9 replies to this topic

[ctantkeeper]

[ctantkeeper]

Hey guys someone posted this video and showed off an interesting idea that was too cool not to share!!! Tired of smudges and substrate on the glass viewing panels of your formicariums, just take two small magnets and glue small pieces of fabric to each of them, then insert one into the formicarium, that way you can clean both sides of the glass pane without opening the formicarium and disturbing the ants inside. Might try this soon!!!

[drtrmiller]

Works better in theory than in practice—most of the residue will simply get smeared around—and you will greatly upset any ants living in the space.

[dspdrew]

I wouldn't try this on plastic formicariums.

[ctantkeeper]

Soon I will be developing an experimental founding formicarium for my Lasius neoniger colony and I will test this idea then. I will most likely use a cleaning wipe (for glasses) in order to obtain the fabric needed.

Edited by ctantkeeper, April 13 2016 - 5:02 PM.

[ctantkeeper]

Btw, I would probably mostly use this for very small particulants (such as substrate and dust).

And Drew, why would you be worried about using this in acrylic setups? The magnets would not make contact with the plastic, only the fabric.

Edited by ctantkeeper, April 13 2016 - 5:05 PM.

[Mads]

Btw, I would probably mostly use this for very small particulants (such as substrate and dust).

And Drew, why would you be worried about using this in acrylic setups? The magnets would not make contact with the plastic, only the fabric.

 

Yes, but if you happen to get a piece of sand in the fabric, it will scratch the acrylic. The idea is good, but I don't think it will work very well in practice. Will mainly just smear everything. It's not like in an aquarium where everything is wet and the magnet easily slides across the surface removing algae.

 

Mads

[dspdrew]

And Drew, why would you be worried about using this in acrylic setups? The magnets would not make contact with the plastic, only the fabric.

 

Mads pretty much answered your question. When cleaning plastic, it can very easily be scratched, which is why I always use lots of water, and I rub very lightly until most of the dirt is rinsed off. With very little water, you're basically going to be sanding down your plastic. Even some of the softest feeling materials will put micro scratches in soft plastics like polystyrene, which will result in clouding of the plastic. Acrylic is a bit harder, so it wouldn't be as bad. Glass on the other hand is very hard, and cleaning it dry won't do a whole lot of damage.

[ctantkeeper]

ok, my bad, i did not see Mad's comment. However, I will probably try this on my own time to see what happens. If I have any troubles while using it (which I most likely won't have), I will make sure to mention it, but since any damage done will be much later into it's use, I will probably not post much. If I find any other cool tricks, I will make sure to share them with the group.

[Crystals]

I prefer to bolt or silicone on the glass, then when the colony has moved into a bigger nest, I can remove the bolts or cut the silicone.  Clean the glass and reattach for a new colony.

My ants tend to outgrow a nest about once a year or so.  I make horizontal nests to try to discourage ants climbing on the glass upside down.