will probably be garbage, but I have 38 pounds of hydrostone, so I have plenty to test with. Anyway, I will be organizing my "creations" into various levels. The breakdown is:

• Tier (T)
• Version (V)
• Modification (M)

The tier (T0-T5) is the size of the colony the project is meant for, T0 being test tube alternatives for lone queens, T1 being for queens with their first workers, to T5, for massive and mature colonies. The version number is the specific project or design, and the mod number is the number for additional modifications for the base design.

Edited by Gregory2455, February 20 2019 - 10:27 PM.

[Gregory2455]

I will post pictures of my first project tomorrow, (T2V1M1) made of hydrostone made for my Tetramorium. I will wait for your thoughts before moving my ants in there, as I have no experience with formicariums (yet)!

[dspdrew]

Come on show everything. I wish more people would make threads documenting their projects, showing every step of the way.

[drtrmiller]

Indeed, it would certainly give people a greater appreciation for the work and thought it takes to build one that both looks good and functions well to see bungled build attempts :~p

[dspdrew]

Why not let everybody learn from your mistakes. I'm sure a few people have learned from mine.

 

[Gregory2455]

I will once I know what I am doing, but until then I will be asking questions. By the way I have not posted images of this project yet, as it was taking longer to finish, but tomorrow it should be done.

[Miles]

Is it done yet?

[Gregory2455]

Yes.

[Miles]

Pictures!

[Gregory2455]

Okay. Pictures are coming today. I basically messed up like Drew's first ytong nest shown above, except not so bad. Something happened with the hydrostone, but it kinda shrunk while drying.The nest part seemed to have pulled away from the glass, so now the ants would be able to squeeze around and possibly get trapped. It is basically a loss, but I do not really mind, as it was just an experiment...

[Gregory2455]

(T2V1M1)

Okay here is the failed attempt. For some reason, the hydrostone cracked up and shrunk. 

 

And you can see here that there is a space between the nest module and the glass.

Edited by Gregory2455, February 24 2015 - 11:40 PM.

[Gregory2455]

And here is a bare experimental nest module showing off its nice sandy walls. I figured out a way to get sand to stick very firmly to hydrostone, and have explained it in chat, and will show it later on this thread. This nest module is designed to go into formicarium (T1V1M1).

Edited by Gregory2455, February 24 2015 - 11:41 PM.

[Gregory2455]

I also found that adding sand into the hydrostone mix as a top layer, over the solid hydrotone making the nest absorbs water a lot faster than normal hydrostone, and will gradually feed it into the solid hydrostone, which can hold water well, but takes forever to soak up the water.

[dspdrew]

... which can hold water well, but takes forever to soak up the water.

 

That's a good description of Hydrostone.

[antmaniac]

@Gregory2455 Very neat design with that hydrostone and ytong combo.

 

@dspdrew How did you break your ytong nest?

[dean_k]

Gregory2455 is a younger version of dspdrew.

[dspdrew]

@dspdrew How did you break your ytong nest?

 

I was trying something stupid and way too hard because I didn't know what the hell I was doing.

[Miles]

 

... which can hold water well, but takes forever to soak up the water.

 

That's a good description of Hydrostone.

 

Interesting. The Hydrostone that Ray Mendez showed us readily soaked up water.

[dspdrew]

That's a good description of Hydrostone.

Interesting. The Hydrostone that Ray Mendez showed us readily soaked up water.

 

 

I guess it's just a matter of what you feel slow is. I'll say this: Hydrostone definitely soaks up water a lot slower than Ytong, dirt, or any sponge.

 

Edit: Actually a really thick PVA sponge can soak up water extremely slow sometimes.

Edited by dspdrew, February 25 2015 - 10:02 AM.

[Gregory2455]

@Gregory2455 Very neat design with that hydrostone and ytong combo.
 
@dspdrew How did you break your ytong nest?

Nine of this is Ytong.

Gregory2455 is a younger version of dspdrew.