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Grout Formicarium questions?


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#1 Offline T.C. - Posted November 20 2016 - 9:44 AM

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Hello people, I am going to be trying to build a grout formicarium for the first time. I have watched all of Crystals videos which were super helpful, however I have a few questions. Up until now I have only used plaster but that molds and my C pennsylvanicus, colony had carved it out and made  home right in the center of it.

 

My first question is can you just dump all grout into a 2ft by 2ft container that is a foot deep. With there being so much grout will it dry into a big block? and how long until it would?

 

Also for the hydration part of it, I was thinking put a sponge just a centimeter away from the clay for hydration with a tube leading to the sponge to the outside of the container and adding water to the tube which leads to the sponge, would that work?

 

 

 

 


“If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.” -Althea Davis

#2 Offline Saftron - Posted November 20 2016 - 9:51 AM

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Doesn't grout absorb water itself? You wouldn't need a sponge to hydrate I believe unless you're using Sanded Grout.



#3 Offline Kevin - Posted November 20 2016 - 1:21 PM

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Yes, that hydration method would work. Antkeeperxxx, it's so you can leave water in there and let it stay hydrated. You can put all the grout in there, although it would be incredibly stupid and a waste of grout.  If you want to make a large formicarium, make it long and skinny to minimize grout usage while getting the most space. I dunno what you're gonna do with 4 square feet of grout, the middle would be completely unused.


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#4 Offline T.C. - Posted November 20 2016 - 3:12 PM

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I want to make it look something similar to a tar heel ants formicarium, so the out world will sit on top of the grout block. A tube leading from the nest in the grout block to the out world.


“If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.” -Althea Davis

#5 Offline Kevin - Posted November 20 2016 - 3:17 PM

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Right, but do you have plans for finding a 2'x2' acrylic box? If so that's gonna be pretty expensive. Either way, it's a waste. It would be more efficient to lengthen the formicaria in order to optimize usage.


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#6 Offline T.C. - Posted November 20 2016 - 3:22 PM

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I already have the box, maybe I could put a chunk of styrofoam or something in the middle of the container to take up space?


“If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.” -Althea Davis

#7 Offline Kevin - Posted November 20 2016 - 3:25 PM

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That's a good idea. I would do a max of 2" thick for the outer walls, but leave half an inch to carve off because that styrofoam will need to be cut out as well as its contaminants.


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#8 Offline T.C. - Posted November 20 2016 - 3:29 PM

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Sounds good with me, and that wall thickness will also be thick enough to get the sponge in there as well.


“If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.” -Althea Davis

#9 Offline Diesel - Posted November 20 2016 - 5:43 PM

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hi TC and Ant Keep. i actually install ceramic tile on the side for additional money. i was told not to use sanded grout as it would act like a barrier for water. actually that statement is not true. sanded grout does absorb water but at a slower rate. non sanded grout is used in showers and is water tight for the most part which would allow water to pool. with the sand it creates tiny air pockets which would slowly absorb the moisture. with this being said the slow absorbtion of water also creates slower evaporation thus reducing the need to over hydrate your formicariums. a solid block of grout would NEVER dry properly. anymore than 2 inches will result in brittle forms and risk it cracking and just become a medium for the ants to move around. you can however use a sponge somewhere in your form if you want to use that as your hydration. but on the contrary to what is being reported sanded grout does absorb water. my formicarium is sanded grout and hydrating is simple as placing water on it. it does take a little bit to seep in but does.


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Ant Species kept

 

Temnothorax Longispinosus.-Journal(discontinued)-(formerly)

Camponotus Noveboracensis (formerly)

Camponotus Nearticus-formerly

Tetramorium sp.-formerly

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Queen & brood.-formerly

Tapinoma Sessile-Journal (3 queen colony)-formerly

​Tapinoma  Sessile #2 (2 queen colony)-formerly

Aphaenogaster Picea-Journal-active

Crematogaster sp.(Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with 3 workers and brood-formerly

​Crematogaster sp. #2 (Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with brood-formerly

Formica sp. polygenus-active 300+ workers-active

Formica Subsericea-active 25+ workers-active

Myrmica Rubra 400+ workers 3 queens-active


#10 Offline T.C. - Posted November 20 2016 - 9:50 PM

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hi TC and Ant Keep. i actually install ceramic tile on the side for additional money. i was told not to use sanded grout as it would act like a barrier for water. actually that statement is not true. sanded grout does absorb water but at a slower rate. non sanded grout is used in showers and is water tight for the most part which would allow water to pool. with the sand it creates tiny air pockets which would slowly absorb the moisture. with this being said the slow absorbtion of water also creates slower evaporation thus reducing the need to over hydrate your formicariums. a solid block of grout would NEVER dry properly. anymore than 2 inches will result in brittle forms and risk it cracking and just become a medium for the ants to move around. you can however use a sponge somewhere in your form if you want to use that as your hydration. but on the contrary to what is being reported sanded grout does absorb water. my formicarium is sanded grout and hydrating is simple as placing water on it. it does take a little bit to seep in but does.

Very helpful, thank you. I suppose working with grout you would probably know. ;)


“If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.” -Althea Davis

#11 Offline Kevin - Posted November 21 2016 - 3:56 AM

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Actually, the grout would cure, but you can't use plain grout, you need to have additives such as sand or perlite, and in this case the styrofoam would allow the middle to dry.

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