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Firebrick Formicarium


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#1 Offline M_Ants - Posted September 10 2020 - 11:09 AM

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I bought some k-23 firebrick for making formicariums. It is super soft but it works okay. The problem I'm having is that it is a water vacuum. If you squirt and water on it it instantly disappears. It also doesn't really change color. How do I make it work more like y-tong nests where the water slowly disperses evenly throughout the nest and turns darker so you can see if it needs water? 


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Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#2 Offline TechAnt - Posted September 10 2020 - 11:17 AM

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I bought some k-23 firebrick for making formicariums. It is super soft but it works okay. The problem I'm having is that it is a water vacuum. If you squirt and water on it it instantly disappears. It also doesn't really change color. How do I make it work more like y-tong nests where the water slowly disperses evenly throughout the nest and turns darker so you can see if it needs water? 

I am having this issue too.. 

I hope somebody will help.


  • Ants_Dakota likes this
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#3 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 10 2020 - 11:17 AM

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Exactly same issue! Is there any good firebrick? Or any better hydration system?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#4 Offline TechAnt - Posted September 10 2020 - 11:18 AM

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Exactly same issue! Is there any good firebrick? Or any better hydration system?

Maybe a water tower set-up?


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My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#5 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 10 2020 - 11:44 AM

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Exactly same issue! Is there any good firebrick? Or any better hydration system?

Maybe a water tower set-up?

 

Maybe. I do have the supplies for that.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#6 Offline M_Ants - Posted September 10 2020 - 12:21 PM

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Just had an idea. Would adding a layer of hydrostone on the inside and outside work? With hydrstone it is much easier to tell if its hydrated or not. Also a layer on the outside might keep the water in better?


  • Ants_Dakota likes this

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#7 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 10 2020 - 12:30 PM

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Yeah, it’s a big guessing game with hydrating firebrick. Incorporating a water tower would take the guess work out. A hybrid with hydrostone and firebrick could also be cool.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#8 Offline M_Ants - Posted September 10 2020 - 12:33 PM

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I'm definitely going to make a hybrid.


Yeah, it’s a big guessing game with hydrating firebrick. Incorporating a water tower would take the guess work out. A hybrid with hydrostone and firebrick could also be cool.

If you use a water tower then what is the point of making it out of firebrick? 


  • MinigunL5 likes this

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#9 Offline TechAnt - Posted September 10 2020 - 12:49 PM

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I'm definitely going to make a hybrid.


Yeah, it’s a big guessing game with hydrating firebrick. Incorporating a water tower would take the guess work out. A hybrid with hydrostone and firebrick could also be cool.

If you use a water tower then what is the point of making it out of firebrick? 

Two words: Easy. Carving.


  • Ants_Dakota likes this
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#10 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 10 2020 - 12:50 PM

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Valid point.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#11 Offline TechAnt - Posted September 10 2020 - 12:52 PM

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Valid point.

Who's? M_Ants or mine?


My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#12 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 10 2020 - 6:39 PM

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Actually both.
  • TechAnt likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#13 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 11 2020 - 6:24 AM

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Also, you need something to hold the water. like i use grout, but firebrick would work.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#14 Offline M_Ants - Posted September 11 2020 - 3:19 PM

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Problem with hydrostone firebrick hybrid. When you put the hydrostone on the firebrick it instantly sucks all the water out of the hyrdostone. 


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Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#15 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 11 2020 - 9:13 PM

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If you want to pour Hydrostone onto something that is very absorbent, it needs to be saturated with water first.


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#16 Offline M_Ants - Posted September 11 2020 - 9:37 PM

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If you want to pour Hydrostone onto something that is very absorbent, it needs to be saturated with water first.

The only problem is then the hydrostone doesn't cure at least when I tried it.


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#17 Offline M_Ants - Posted October 24 2020 - 8:22 AM

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Anyone think a firebrick mini hearth would work? I'd just carve out a chamber, coat it in sand/hydrostone, add a water tower and plexiglass and boom a mini hearth. Let me know if this won't be as easy as it seems.


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#18 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 24 2020 - 9:15 AM

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I think it would work great for species that don’t chew through stuff.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#19 Offline M_Ants - Posted October 24 2020 - 9:17 AM

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My hope is that the hydrostone coating will strengthen it. 


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#20 Offline M_Ants - Posted October 30 2020 - 8:19 AM

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Finally finished my fake mini hearth. Wondering if it's Crematogaster proof. I coated the inside in hydrostone. 

IMG 2822

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Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about





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