190 replies to this topic

[soulsynapse]

Drew your documentation and wealth of knowledge on these subjects is an incredible asset to the community. Thanks for doing what you do.

 

- Kendrick

[ANC]

I am looking at your set-up with the water tank on the bottom and 8 chambers above it. I tried to paste the picture so you knew which one I am talking about, but it wouldn't let me. Could you tell me what size the water tank and the chambers are? I am looking at making a setup for a lab research project, and need an efficient way to keep multiple colonies in as little space as possible.

 

Also, where do you purchase these boxes? I see some that look similar at The Container Store online (expensive if you are making several), and some from the Thailand manufacturer (but that site doesnt tell how to order them), but can find no other sites that sell Box Box brand containers.

Thanks for your help!!

[dspdrew]

Yes those are from Container Store, and yes, they are quite expensive. They're pretty high quality though. Buying from the manufacturer is even more expensive for me because of the shipping.

[sgheaton]

I found going to Amazon and simply typing "Boxbox" produced the boxbox box. Many different styles, just have to find the one you want for ~$20.00. First one I saw doing this right now: CLICKY THING

[ANC]

Thanks!

What are the dimensions of the water container for the 8 chamber unit?

 

I'm trying to decide how much space I need for each colony. I am considering putting 4 test colonies into 8 chambers, so they would each have a small nest box connected to one foraging box. 

[T.C.]

Thanks!

What are the dimensions of the water container for the 8 chamber unit?

 

I'm trying to decide how much space I need for each colony. I am considering putting 4 test colonies into 8 chambers, so they would each hI don't know how well that will go over for you. ave a small nest box connected to one foraging box. 

Well, I don't know how well that is going to go over for you? Hope it's a very large outworld.

[CrazyLegs]

Great read Drew, I'm going to be late for work today.

[dspdrew]

Well I guess I won't be making any large, 8-chamber nests anymore. The Container Store decided to discontinue the largest container. Shipping prices from the manufacturer are outrageous.

 

Mayra A: Hi, my name is Mayra A. How may I help you?

Me: can you tell me when you will have more item 10060544?

Mayra A: Unfortunately this item has been discontinued.

Me: Oh what

Me: Do you still not do any special orders?

Mayra A: Unfortunately we do not, sorry

Me: Are you going to discontinue the others too?

Me: I buy TONS of these from you guys.

Mayra A: Only items 10060544 and 10060546 have been discontinued

Me: What size was 10060546?

Mayra A: Medium Stackable Rectangle

Me: Haha do you have measurements?

Me: Medium is pretty subjective

Mayra A: 11" x 7-1/8" x 3-1/2"

Me: Oh great.

Me: I'm very unhappy.

Me: Thanks.

Mayra A: We apologize for the inconvenience. Have a great rest of your day.

[Alabama Anter]

Oh wow. It looks like you got triggered at the end lol. Hopefully you can did another one.

[dspdrew]

I found the perfect little plug, and ordered what I thought would be a hand-full of them, only to find out I paid $4.50 for a single tiny 8 mm plug.
 

 
 
I was pretty pissed, but that just gave me an even better idea. Since these plugs were black, and I would have preferred something more translucent to match the tank better, I just made a mold from the one I got, and then poured a whole bunch of them myself using translucent silicone.
 
I started with a resin mold of one.
 

 
 
Then once I had four made, I lined them up inside a small square plastic container and made a silicone mold from all of them.
 

 

 

 
 
These plugs are working great, and cost me hardly anything. Now I just have to create the plug for the water ports, and the tanks will be complete.

 
I have a much larger mold now, so I can make a lot more at once.
 

[ANC]

I've solved your corrosion problem.  

 

Lose the sponge and stick the reservoir on top.  

 

For additional reinforcement, add 5-10% cement to your Hydrostone mix, by weight.

 

 

It's a blue bottle with the head stuck in the plaster.  

 

If you don't want to use a blue bottle, you can accomplish the same thing by welding two pieces of acrylic that form a 90 degree angle to two, perpendicular inside side walls of a container.  Then, pour your Hydrostone to cover the gap at the bottom.

