Here's how to make a basic ant setup from a small airtight storage box (box cost ~3€, total cost around 15€, becomes cheaper if you make more of those as the sand-clay mix, mesh and silicone will last for 5-10 boxes).
It's probably a bit easier to do for a first try, especially of you have little to no experience.
Cut a hole into lid with a hot knife and use aquarium silicone to glue a mesh (preferrably something like 0.2mm mesh width if you have small ants) in there.
Apply sand-clay mix and let it dry for a few days (put an empty the test tube in there if you want a "negative imprint" so the test tube doesn't roll around later). You may also add some decorations.
Drill a hole into the side of the container. It should be 3-4mm smaller than the diameter of the vinyl tubing you're using. Put the end of the vinyl tubing into hot water so it becomes soft and can be deformed easily. Push the vinyl tubing through the hole and let it dry (once it cooled down it will stick in there so tight you'll have to cut it up to remove it).
Add ants.
Edited by Serafine, September 12 2019 - 9:08 PM.