This was in no way to promote my designs specifically, however I did add them in there. I didn't make this for judgement, as it doesn't count quality or any addons (outworlds, accessories, etc), although it was mostly meant for a small experiment to see what company charge for their formicaria, and how different formicaria from the same brand differs in cost. While it may not be the most accurate to determine value, it is still quite interesting to look at, and I think I had fun making it.
Wow awesome formicarium designs!!! However, I do have a few questions to ask / recommendations to make:
- what material is being used for hydration (I assume it is cotton wool)? If it is cotton, I would recommend using an alternative such as some sort of sponge (or any other absorbent medium that is mold resistant). Although mold in this chamber would probably not affect the ants, it can be rather unsightly.
- how good is the clarity of this formicarium? As someone who does a lot of photography, this would definitely affect whether or not I purchase this product (small scratches and smudges can make photography and video taking fairly difficult.).
- Will future models come with a small port on the side in order to aid in moving the colony to a new setup once it has become overgrown (possibly with a small rubber stopper)?
- Will small ants be able to squeeze between the nesting material and the plastic and possibly enter the hydration chamber?
- what about ventilation?
1) Currently cotton, which will be changed as the model advances from beta. Keep in mind, it's not the material that molds, however it is the decomposing organisms on the surface which mold.
2) Right now, small scratches on the sides are indeed a valued issue. I'm currently working on ways to fix this, but I've found that if the camera picks it up, you can focus beyond the blemish into the formicarium.
3) They do currently have the option for a 1/2" OD port.
4) The gypsum cement mixture is created in the same container and expands during curing. Only the tinniest of ants could do this and only in rare occasions. You can either A) Hydrate the top of the formicaria and not get a hydration chamber, or pull the cotton out of the hole slightly and use it as a wick, like a test tube setup. The hydration chamber is secure enough to be similar to a testtube setup, and if you know any species that can past that, I don't know what will block them.
5) The lid has a large hole blocked with 150 micron mesh or cotton, your choice. The bottom of the vial also has a drainage chamber and advanced hydration routing so in case of a flood, excess water drains out of the open port on the bottom, which no ants can access. The drainage port also can allow for ventilation. Too much ventilation will result in loss of humidy, and this will be taking into consideration for further research.
Edited by Kevin, November 11 2016 - 4:35 PM.
and if you're bored maybe add to the chart at the bottom.
. So far, I really like the design and will definitely look into buying one once it reaches the alpha stages of development (If some of the small issues we discussed are worked upon) 
. On another note, Achieving better clarity might require using a different housing material.
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