202 replies to this topic

[Major]

Maybe if we tell them that we need like a thousand made, they will up production due to higher demand. I am sure if everyone emails them and asks if they can get them out in say, 2 weeks, they would pay more equipment and time to it, right?

Probably.

[Spamdy]

Found it. As said, don't buy too many.

https://www.pioneerp...container/082c/

https://www.pioneerp...container/160c/

 

Edit: They come in packs of 60/100.

Edited by Spamdy, July 19 2018 - 2:56 PM.

[nurbs]

The website doesn't say if they are out of stock, but if you order they will send you an email in a few days saying it is on backorder.

[nurbs]

Make a few a day. A lot more to go.

 

 

 

 

 

[StopSpazzing]

Sorry guys, but I bought 10x 'Square Plastic Container with Lids – 160C' = 1000 containers. Back-ordered till next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JKJK

Edited by StopSpazzing, August 4 2018 - 6:26 PM.

[DoctorlyRob]

Nurbs my man anywhere I can get info on those circle container builds? I have them using them to make some of my first designs, long story short not going so well right now. Would love to read about the logic of why you have the tubing in there, I notice it gets awfully wet inside if you just put grout directly to the cottonball, attempting putting a Solenopsis sp. in at the moment in hopes they approve of the REALLY humid environment but not expecting it to go well honestly. If you don't have anywhere or didn't base it off another design you could refer me to, mind if I ask a few questions about it?

 

Make a few a day. A lot more to go.

 

 

[nurbs]

That's exactly what the tubing is for. To separate the cotton so it does not touch and saturate the hydrostone/plaster/grout with water. 

 

 

 

 

Nurbs my man anywhere I can get info on those circle container builds? I have them using them to make some of my first designs, long story short not going so well right now. Would love to read about the logic of why you have the tubing in there, I notice it gets awfully wet inside if you just put grout directly to the cottonball, attempting putting a Solenopsis sp. in at the moment in hopes they approve of the REALLY humid environment but not expecting it to go well honestly. If you don't have anywhere or didn't base it off another design you could refer me to, mind if I ask a few questions about it?

 

Make a few a day. A lot more to go.

 

 

 

 

[nurbs]

Added liquid feeder molds to Version 2.0. Full credit goes to Drew for using the kevlar string as a wick, but instead of 3D printing them, I just drilled holes in collection containers. 

 

    

 

 

 

The mold can also hold your water bottle caps if you don't have a feeder.

 

 

 

 

Slowly transferring this season's test tube colonies into the Version 2.0. So far so good.

 

 

  

 

 

 

Prepped and ready to go with fluon.

 

 

[sirjordanncurtis]

How large are the holes? 

And the thickness of the string?

Btw, is there anything special about kevlar strings that makes it much better?

Edited by sirjordanncurtis, August 14 2018 - 7:29 PM.

[YsTheAnt]

How large are the holes? 

And the thickness of the string?

Btw, is there anything special about kevlar strings that makes it much better?

 

Assuming you mean the hole in the lid, in the old pencil case formicarium I got my Novomessor colony in (made by nurbs of course), the hole in the lid was something around 20mm, approximately the same size as the 20mm test tubes the formicarium was meant to hold.

 

I do know that kevlar is a lot tougher than other strings, and cannot be pulled apart easily (unlike cotton, wool, polyester, etc.). This alone makes it a great material for this application .

[DoctorlyRob]

So is the grout only in there for an aesthetic reason? I thought it was to distribute the humidity. Also I'm trying to put sand in my grout, I've tried a thick peanut butter like consistency and a real liquidity one to try to get the sand to adhere well. I haven't been able to get it right maybe it's the process? I was using all purpose sand and just poring it on top waiting 24 hours and then brushing my finger across it to get whatever is loose out. After doing this I end up with... lets say not a very satisfying result I read somewhere on here that someone uses a brush to get rid of the loose I don't have one but thinking about going and getting one and trying that out. Any tips on this matter? Your sand looks very consistent and nice no grout really showing; I also notice you have a very thin layer of grout maybe that has something to do with it? I assume you use rather liquidity grout to get such a small amount in like that.  

