DIY Ant Farm | D colony

Summary

In this educational video, the host guides viewers through the process of creating an ant farm using a mini fish tank, tile, and grout. After preparing the grout and setting it, the tank is oiled to prevent adhesion. The grout is then carved into hydration chambers and tunnels, with entrances for the ants. The ant farm is decorated and equipped with a PVA sponge for hydration. Despite the queen's death due to lack of mating, the video concludes with the host's intention to improve the ant farm's design and anticipates future occupants from nuptial flights or outgrown colonies.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The video is a tutorial on constructing an ant farm using tile, grout, and a mini fish tank.
• 🧱 The process begins with mixing grout with water for 10 to 15 minutes until it achieves a toothpaste-like consistency.
• ⏱ After initial mixing, the grout is left to set for another ten minutes to allow for a chemical reaction.
• 🍳 The fish tank is prepared by applying cooking oil inside to facilitate easy removal of the ant farm structure later.
• 🔄 Before applying, the grout is mixed again for five minutes to ensure it's ready for use.
• 🕒 The grout structure needs to dry for 24 hours before it can be handled.
• 🔨 The ant farm includes creating hydration chambers and tunnels, which are outlined with a pencil before carving with screwdrivers.
• 🌱 A small mountain is constructed as part of the decoration for the ant farm.
• 💧 Hydration is achieved using a PVA rubber, which is super absorbent and durable compared to ordinary sponges.
• 🔩 A hole is drilled in the tank for future expansion or cleaning, using step drill bits to prevent damage to the acrylic.
• 🐜 The ant queen is introduced to the farm, with the entrances initially blocked to encourage her to occupy the designated chamber.
• 😔 The queen ant unfortunately dies, possibly due to not being mated during her nuptial flight.
• 🛠 Adjustments are made to the ant farm to improve water retention, including placing a PVA sponge at the bottom of the nest.
• 📅 The ant farm will remain empty for now, with plans to introduce new colonies or queen ants in the future.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to demonstrate how to construct an ant farm using tile, grout, and a mini fish tank.

What is the first step in preparing the grout for the ant farm?

The first step is to mix the grout with water and stir it for 10 to 15 minutes until it reaches a toothpaste-like consistency.

Why is the grout mixture left to set for ten minutes after stirring?

The grout is left to set for ten minutes to allow the chemical reaction to occur, which is necessary for the grout to set properly.

What is the purpose of applying oil inside the fish tank before using it for the ant farm?

Applying oil inside the fish tank helps to prevent the grout from sticking to the tank, making it easier to remove later if needed.

How long does the grout need to dry before it can be used for the ant farm?

The grout needs to dry for 24 hours before it can be used to construct the ant farm.

What materials are used to create the hydration chambers and tunnels in the ant farm?

The hydration chambers and tunnels are created using a pencil for guiding, screwdrivers for carving, and a small plastic test tube for one of the hydration points.

Why does the video creator use PVA rubber for the hydration system instead of an ordinary sponge?

PVA rubber is used because it is super absorbent and more durable than ordinary sponges, making it ideal for the hydration system in the ant farm.

What is the reason for drilling a hole in the acrylic tank?

The hole is drilled for easier expansion or moving the colony to another tank, as well as for cleaning purposes in the future.

Why are the entrances of the nest blocked with cotton when introducing the queen ant?

The entrances are blocked with cotton to force the queen ant to occupy the small chamber designed for her, encouraging her to start her colony there.

What happened to the queen ant that was introduced to the ant farm?

The queen ant unfortunately died almost two weeks after moving to the ant farm, possibly due to not being mated during her nuptial flight.

What changes were made to the ant farm after the queen ant's death?

