7 replies to this topic

[AntsTopia]

Hey everyone I wanted to share a really cool hack that really made me want mini hearths more. So normal mini hearths and other cave like formicariums are always dark and does not have lighting. Well, just put a phone light underneath the water tower and you can see your colony a lot better!

Edit: Post all antkeeping hacks here!

Edited by AntsTopia, August 16 2023 - 8:24 AM.

[BleepingBleepers]

Yeah I sometimes see it in videos with people that have the mini hearth.

 

However, the problem is that you can't keep the light down there for long or else algae will grow in there and since you can't take the water tower out, you can't clean it either.

 

Wish I could put a light fixture down there with a dimmer and have it glow faintly most of the time, that would be awesome ...

[AntsTopia]

Yeah I sometimes see it in videos with people that have the mini hearth.
 
However, the problem is that you can't keep the light down there for long or else algae will grow in there and since you can't take the water tower out, you can't clean it either.
 
Wish I could put a light fixture down there with a dimmer and have it glow faintly most of the time, that would be awesome ...

Yeah I like to put my phone under the water tower for just a bit and then take my phone back when I'm done viewing the colony.

[BleepingBleepers]

 

Yeah I sometimes see it in videos with people that have the mini hearth.
 
However, the problem is that you can't keep the light down there for long or else algae will grow in there and since you can't take the water tower out, you can't clean it either.
 
Wish I could put a light fixture down there with a dimmer and have it glow faintly most of the time, that would be awesome ...

Yeah I like to put my phone under the water tower for just a bit and then take my phone back when I'm done viewing the colony.

 

I actually brought this up with Mack, asking him if I could clean the water tower and also about the light, which was why I knew some bits about the pros and cons before coming in haha.

 

I remember seeing someone do that and was so looking forward to putting a small light down there. Bit disappointed realize I couldn't, at least not for long. Here's hoping for future design.

 

I did buy one of those LED light strips with a dimmer, we'll see how that turns out. My room is on the dim side so I gotta have a light to see the ants, enough to not bug them too much, but I definitely want to see them. I got out of the tarantula hobby because I got a bit tired of having a pet hole (they're notorious for that). Nothing wrong with them, everyone wrong with me I guess.

[UtahAnts]

You could physically modify the mini hearth by drilling holes to place LEDs through or to act as windows for alternate lighting angles, just a thought. Don't get me wrong the nature of light coming from the water tower makes for some great silhouettes, but unless you are looking at ants on the wall or the ceiling I think I prefer light coming from above, especially for photography.

[AntsCali098]

There's also glow in the dark mini hearths, they look sick in the dark.

[100lols]

You could physically modify the mini hearth by drilling holes to place LEDs through or to act as windows for alternate lighting angles, just a thought. Don't get me wrong the nature of light coming from the water tower makes for some great silhouettes, but unless you are looking at ants on the wall or the ceiling I think I prefer light coming from above, especially for photography.

Have* you ever experimented with this? Genius lol. I definitely want to give that a try some time!

Edited by 100lols, August 15 2023 - 10:58 AM.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I used these on the bototm of mine(not in use, in bigger top down nest now).

 

 

Rubber sticky feet help absorb vibrations, and also lift it up a little.

Allows you to slip a small led light/if your phone is slim enough, udner it wihtout disturbing/moving the nest to do so.