7 replies to this topic

[Kalidas]

So in my up and coming project I want to use sponges to dissipate the water into the nesting Chambers (pretty common most formicariums do something similar).

My question is are PVA sponges good for this? Or are they actually not good at doing this task and thus regular sponges would be better? The idea would be to have the sponges hang out of the formicarium and into a water reservoir (like dspdrew does with his formicariums).

[ANTdrew]

I've used normal kitchen sponges without any issues in my formicariums. I think you just want to avoid anything that has added anti-microbial chemicals.

[Kalidas]

Well I ask because I need some really long sponges, like roughly 10 inches long. And I have seen some PVA sponges that long but I haven't seen any generic sponges that are that long.

So I was wondering if PVA sponges are any good at dispersing water. Also if they had any toxic substance in them too would be good to know.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

PVA sponges are better, as they are synthetic and therefore safer to ants. This sounds weird, but synthetic sponges actually contain fewer chemicals, since they wouldn't rot like a plant based sponge. I believe they are simply better at soaking up water anyway.

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, November 1 2019 - 11:59 AM.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

This is kind of a good read for me because I'm making a formicariums myself! Yay me! I get to stress out more than usual!

[Kalidas]

PVA sponges are better, as they are synthetic and therefore safer to ants. This sounds weird, but synthetic sponges actually contain fewer chemicals, since they wouldn't rot like a plant based sponge. I believe they are simply better at soaking up water anyway.

Good to know thanks!

I know they soak up water better, I was just wondering if they released the water better.

[TigrisDK]

I've used normal kitchen sponges without any issues in my formicariums. I think you just want to avoid anything that has added anti-microbial chemicals.

I know this is a long time ago, but what about mold? or them getting mildewy or damp-stained (i'm not sure what word to use, but like when you have a dishcloth, if you just let it lay somewhere while wet, it will get mold on it)

[Ants_Dakota]

 

I've used normal kitchen sponges without any issues in my formicariums. I think you just want to avoid anything that has added anti-microbial chemicals.

I know this is a long time ago, but what about mold? or them getting mildewy or damp-stained (i'm not sure what word to use, but like when you have a dishcloth, if you just let it lay somewhere while wet, it will get mold on it)

 

basically everything will mold if it can adsorb water, although i believe these sponges are less prone to mold than regular sponges.