49 replies to this topic

[cap_backfire]

So far so good!   This looks almost like a tutorial for me!  I have a LITTLE different style I'm going to try but the basics are the same.  Thank you so much for posting!  

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Thank you for the feedback I hope I can deliver. You can never be sure if it will look good until it's done. lol
I hope I get to see your setup as well when it's done.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I figured out how I wanna do the ground level now.

The main reason I had to ditch the old setup is because it was too high up in the front and I couldn't create a good viewing angle with the soil.
Sloping it back is very important especially when you wanna create a good front view.
Those barriers I added will be like small cliffs with bigger plateaus on top.

That gives me space to put a lot of soil in the setup. Not just volume wise but also depth. I suspect ants moving towards the back left corner in the deep soil so the food will be offered at the right in shallow, dry soil to minimize bacteria.
In the next update I should have already siliconed everything hopefully this weekend.

[cap_backfire]

These projects take so long!!!   I love the idea of plateaus.   I may steal a bit of this for my own design... I have much more limited space, though so no promises.  

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I was thinking a lot about how to make it look more realistic and while applying silicone i saw it stringing down like this and that was the answer.
It gives it a look of a landscape that's been there for a long time.
I could make the island and the vines with the same concept because it adds a lot of detail.






My apologies for being lazy. lol
The silicone is expensive and it's the hardest part so I've been putting it off but I'm working on it right now and I'll do a lot more today.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

You barely even see the details on the picture I'm limited to my phone camera

[ZTYguy]

I can see it and it is gorgeous!

[AntaholicAnonymous]

This is the current state of comstruction.
I'm figuring out how to make the island float and I'm going with a broken broomstick and wire to hold it in place.

That wire will later look like vines and that broomstick will also hopefully blend in well.
It was important to me that the fixture is not directly underneath the island because it would be too obvious.
The broomstick is stiff enough to hold it up and the wires balance it.

[ZTYguy]

wow

[AntaholicAnonymous]

There you can see how I disguised the wires. I did something similar with the broomstick.
I show this picture because I think you'll not be able to see the details on picture very well when I do the background tomorrow.
I'll try to keep it lighter for contrast.

When the silicone job is done I can start with the details.
Tomorrow you'll see the island plus it's special feature.

[ZTYguy]

Woo so excited.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

This is the island.
I don't have the details done yet like the vines and everything but the structure is done. I like the look and it's fully accessible for the ants.
I love working with wires I'm glad I just randomly bought them they are a game changer.


Now we come to an untypical feature that also makes me benefit from the design.

It will be camouflaged better but you're looking at it right now




there's a noose tucked in that holds in place by a small hook. You can easily grab the noose and you pull.



Revealing this storage compartment for things I wanna hide like money or plant material you might wanna store discreetly.



I never robbed a place but one spot I wouldn't check is inside an island in a tank with a raging ant colony. The design also doesn't look like there's this much space from the front.
Fully decorated you'll not be able to see it

[ZTYguy]

Wow. I would never have the creativity to do that.

[ANTdrew]

That’s twisted and genius.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Thanks a lot.
I wrapped this container in oven paper and then foamed the island around it.
I cut it out and made a cover for the top and it fits perfectly.
I had money just in a box in my kitchen I really needed something less obvious.

[brian]

Outstanding job.

[SleepyAsianAnter]

You might not ever rob a place but thanks for the info

[Ants_Dakota]

are you adding a river to your setup? i might experiment with that sometime.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I will definitely do that in the future but not with this one.
I'm starting to build decorative waterfalls for my family members that requested it to gain experience before I make a tank.

This one will have a fog machine in the back left corner that sends the vapor down the plateaus like a waterfall.
Having a leak in a river would be bad news so I have to make sure I know what I'm doing. It will happen tho

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Instead of a river I might go for a big tank with islands in the water connected via a big root system.
I could have shrimp, crabs, fish and so on in the waters I bet my Manica Rubida would love something along those lines.