Long time no see everyone.
I lost my password so I've just been browsing around as anonymous for several months now, not as much activity here as the summertime. The pass has been reset it now so hopefully I'll be more motivated to post things.
Anyways wanted to run this idea by everyone here: I'm planning on covering sphagnum moss with gardening fabric, embedding it on the lowermost floor of a 5 story formicarium with epoxy resin and running a watering tube into the moss. I will partially block the end of the tube with moss to prevent immediate flooding. The moss will sit in a bowl-shaped mould of grout to capture excess water not retained by the moss. Are there any problems with this method of humidification that I'm missing?
Extra info:
- I have Tetramorium Immigrans ants. I have sufficient evidence they perform best at a constant 99% RH. Condensation droplets have no noticeable effect on them.
- Gardening fabric is a breathable material that is usually spread on the ground before landscaping to prevent weeds from growing, although this is a temporary measure.
- This is a custom-built lightweight formicarium with 1/16" thick balsawood floors covered with epoxy resin for waterproofing and strength. Structural members are basswood reinforced with chopped strand (fiberglass). Removable glass walls.
- It sits on sand heated from below inside a fireproof insulated box. So the idea is that the moisture rises with the heat and spreads it to every floor. Lowest level is 95 degrees F.
Questions:
- I do not have experience with any species of moss. Do they need sunlight? Does it lose its water-retaining properties if not replaced periodically? It is not supposed to be in contact with the ants provided they do not chew through the fabric. Will the moss ever grow and explode out of the fabric?
- How much water does this moss actually hold anyway? For how long?
- What is the lifespan of this moss? I bought it at a pet store. For all reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, hermit crabs.
- I need moisture to spread to every floor, since the idea is to provide a lot of space for growth. Is one moss "pillow" on the lowermost level sufficient for this, or should I place another one on the opposite side on another floor?
Thanks in advance.