12 replies to this topic

[M_Ants]

Never owned a mini hearth till now. How do I properly fill the water tower? I figured you just filled it up till the water was right under the mesh but that is soaking into the plaster stuff and making everything wet. Can someone explain what I'm doing wrong?

 

Edited by M_Ants, September 12 2020 - 2:09 PM.

[DDD101DDD]

You fill it until you can see the water. The water tower holds a lot more water then you would think.

[M_Ants]

What do you mean by you can see the water? From the right angle you can see the water when its barely filled.

Edited by M_Ants, September 12 2020 - 2:16 PM.

[M_Ants]

The water continues to be absorbed out of the tower and into the plaster...

[ANTdrew]

My Nucleus does this, too, in one of the front water towers. I actually just accidentally flooded one side. Just put a bit less next time.

[M_Ants]

Seem like it only holds water up to the halfway point maybe even less. After that it floods everything.

[1Shadow1]

I made the mistake the first two times I filled mine up. It was a good thing no ants were in there. The water tower is just to add humidity to the chamber. This is not a spot for the ants to drink. As I understand it, you will have to add water somewhere else for drinking water (Nestmates).

Edited by 1Shadow1, September 12 2020 - 4:28 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Sounds like it’s faulty. Some water towers are like this. Not sure why.

[nurbs]

It's normal. Not faulty. Nothing to worry about. The water tower, when filled up, will saturate a bit of the stone and be 50-75% full. This is be design.

 

As long as you are filling the water tower with the syringe via the tiny porthole in the back or side, you are fine.

 

There was once someone on here that blamed THA for a faulty nest because he thought the mesh was broken and ants were getting in. Apparently he was filling the water tower by sticking the syringe into the steel mesh and breaking a hole into it instead of using the provided hole in the back. Everyone thought it was a crappy THA nest until I asked further and he was filling the water tower incorrectly.

[ConcordAntman]

Hmmm, I have 3 Phalanx formicaria and I rarely fill the water towers over half full. The water towers are for humidification of the nest as are the nestmates. ByFormica nectar feeders,  nestmates, and to a lesser degree, the water in the ants’ food sources serve as their drinking sources.  

[OhNoNotAgain]

If the water wasn't accidentally sloshed, you might look reaaaally carefully for any cracks. However, I've yet to run into a problem with water towers. The only time I've wound up with massive water overflow is either from overfilling or accidentally tilting it slightly while looking at it. You'd be surprised how a very small jostle can spill it.

 

It it's Type III the spilled water disappears very quickly, too, though you can wind up with some fogging.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, September 16 2020 - 3:16 PM.

[M_Ants]

I didn't spill it. Past halfway it just soaks into the plaster stuff.

[Ants_Dakota]

I didn't spill it. Past halfway it just soaks into the plaster stuff.

Maybe that is good. The ants do need moisture.