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Dspdrew's Formicarium 09 Research and Design (Updated 11-12-2023)

formicarium out world ant nest how-to tutorial dspdrew

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#221 Offline Buckets - Posted March 30 2017 - 9:47 PM

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@dpsdrew What is this container you have your queens in? It looks really simple and sleek.

 

HqCWKZI.png


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#222 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 30 2017 - 10:21 PM

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BoxBox brand. You can get them from the Container Store.



#223 Offline Buckets - Posted March 30 2017 - 10:25 PM

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BoxBox brand. You can get them from the Container Store.

How's that thing in the middle work? I looked through this thread, but didn't see anything for it


Edited by Buckets, March 30 2017 - 10:25 PM.


#224 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 30 2017 - 10:27 PM

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BoxBox brand. You can get them from the Container Store.

How's that thing in the middle work? I looked through this thread, but didn't see anything for it

 
Wrong thread. You need https://www.formicul...ated-3-18-2017/.
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#225 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 31 2017 - 5:53 PM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Final results of all tests (except the compressed powdered vermiculite) in order from lowest water holding capacity to highest water holding capacity.

 

Clay dirt - 13.4g

Loose milled sphagnum moss - 14.8g

Powdered perlite - 19.7g

Loose vermiculite - 20.0g

Sphagnum moss - 23.5g

Loose powdered vermiculite - 23.5g

Compressed milled sphagnum moss - 26.0g

Compressed vermiculite - 26.2g

Compressed powdered vermiculite - 27.0

PVA sponge - 28.2g

 

The compressed powdered vermiculite test has only been going for one day.  I'll update this list tomorrow once the test has been going for 48 hours.

 

The PVA sponge blew everything else away, but it's just too hard to form, and it's not fluid, which can pose a problem with the water transfer from the hydrostone bottom to the sponge. I really wish I could easily powderize a PVA sponge.


Edited by dspdrew, April 2 2017 - 4:51 AM.


#226 Offline Leo - Posted March 31 2017 - 5:56 PM

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drew the scientist



#227 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 31 2017 - 5:57 PM

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drew the scientist

 

Drew, the man with the best possible hydration medium. ;)



#228 Offline Leo - Posted March 31 2017 - 6:13 PM

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drew the scientist

 

Drew, the man with the best possible hydration medium. ;)

 

haha  :P



#229 Offline Antking117 - Posted March 31 2017 - 8:18 PM

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Anyone can become a scientist :)



#230 Offline dspdrew - Posted April 15 2017 - 1:58 AM

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Lots of dirt shacks. B)
 
med_gallery_2_295_1475649.jpg
 
 
I made two white ones. Everything is white--the lids, the plugs, the inner container, and the substrate. In one I mixed powdered perlite with white sand, and in the other I mixed white clay with white sand. I'll see which one works the best.
 
In the pictures the substrate is soaked, so it's not pure white.
 
med_gallery_2_295_1036053.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_210706.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_421456.jpg
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#231 Offline nurbs - Posted April 17 2017 - 10:42 PM

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Lots of dirt shacks. B)
 
med_gallery_2_295_1475649.jpg
 
 
I made two white ones. Everything is white--the lids, the plugs, the inner container, and the substrate. In one I mixed powdered perlite with white sand, and in the other I mixed white clay with white sand. I'll see which one works the best.
 
In the pictures the substrate is soaked, so it's not pure white.
 
med_gallery_2_295_1036053.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_210706.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_421456.jpg

 
 
Love that white one! Hope the substrate works.

Instagram:
nurbsants
 
YouTube
 
California Ants for Sale

 

Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#232 Offline sgheaton - Posted April 18 2017 - 5:42 AM

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drew the scientist

Ha.

 

The all white substrate will be awesome when honeypots with different colors move in! Still personally liking the...."not dirt" boxes you've got over these for some reason. Not sure why either. I'm going to be weird like that, sorry. 

For the lid there, how'd you (more or less) adhere the screen? Glue layer on the underside?


Edited by sgheaton, April 18 2017 - 5:47 AM.

"I'm the search bar! Type questions into me and I'll search within the forums for an answer!"


#233 Offline dspdrew - Posted April 18 2017 - 6:09 AM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

drew the scientist

Ha.
 
The all white substrate will be awesome when honeypots with different colors move in! Still personally liking the...."not dirt" boxes you've got over these for some reason. Not sure why either. I'm going to be weird like that, sorry. 

For the lid there, how'd you (more or less) adhere the screen? Glue layer on the underside?

 
It's held in by a snap-in frame.
 
med_gallery_2_295_737591.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_438926.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_1489760.jpg
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#234 Offline sgheaton - Posted April 18 2017 - 6:12 AM

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Awesome. Thank you. I just need to take some time again and reread all your stuff. 


"I'm the search bar! Type questions into me and I'll search within the forums for an answer!"


#235 Offline Keymo - Posted April 19 2017 - 3:47 AM

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Hi Drew! Do you have a thread that you regularly, or just to updates on your wood box design? Loving this entire thread, just found it this morning, but that wood box design is almost exactly what I've been imagining for my "ideal" Camponotus setup for over a year with all the technical things I never really thought of worked out. Would love to see updates and the ants progress as I, without a queen yet, have a long, long time to go before I get to enjoy something like that of my own. Haha!



#236 Offline dspdrew - Posted April 19 2017 - 5:33 AM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Hi Drew! Do you have a thread that you regularly, or just to updates on your wood box design? Loving this entire thread, just found it this morning, but that wood box design is almost exactly what I've been imagining for my "ideal" Camponotus setup for over a year with all the technical things I never really thought of worked out. Would love to see updates and the ants progress as I, without a queen yet, have a long, long time to go before I get to enjoy something like that of my own. Haha!

 

The wood in that nest is mostly gone now. I haven't done any more work with the wood ones since, but I plan to.



#237 Offline PTAntFan - Posted May 14 2017 - 11:10 PM

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BoxBox brand. You can get them from the Container Store.

Rounded corners FTW.


PTAntFan----------------------------------Pogonomyrmex Californicus*****************************<p>I use the $3 Tower I made up. See it here.

#238 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 13 2017 - 4:13 AM

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med_gallery_2_295_24649.jpg
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#239 Offline Goldsystem - Posted June 13 2017 - 7:07 AM

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Jeez that's a lot, they look great though :D

Edited by Goldsystem, June 13 2017 - 7:08 AM.


#240 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 23 2017 - 1:07 AM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
Finished designing the large ones.
 
med_gallery_2_295_289362.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_418509.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_252377.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_295_382187.jpg
 
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