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Does Firebrick actually work?


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8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline gs5248 - Posted January 31 2021 - 11:28 AM

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I just saw antsvienna's video on how to make a THA mini hearth style formicarium. I want to make one, but since I live in America I would have to use K23 firebrick. I have not really seen many colonies in Firebrick nests. Can someone confirm that they actually work?



#2 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 31 2021 - 11:36 AM

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K23 firebrick is absorbent and relatively soft, which makes it a pretty decent material to use, although some ants can dig through it when it's wet.


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#3 Offline gs5248 - Posted January 31 2021 - 3:03 PM

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Yeah but I have never seen a thriving colony is firebrick.



#4 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted January 31 2021 - 3:06 PM

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Yeah but I have never seen a thriving colony is firebrick.

An old member named Crystals used it and her colonies all seemed to thrive.


Edited by Kaelwizard, January 31 2021 - 3:09 PM.


#5 Offline Guest_StrickyAnts_* - Posted January 31 2021 - 6:18 PM

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Yeah but I have never seen a thriving colony is firebrick.

I know people on discord that use firebrick, and their colonies are just fine. 



#6 Offline gs5248 - Posted January 31 2021 - 10:11 PM

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Was it K-23? That is the only brick I can use, since I don't have access to a Dremel or a drill.


Edited by gs5248, January 31 2021 - 10:12 PM.


#7 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted February 1 2021 - 4:14 AM

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Was it K-23? That is the only brick I can use, since I don't have access to a Dremel or a drill.

That's the only kind I have heard of being used.



#8 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 1 2021 - 5:10 AM

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Firebrick with a water tower embedded would work nicely. You could have consistent hydration from the water tower, plus you could wet the firebrick. That might be an ideal combo for moisture loving species. Consistent hydration is the big downside of firebrick if you don’t have a water tower.

Edited by ANTdrew, February 1 2021 - 5:11 AM.

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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.

#9 Offline gs5248 - Posted February 1 2021 - 8:39 AM

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Yeah, I am going to do a mini hearth style formicarium, so I am going do a water tower. 


Thanks everyone for the advice!






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