 

Since your water is much taller than the floor level, how does the water pressure not flood the container? Does the hydrostone offer resistance? Normally, water levels equal out on both sides of a connected container, so one might think that the water would completely drain out of the blue bottle and flood the floor in order to equalize the water level in both parts. Does that make sense?
I am making a small rectangular nest with a hydrostone bottom and I was planning on making a tall water reservoir out of acrylic pieces siliconed in the corner of the foraging container, like you show on your sketch. I am connecting the water tank with the hydrostone with vinyl tubing, but I was worried that the large water reservoir would saturate the hydrostone, and continue emptying into the nest and flood it. Is that not a concern?
Thanks so much!

[Jelly]

 

I've solved your corrosion problem.  

 

Lose the sponge and stick the reservoir on top.  

 

For additional reinforcement, add 5-10% cement to your Hydrostone mix, by weight.

 

 

 

It's a blue bottle with the head stuck in the plaster.  

 

If you don't want to use a blue bottle, you can accomplish the same thing by welding two pieces of acrylic that form a 90 degree angle to two, perpendicular inside side walls of a container.  Then, pour your Hydrostone to cover the gap at the bottom.

 

 

Since your water is much taller than the floor level, how does the water pressure not flood the container? Does the hydrostone offer resistance? Normally, water levels equal out on both sides of a connected container, so one might think that the water would completely drain out of the blue bottle and flood the floor in order to equalize the water level in both parts. Does that make sense?
I am making a small rectangular nest with a hydrostone bottom and I was planning on making a tall water reservoir out of acrylic pieces siliconed in the corner of the foraging container, like you show on your sketch. I am connecting the water tank with the hydrostone with vinyl tubing, but I was worried that the large water reservoir would saturate the hydrostone, and continue emptying into the nest and flood it. Is that not a concern?
Thanks so much!

 

 

I had the same question. He fills the inner tube with a water absorbent substrate which will slowly seep water into the hyrdrostone. Currently testing for best material on this thread http://www.formicult...e-11#entry55372

[dspdrew]

I'm posting this because a couple people wanted to see exactly why I spent hours drilling a 5/8 inch hole in a 2 inch thick block of acrylic. You wouldn't believe how hard that is to do.
 
Pushing some of the tightly fitting parts of this nest, particularly the "water port" into the lids of the containers is not easy to do without destroying it. Because of this, I was using a PVC pipe to stabilize the brittle lid while I hit the part with a rubber mallet.
 

 
 
As you can see, the ID of the pipe was a bit larger than the part, so it wasn't perfect, and would still result in cracks half the time.
 

 
 
Soooooo, I made this beautiful block of plastic with a hole in it to make my life much easier.
 

 
 
The hole in this block fits the 16 mm parts perfectly.
 

 
 
Now I can push on it as hard as I want.
 

 
 
I can even pound the last tightest fitting portion of it in with the rubber mallet without resulting in a single crack.
 

 

 
 
Ta-dah.
 

[Alabama Anter]

Drew Nye the Scientist

[FSTP]

nice mallet jig.

[zlez93]

Curious, how is the pva sponge contacting the hydrostone in this setup?

 

[AntsCalifornia]

I have a question about your formicarium. Hydrostone absorbs water, right? If so, why can't you just remove the tile and leave plain hydrostone. It would allow for the Acromyrmex to have more moisture for their fungus and moisture would be spread out evenly.

 

Also curious about how you made that plastic block. Could you tell how you made it?

Edited by AntsCalifornia, December 3 2017 - 10:08 PM.

[YsTheAnt]

Hydrostone erodes after long periods of use, which is why Drew isolates the tile from the hydrostone with a plastic thingy.

[dspdrew]

I have a question about your formicarium. Hydrostone absorbs water, right? If so, why can't you just remove the tile and leave plain hydrostone. It would allow for the Acromyrmex to have more moisture for their fungus and moisture would be spread out evenly.

 

 
 
https://www.formicul...-5-2016/?p=9594
 
 

Also curious about how you made that plastic block. Could you tell how you made it?

 
Two 1 inch pieces of acrylic bonded together to make a single 2 inch thick piece.

[dspdrew]

Hydrostone erodes after long periods of use, which is why Drew isolates the tile from the hydrostone with a plastic thingy.

 

I stopped using Hydrostone on the floors of the containers altogether because too many of the plastic barriers cracked over time, or the ants simply leave enough trash on the floor to bridge the gap and allow the water to move into the Hydrostone.