345 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Where exactly do you find the cylinders for this?

 
I get them from a place called W.G.V. International, about 20 minutes from where I live.
 
 

About that mold experiment from earlier - wood has anti-microbic/anti-fungus substances in itself. Wood is dead material which means the tree can't really react if it gets infected so it has to deposit substances inside it before the cells die. By sterilizing it you may very well wash out or destroy these substances.
Also while working with wood clean hands and clean equipment are VERY important. Most of the mold is actually brought in when the wood is worked on.

 

Yeah I concluded the main reason wood molds so bad after sterilizing it, is the lack of springtails and other organisms that feed on fungus.

[Serafine]

Most likely the moisture brought into the wood during sterilization has also something to do with it. You'd need to intensively dehydrate it after cleaning, like leaving it in a room with an air dryer for several weeks.

[FSTP]

Most likely the moisture brought into the wood during sterilization has also something to do with it. You'd need to intensively dehydrate it after cleaning, like leaving it in a room with an air dryer for several weeks.

Perhaps placing the wood pieces in a desiccant would be more effective. Something like a silica gel

[dspdrew]

It's not hard to dry wood out to get rid of fungus. What's difficult is keeping it wet without fungus. Springtails solve that problem.

[sgheaton]

Yeah....your cylinder looks of better quality compared to MSCDirect or Home depot. Is it glass?! 

[dspdrew]

Yes it's glass.

[sgheaton]

Dang son, love it. ....guessing....$180? 

 

....................did you move the responses/threads around???? 

[dspdrew]

Dang son, love it. ....guessing....$180? 

 

They're actually not that expensive--around $25 if I remember right. They are not as thick as they look. The very top and bottom are about 3/8" thick, but in the center they are only about 1/16" thick. They also have imperfections, as they are actually hand-made.

 

 

....................did you move the responses/threads around???? 

 

Say what?

[sgheaton]

Dude I don't know. I come into work early morning and go through the site. It was one of those I thought I posted it over in this thread...but now its over in this one...when in all reality I think it was just a different page. But $25 dollars for a giant glass cylinder?! Where the heck are you getting/finding that! I was getting quotes for the "window pane" version, but slightly larger, and that was $160. Pretty sure the acrylic tube I've got was $60.... They do look mega thick. Handmade...who cares? Those be perfect for anting! I can't wait to see your bigger colonies get to work in them. 

[dspdrew]

Acrylic tubes that large are VERY expensive. In general acrylic is much more expensive than glass. I get the vases from www.WholesaleGlassVasesInt.com.

[Miles]

Where can I find these?

[Alabama Anter]

Yeah, I would be interested in that as well!

[sgheaton]

First of all... Micron is different from Mesh. It's very easy to mix the two up. Micron refers to the internal diameter, "how easily things can pass" through if you will. 

Can't find my notes ..but I believe it was said that, "No ant can pass through 100micron screen." That being said, check amazon. It's looking cheaper than it was before that I was resorting to eBay. 

 

100 mesh would have 150Micron which would be overkill, but you use what you can. 

 

Edit:

A comparison chart! http://www.netafimus...h-vs-Micron.pdf
 

Also leaving my stupidity from before because that's how we all learn! Mesh actually refers to "How many openings are there in an inchXinch segment."

Edited by sgheaton, March 6 2017 - 11:50 AM.

[noobkeeper]

Can't find my notes ..but I believe it was said that, "No ant can pass through 100micron screen."

 

Does this also apply to ants' brood? I mean, in a formicarium design of mine I'm going to use a 150 micron (100 mesh) mesh as the floor of the nest to allow humidity to pass through. Can I do that, or do I risk some eggs falling down?

[sgheaton]

You know, I'm not sure. Good question. I would think you're fine... But I'll wait for someone who uses it with many species and actual experience to comment.

[dspdrew]

Where can I find these?

 
https://www.mcmaster.com

[SoySauce]

Hi drew, would you be willing to sell one of the rotten wood set ups? My dad and I are very fascinated by this set up and would love to purchase one with a camponotous queen or any other tree ant if possible.

[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.

 
I tried using some silicone pigment for the first time, and I like how it turned out.
 
I have some black ones now.
 

[drtrmiller]

You must be really proud of these plugs to have double posted them like this!

[dspdrew]

Well the black ones have nothing to do with my fungus grower formicarium, and without some context here, this post might not make much sense. Plus, this information should be on both of these threads.

 

Edit: I guess until I make my next post, people still wouldn't have any idea what the black ones are for.

Edited by dspdrew, March 19 2017 - 2:58 AM.