13 replies to this topic

[DIACAMMAWORLDCOOL]

I made an AAC formicarium a few days back. I planned to fit the screen using some glue. First I would fix it with some rubber bands and then apply glue and once it dries, remove the rubber bands. But I ended up just fixing it with some rubber bands. It worked well. We can move the screen easily and the screen is fixed on tightly. Yeah, It may look a bit "cheap", but it does the job and is much cheaper.
So, Wdyt?
The formicarium.

 

[Queen]

I made an AAC formicarium a few days back. I planned to fit the screen using some glue. First I would fix it with some rubber bands and then apply glue and once it dries, remove the rubber bands. But I ended up just fixing it with some rubber bands. It worked well. We can move the screen easily and the screen is fixed on tightly. Yeah, It may look a bit "cheap", but it does the job and is much cheaper.
So, Wdyt?
The formicarium.

 

Rubber bands wears out whereas magnets don't. Its cheaper, sure, but I rather pay a bit more to have one less thing to think about. It's just preference.

[DIACAMMAWORLDCOOL]

 

I made an AAC formicarium a few days back. I planned to fit the screen using some glue. First I would fix it with some rubber bands and then apply glue and once it dries, remove the rubber bands. But I ended up just fixing it with some rubber bands. It worked well. We can move the screen easily and the screen is fixed on tightly. Yeah, It may look a bit "cheap", but it does the job and is much cheaper.
So, Wdyt?
The formicarium.

 

Rubber bands wears out whereas magnets don't. Its cheaper, sure, but I rather pay a bit more to have one less thing to think about. It's just preference.

 

Yeah but you can always replace them, once you notice they are wearing out. And it will take some time.
For one formicarium we need 8 magnets!

[Kaelwizard]

Never mind what I said before, but magnets are still better in the long term. You would only have to buy them once while you might have to keep replacing the rubber bands and that means buying them.

Edited by Kaelwizard, July 14 2021 - 6:54 PM.

[Swirlysnowflake]

You shouldn’t need 8 magnets. 4 total (1 for each corner) is generally enough.

Wouldn’t you need 8 so that 4 are in the formicarium and 4 are on top of the glass? So it can connect?

[Antkeeper01]

yeah what Swirlysnowflake said

[Kaelwizard]

You shouldn’t need 8 magnets. 4 total (1 for each corner) is generally enough.

Wouldn’t you need 8 so that 4 are in the formicarium and 4 are on top of the glass? So it can connect?

I just realized that. I can be incredibly stupid sometimes. It’s my best talent. To be fair, I think at the time I wrote that I was thinking he meant 8 pairs.

Edited by Kaelwizard, July 14 2021 - 6:59 PM.

[DIACAMMAWORLDCOOL]

Never mind what I said before, but magnets are still better in the long term. You would only have to buy them once while you might have to keep replacing the rubber bands and that means buying them.

They're soo cheap compared to magnets.Yeah anyways.....
You can get 4 times the bands with half the money of the magnets.

Edited by DIACAMMAWORLDCOOL, July 14 2021 - 7:23 PM.

[smares]

You only need 4 magnets if you get a couple of pieces of magnetic metal, try using screw heads.

[DIACAMMAWORLDCOOL]

You only need 4 magnets if you get a couple of pieces of magnetic metal, try using screw heads.

Yeah,good point.

[Queen]

 

 

I made an AAC formicarium a few days back. I planned to fit the screen using some glue. First I would fix it with some rubber bands and then apply glue and once it dries, remove the rubber bands. But I ended up just fixing it with some rubber bands. It worked well. We can move the screen easily and the screen is fixed on tightly. Yeah, It may look a bit "cheap", but it does the job and is much cheaper.
So, Wdyt?
The formicarium.

 

Rubber bands wears out whereas magnets don't. Its cheaper, sure, but I rather pay a bit more to have one less thing to think about. It's just preference.

 

Yeah but you can always replace them, once you notice they are wearing out. And it will take some time.
For one formicarium we need 8 magnets!

 

cost is trivial between the 2. Like I said it’s a preference. For me, less is more. 

[futurebird]

I think tape, like airplane tape or duct tape would be safer than rubber bands if you can't source magnets. Rubber Bands will dry out and snap without warning. This shouldn't be a huge deal if your colony is going to lie flat, but that would make me nervous. 

 

You could also place your colony in a tub when you aren't observing it. 

[UtahAnts]

I've used rubber bands long term with no problems, my only concern about using them again would be that the bands do not close the gaps between the glass and formicarium as well as magnets do. If you are looking for cheaper materials when making a formicarium, or just simply ease of use, rubber bands work great for anything bigger then Tetramorium immigrans and Laius neoniger nanitics.

 

 

 

[DIACAMMAWORLDCOOL]

I think tape, like airplane tape or duct tape would be safer than rubber bands if you can't source magnets. Rubber Bands will dry out and snap without warning. This shouldn't be a huge deal if your colony is going to lie flat, but that would make me nervous. 

 

You could also place your colony in a tub when you aren't observing it. 

 

Don't you think duct tape will make it look "bad"

I've used rubber bands long term with no problems, my only concern about using them again would be that the bands do not close the gaps between the glass and formicarium as well as magnets do. If you are looking for cheaper materials when making a formicarium, or just simply ease of use, rubber bands work great for anything bigger then Tetramorium immigrans and Laius neoniger nanitics.

 

rubber band ants.jpg

I used it for camponotus.