Did you enjoy catching ants a a child? Still a child? Want the ultimate setup with a complete natural simulation of a real environment? Tired of Uncle Sam's Ant farm's with limited possiblities? Want a colony in the 10's of thousands, not a couple of hundred?
Join the craze that is flooding Europe! Construct the ultimate Ant formicarium at home in just a weekend.
This instructable will guide you through the process of creating an Ant nest from Ytong and an attached foraging area.
Unlike many formicarium setups this unit is almost identical to what may be found in the wild.
The foraging area is located at the top of the ant nest, simulating a real world environment as closley as possible.
Your ants will not only move in quickly, they will also thrive due to the enclosures natural characteristics.
This formicarium comes complete with an automated irrigation system for the Ytong nest, it also has active humidity/temperature read outs via a wireless connection to a LCD screen on the reciever unit.
Join the craze that is flooding Europe! Construct the ultimate Ant formicarium at home in just a weekend.
This instructable will guide you through the process of creating an Ant nest from Ytong and an attached foraging area.
Unlike many formicarium setups this unit is almost identical to what may be found in the wild.
The foraging area is located at the top of the ant nest, simulating a real world environment as closley as possible.
Your ants will not only move in quickly, they will also thrive due to the enclosures natural characteristics.
This formicarium comes complete with an automated irrigation system for the Ytong nest, it also has active humidity/temperature read outs via a wireless connection to a LCD screen on the reciever unit.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
Chamber
Ytong- Autoclaved aerated concrete Purchase a pre-cast slab or alternativly create one from powdered product, such as plaster or gypsum. In other countries ytong may be branded Hebel blocks. You will find these at your local hardware / home DiY style store.
Product info http://www.xella-usa.com/html/us/en/products_and_applications.php
Carving implement- Dremel, tungstun carbide tipped 'score and snap' knife, screw driver.
Sandpaper of various grades
Set square
Flat head screw driver
Water based paint- A low VOC paint or one made with limited chemicals is preferred.
Product info http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_paints.htm
Paint brushes / foam
Plastic tubing- 3mm, 10mm approx 1m of each.
Solid plastic tubing- 3mm approx 30cm.
Assortment of connectors- To suit 3mm tubing.
Valves- To suit 3mm tubing.
Small container- For water reservoir.
Smaller container- For water trough.
Cable clips
Humidity / Temperature sensor- Wireless preferably.
Glass / Perspex- To suit front chamber face size.
Glass and masonry silicon
Cardboard- Larger than the surface of the ytong.
Foraging Area
Container with clear lid- Approx 40cm x 20cm
Sand for ground covering
Pebbles
Plants- Dwarf species with low water requirements are best suited
Most of these items should be available at your local hardware store.
Ytong- Autoclaved aerated concrete Purchase a pre-cast slab or alternativly create one from powdered product, such as plaster or gypsum. In other countries ytong may be branded Hebel blocks. You will find these at your local hardware / home DiY style store.
Product info http://www.xella-usa.com/html/us/en/products_and_applications.php
Carving implement- Dremel, tungstun carbide tipped 'score and snap' knife, screw driver.
Sandpaper of various grades
Set square
Flat head screw driver
Water based paint- A low VOC paint or one made with limited chemicals is preferred.
Product info http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_paints.htm
Paint brushes / foam
Plastic tubing- 3mm, 10mm approx 1m of each.
Solid plastic tubing- 3mm approx 30cm.
Assortment of connectors- To suit 3mm tubing.
Valves- To suit 3mm tubing.
Small container- For water reservoir.
Smaller container- For water trough.
Cable clips
Humidity / Temperature sensor- Wireless preferably.
Glass / Perspex- To suit front chamber face size.
Glass and masonry silicon
Cardboard- Larger than the surface of the ytong.
Foraging Area
Container with clear lid- Approx 40cm x 20cm
Sand for ground covering
Pebbles
Plants- Dwarf species with low water requirements are best suited
Most of these items should be available at your local hardware store.
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Congrats, continue giving us these instructables
Your's among the many stood out. All are great but your's I remember well and the "continue giving us these instructables".
I am strongly considering returning to the fold. Firstly perhaps I should reply to the many comments still left.
Thanks
EPIC
Great work, and a well written instructable.
What i like, is that it is not that hard to create. You obviously spent alot of time planning/building, and it was worth it!
Have you got some ants in there yet?
L