 

Thanks for providing any information on this troublesome problem I'm having.

 

 

That's exactly what the tubing is for. To separate the cotton so it does not touch and saturate the hydrostone/plaster/grout with water. 

 

 

 

 

Nurbs my man anywhere I can get info on those circle container builds? I have them using them to make some of my first designs, long story short not going so well right now. Would love to read about the logic of why you have the tubing in there, I notice it gets awfully wet inside if you just put grout directly to the cottonball, attempting putting a Solenopsis sp. in at the moment in hopes they approve of the REALLY humid environment but not expecting it to go well honestly. If you don't have anywhere or didn't base it off another design you could refer me to, mind if I ask a few questions about it?

 

Make a few a day. A lot more to go.

 

 

 

 

[nurbs]

Use hydrostone. Much better adhesion. Pour the sand liberally over the hydrostone right after it is poured (still in liquid form). Once cured, scrape off the excess sand and you will have something like this:

 

 

Hydrostone also expands a few percentages as it cures, which acts as a "glue" to the container. Grout does not. It would fall off if you shook it upside down. 

 

They hydrostone/sand substrate serves several purposes:

 

1) You can "water" it or accidentally spill liquids over it and it will absorb water like natural earth and also keep the nest humid. If you had a purely plastic base it would not do this and the ants might drown in it.

2) The sand helps certain species acclimate to the nest as well as spin their cocoons. You can also sprinkle additional sand on top. In many years of keeping ants - plastic/polysterene or acrylic type nests are not ideal.

3) Aesthetic - it looks cool.

4) Photography - helps with lighting. If you have just a plastic base it creates a lot of specular light. Having a darker value substrate like sand makes photographing them easier.

 

 

 

So is the grout only in there for an aesthetic reason? I thought it was to distribute the humidity. Also I'm trying to put sand in my grout, I've tried a thick peanut butter like consistency and a real liquidity one to try to get the sand to adhere well. I haven't been able to get it right maybe it's the process? I was using all purpose sand and just poring it on top waiting 24 hours and then brushing my finger across it to get whatever is loose out. After doing this I end up with... lets say not a very satisfying result I read somewhere on here that someone uses a brush to get rid of the loose I don't have one but thinking about going and getting one and trying that out. Any tips on this matter? Your sand looks very consistent and nice no grout really showing; I also notice you have a very thin layer of grout maybe that has something to do with it? I assume you use rather liquidity grout to get such a small amount in like that.  

 

Thanks for providing any information on this troublesome problem I'm having.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[brianhershey]

nurbs,

 

I've been using unsanded grout, and yes it does fall out easily when I want to clean my containers.

 

I can get Hydrostone, 50lb bag for $25, is that an OK deal compared to what you've paid? 

 

Thanks!

[Zeiss]

nurbs,

 

I've been using unsanded grout, and yes it does fall out easily when I want to clean my containers.

 

I can get Hydrostone, 50lb bag for $25, is that an OK deal compared to what you've paid? 

 

Thanks!

I haven't seen a 50lb bag for $25 before, 20lbs for $25 sounds more like what you'd see.  I purchase mine off of ebay, as that is the only place I have seen it available.  From the PlasterGuys or something similar.

[StopSpazzing]

nurbs,

 

I've been using unsanded grout, and yes it does fall out easily when I want to clean my containers.

 

I can get Hydrostone, 50lb bag for $25, is that an OK deal compared to what you've paid? 

 

Thanks!

 

 

nurbs,

 

I've been using unsanded grout, and yes it does fall out easily when I want to clean my containers.

 

I can get Hydrostone, 50lb bag for $25, is that an OK deal compared to what you've paid? 

 

Thanks!

