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Little help. Grout/Perlite mixture

diy formicarium

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#1 Offline Loops117 - Posted May 6 2016 - 5:57 AM

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Hello all.

 

I'm about to create my first Formicaria/Outworld combo. I plan on using an all acrylic 5x7x1 photo box and pour a grout/perlite mixture into that. Before had I’m doing to be using some always wet modeling clay to sculpt my tunnels out. In the formicarium, has anyone added a Rock, or perhaps a stick/wood to them? I’d like to put a stick going across one of the larger cavities to add something different, almost like they dug around a root.

Also, with going the Grout/Perlite mixture. Will it be too fragile to make small arches about the thickness of a pencil? If so, what would be a good material to reinforce it? I was thinking Metal wiring, but would that eventually start to rust and work it’s way into the water supply?



#2 Offline Loops117 - Posted May 6 2016 - 6:52 AM

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And another question. THA makes watering towers. I was thinking of doing the same thing, but with a slight modification. Do these work? Or should i do the typical Cotton on a hole, separate from the tunnels.



#3 Offline Kwitzats - Posted May 12 2016 - 7:57 PM

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Hello all.

 

I'm about to create my first Formicaria/Outworld combo. I plan on using an all acrylic 5x7x1 photo box and pour a grout/perlite mixture into that. Before had I’m doing to be using some always wet modeling clay to sculpt my tunnels out. In the formicarium, has anyone added a Rock, or perhaps a stick/wood to them? I’d like to put a stick going across one of the larger cavities to add something different, almost like they dug around a root.

Also, with going the Grout/Perlite mixture. Will it be too fragile to make small arches about the thickness of a pencil? If so, what would be a good material to reinforce it? I was thinking Metal wiring, but would that eventually start to rust and work it’s way into the water supply?

i like the idea of adding wood to a grout formicarium. did you do this? How did it turn out?


IMHO of course.


#4 Offline Loops117 - Posted May 13 2016 - 5:48 AM

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I have not done this yet. I've actually been stuck at one small dilema. I cannot find organic perlite anywere. Every store carries Miracle Gro Perlite which has fertilizer in it. But, i am going to do it.



#5 Offline Kwitzats - Posted May 13 2016 - 9:31 AM

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I have not done this yet. I've actually been stuck at one small dilema. I cannot find organic perlite anywere. Every store carries Miracle Gro Perlite which has fertilizer in it. But, i am going to do it.

i have the same problem which is why i used a clay based burrowing substrate. I do not like the results at 33 percent but at 50 it absorbs water well but brittle while still soft enough for easy carving.


IMHO of course.


#6 Offline Kwitzats - Posted May 13 2016 - 9:39 AM

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I have not done this yet. I've actually been stuck at one small dilema. I cannot find organic perlite anywere. Every store carries Miracle Gro Perlite which has fertilizer in it. But, i am going to do it.

search for a local nursery, i just called one and they have plain perlite.


IMHO of course.


#7 Offline Loops117 - Posted May 13 2016 - 11:00 AM

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I pass by two on the way home from work, idk why i didn't think of that.....


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#8 Offline Kwitzats - Posted June 3 2016 - 6:06 PM

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Ever find some perlite? I am thinking of trying zeolite from the pet store i thonk ot might actually be superior in desired effect.

IMHO of course.






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