Formicarium - Tube Expansion

This is a set of useful parts that I use when the size of the current formicarium is not sufficient anymore.

It is designed for 160mm x 16mm test tubes and tubing with 14mm outer diameter.

Entrance

The entrance part has open holes for the ants to enter or exit the expansion.
7 test tubes can be inserted for the ants to enter.

Support

This part is used to support the back of the test tubes so that they all stay aligned and level with the entrance.

Spacer

The spacer can be used to fixate the distance between entrance and support so that the 160mm test tubes do not become loose all of a sudden.

Connectors

A collection of tubing connectors compatible with 14mm outer diameter tubing and the entrance part.

Terminators

Two different terminators can be attached to tubing so that the way is closed.

• a closed terminator
• a 2 part air terminator where you can put a mesh so that air flow is possible.

Vertical Mount inside an Arena

• Use a basic setup consiting of Entrance, Support and two Spacers.
• Add 2 MagnetMounts with 10 glued in magnets (10x2mm).
• Add 2 Direct-L parts to the bottom of Entrance and support
• Close Support with 2 DirectTerm
• Close the top of Entrance with a DirectTerm-Air + mesh + DirectTerm-Air-Ring
• Mount with 10 magnets from the outside.

Arena Expansion

• Use an Acrylic Box as an arena.
• Drill a 16mm hole into one of the sides using a step bit.
• Insert the Arena-Connector from the inside.
• Use the Arena-Conector-Ring to lock the connector in place.
• Use 14mm tubing to connect to other parts of an expansion.  
• Drill a 35mm hole into the lid using a step bit.
• Insert the Arena-Ventilation from the outside.
• Use the Arena-Venitlation-Outer-Ring to lock the ventilation part in place.
• Insert a mesh the size of the Arena-Ventilation-Inner-Ring.
• Use the Arena-Ventilation-Inner-Ring to lock the mesh into the ventilation part.