I haven't seen a 50lb bag for $25 before, 20lbs for $25 sounds more like what you'd see.  I purchase mine off of ebay, as that is the only place I have seen it available.  From the PlasterGuys or something similar.

 

 

https://www.antkeepi...lding_Materials

[nurbs]

All the materials we use are posted on this thread or in the materials thread linked below. You can compare prices and see if it is a good deal. I buy them in gallons on ebay, and get the harder hydrostone X from USG, which is more expensive.

 

http://www.formicult...rchasing-guide/

 

I called up USG one time asking about coloring hydrostone, and their materials expert told me offhand hydrostone has an expiration date. If it has been sitting in a warehouse too long, it may not cure as fast or be as strong. Never tested this theory before, so it could just be a myth.

 

If you find something less expensive or useful, don't just tell us - please contribute to the thread and the community. 

 

 

nurbs,

 

I've been using unsanded grout, and yes it does fall out easily when I want to clean my containers.

 

I can get Hydrostone, 50lb bag for $25, is that an OK deal compared to what you've paid? 

 

Thanks!

 

[brianhershey]

I can get Hydrostone, 50lb bag for $25, is that an OK deal compared to what you've paid? 

 

 

Here is that supplier, in 17 cities across 6 states... Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

 

https://www.carter-w.../usg hydrostone

[nurbs]

That's USG brand. The price most likely does not include shipping, and depending on your location is up to double the price. The ebay listing includes free shipping.

 

 

I can get Hydrostone, 50lb bag for $25, is that an OK deal compared to what you've paid? 

 

 

Here is that supplier, in 17 cities across 6 states... Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

 

https://www.carter-w.../usg hydrostone

 

[brianhershey]

 

That's USG brand. The price most likely does not include shipping

 

That's correct. At 65% cheaper I'll stop by the store next week and get a bag, thanks for the info. Anxious to try it out!

 

I have the 5-stack round containers, 7cm across. Have you tried having a screen in the floor of the container above the water instead of a wick? I was going to put a 1.25" screen over a 1" hole. There will be 1/4" of hydro over the rest of the floor. A 1" tube will be temporarily in the hole so the hydro doesn't fall through of course (coated with light oil so not to stick). I'll probably do multi levels up, with another angled pour of hydro in each level meeting a hole in the floor above.

[nurbs]

Nice, so you can pick it up instead of shipping.

 

Using screens like a THA "water tower" setup? Yes I've tried that, but prefer direct access to drinking water with a wick if it is to be used as a founding chamber.

 

Unless you keep the screened version warm enough where the water evaporates and forms droplets of water on the sides of the container, the wick is a better option IMO. THA nests come with optional "nestmates" which I believe are generally a requirement with the water tower setup - but this is also dependent on the species of ants. Many Camponotus only need the water tower and you can put drinking water in the outworld.

 

I did a test this year with P. californicus, V. andrei, and V. pergandei in a Fortress setup with nestmates and w/o nestmates. I removed the nestmates with drinking water for a week, and the entire colony slowly crowded and packed themselves over the water tower. Their outworld had access to water, but they interestingly stayed over the water tower instead. It was almost as if they were nearing desiccation. Then I dropped in a nestmate with water and they all quickly crammed to the nestmate and began drinking the water furiously. It was fascinating to watch.

 

But for founding chambers, yeah use the wick method.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's USG brand. The price most likely does not include shipping

 

That's correct. At 65% cheaper I'll stop by the store next week and get a bag, thanks for the info. Anxious to try it out!

 

I have the 5-stack round containers, 7cm across. Have you tried having a screen in the floor of the container above the water instead of a wick? I was going to put a 1.25" screen over a 1" hole. There will be 1/4" of hydro over the rest of the floor. A 1" tube will be temporarily in the hole so the hydro doesn't fall through of course (coated with light oil so not to stick). I'll probably do multi levels up, with another angled pour of hydro in each level meeting a hole in the floor above.