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Post by Joona on Apr 9, 2014 7:42:17 GMT
Got to say matey, that looks amazing! You truly are an inspiration to Atta keepers everywhere!
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Post by deansie on Apr 9, 2014 8:26:43 GMT
Hey Jamie , thanks mate , I live alone so makes it easier keeping my insects lol Adam Explains it lol, enjoy it while your single lol. It looks really cool, who needs tv with that to watch!
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 9, 2014 10:12:42 GMT
ha ha , not single but live alone and my partners in America so ants don't disturb them lol , they have termites to worry about over there : D
They have been cutting all night and most this morning , the long travel is keeping them occupied but they have took a liking to dumping there fungus waste in the nest water barrier which is making it a cleaning job everyday emptying it , glad I made it a easier situation to do.
Hey Mark , cheers mate : D its working a treat to be honest , looks good too , had my mom over yesterday , took her awhile to notice it so blends in good ha ha .
well guys my new acrylic pipes arrived today so this weekend I can glue , drill and finish of my Atta redesign and complete the garden chambers.
Small pipe is queen chamber where she will reside , followed by the larger sizes for increased gardens. They are larger then the currently used boxes so my colony can expand awhile before I need to reorder and make some more
ps. pipe diameter outside measurements are 80mm , 100mm and 150 mm
Adam
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 9, 2014 10:26:35 GMT
Not just a hobby with an ant enthusiast like you Adam, the work you put in to care for your Atta and the set up you're creating is also a labour of love.
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 9, 2014 10:30:17 GMT
Thank you Wood , actually I get great happiness from creating and building my designs and when the colony's flourish it makes it all the more humbling , I have always found it so remarkable to have a entire civilisation in ones care ha ha : D
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 9, 2014 10:46:40 GMT
I have always found it so remarkable to have a entire civilisation in ones care ha ha I totally agree with you, it still gives me a sense of awe and excitement to see ant colonies thriving in my home; and this is how I get my adrenalin rush after keeping ants for the past 52 years.
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Post by deansie on Apr 9, 2014 11:44:35 GMT
Mint Adam, can I ask what you use to drill the holes in your plastic?
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 9, 2014 13:10:54 GMT
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Post by Joona on Apr 12, 2014 8:13:38 GMT
So am I right in thinking your putting the fungus in the tubes?
I wish I was allowed to even think of something like that rope walk way lol, my wife still gets creeped out watching them walk through the tubes and freaks out at the odd escaper or two (from a sealed tank!!!).
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 14, 2014 7:48:15 GMT
Well guys I have finished the second stage of my leaf cutting ant set up, Should answer your question Mark
I set to work gluing the bases to my acrylic pipes , making sure they were weighted down to increase the tightness of the bond.
Once all set 24 hours later I had some rather nice looking containers to house the fungus gardens.
I then drilled the holes and attached the acrylic collars for joining the tubes. I then added a magnetic strip about 5 mm in width around the top of each container , this was used because its rather tough and has a sticky side which is rather strong and allowed me to secure it in place, this black trim not only looks nice but also keeps the glass lids in place.
I then cut some short pieces of acrylic pipe for joining the containers and made sure to fit the one coming from the queen container with the metal bars as in my previous set up, this keeps her to one chamber and allows me to keep track of her.
I checked the set up fitted into my heat box and all was ok and ready for the ants. It was a rather nice day outside on Sunday so I decided it would be beneficial for me to transfer the ants to there new set up outside , the colony is rather large now and the coolness of outside made transferring them easier as the workers were more sluggish. The soldiers were huge and were easily picked up and put in with the gardens.
It took about 30 minutes to move all the fungus gardens into the new containers, The queen was found and her garden put in the end container , I also boosted her garden with some of the other gardens due to her container now having ample room.
I must admit , I am rather proud of how it has all turned out,
All the gardens in place and the set up isn't even full , plenty room for expansion and even room for a completely new garden up the front.
The picture below you can just make out the queen , swarmed by workers they clean and guard her.
One of the gardens , the ants were quick to settle down and start reconstructing the gardens.
Well that's my new set up complete , will do some videos soon.
Adam
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 14, 2014 7:58:52 GMT
Oh I do like this latest development with your set up Adam. Clean and tidy, yet very practical and efficient.
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 14, 2014 8:09:18 GMT
Cheers Wood , exactly what I was going for : )
Adam
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Post by Driver Ant on Apr 14, 2014 8:18:01 GMT
Looking good
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Post by adamjames20 on Apr 14, 2014 8:29:39 GMT
Thank you Driver : )
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Post by deansie on Apr 14, 2014 10:14:48 GMT
Looking really great Adam, you definitely have the knack at producing nice set ups. Can I ask how much you think it's cost to produce the new set up? Excluding the ants and vivarium obviously
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