The creator decided to modify the hydration system by placing water at the bottom of the nest, which would be absorbed by the PVA sponge, to better retain water due to the limitations of the original pan.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Building the Ant Farm Structure

The video begins with an introduction to constructing an ant farm using a mini fish tank, tile, and grout. The process starts by mixing grout with water to achieve a toothpaste-like consistency, which is then set aside for a chemical reaction to occur. While waiting, the fish tank is prepared by applying cooking oil to its interior. Once the grout is ready, it is mixed again and allowed to dry for 24 hours. The video then moves on to creating hydration chambers and tunnels, using a pencil to make guides for the ant nest's entrances and hydration areas. The grout is carved to form these structures, and small plastic test tubes are used for additional hydration points.

05:06

🕰️ Completing the Ant Farm and Introducing the Queen

After an hour, the tunnels are completed, and the focus shifts to creating a small mountain for decoration. The narrator then discusses the use of PVA rubber for hydration, which is more absorbent and durable than ordinary sponges. The ant farm is assembled with a hole drilled for future expansion or cleaning, using step drill bits to prevent damage to the acrylic. Sand is added, and a plastic test tube is used for an alternative hydration method. The video introduces a queen ant that was caught during quarantine, which is placed in the ant farm with cotton blocking the entrances to encourage her to occupy the chambers. Unfortunately, the queen dies two weeks later, possibly due to not being mated. The narrator decides to make changes to the ant farm's design to improve water retention.

10:08

🔨 Revamping the Ant Farm for Improved Hydration

The final paragraph outlines the narrator's plan to improve the ant farm's hydration system by placing water at the bottom of the nest, which will be absorbed by a PVA sponge. The sponge serves as the hydration media, and a bottle cap is used to elevate the nest. The ant farm is temporarily empty but is expected to be occupied in the coming weeks as ant colonies outgrow their test-tube setups or new queen ants establish their colonies. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to like and share the video, and the narrator signs off, looking forward to future videos.

Keywords

💡Ant farm

An ant farm is a specialized habitat designed to house and observe ants. It is a central theme of the video, as the creator constructs an ant farm using a mini fish tank, tile, and grout. The script describes the process of making the ant farm, emphasizing the importance of hydration and tunnel systems for the ants' survival and activity.

💡Grout

Grout is a type of cementitious material used to fill the gaps between tiles. In the context of the video, grout is mixed with water to create a toothpaste-like mixture for constructing the ant farm's structure. The script details the preparation process, including the necessary stirring and setting times.

💡Hydration chambers

Hydration chambers are essential components of the ant farm that provide water to the ants. The video script describes creating these chambers using a small plastic test tube and PVA rubber, which is super absorbent and durable. The hydration chambers are crucial for maintaining the ants' habitat and ensuring their survival.

💡Tunnels

Tunnels are the pathways that ants create for movement and transportation of food within their colony. The script mentions carving tunnels using screwdrivers, which are an integral part of the ant farm's design, allowing the ants to navigate and perform their natural behaviors.

💡Fish tank

A fish tank is repurposed in the video as the base for the ant farm. The script describes preparing the tank by applying cooking oil to its interior, which is a technique used to prevent the grout from adhering permanently to the tank, allowing for easier maintenance or relocation of the ant farm.

💡Cooking oil

Cooking oil is used in the video as a release agent when preparing the fish tank for the ant farm. It creates a non-stick surface that facilitates the removal of the hardened grout structure from the tank. The script mentions this as a practical tip during the setup process.

💡PVA rubber

PVA rubber, mentioned in the script, is a super absorbent material used for the hydration system in the ant farm. It is more durable than ordinary sponges and is used to maintain the moisture levels necessary for the ants' survival, as illustrated by the script when setting up the hydration media.

💡Drilling acrylics

The script describes the process of drilling a hole in the acrylic fish tank for future expansion or cleaning. It emphasizes the use of step drill bits and a slow drilling speed to prevent breakage, which is a critical step in modifying the tank for the ant farm's needs.

💡Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers are used in the video for carving the tunnels in the grout structure of the ant farm. They are essential tools for creating the ants' pathways and chambers, as detailed in the script when the creator is making the entrances for the nest.

💡Queen ants

Queen ants are the reproductive females of an ant colony. The script discusses the introduction of a queen ant to the ant farm, which is a significant event as it marks the beginning of a new colony. The queen's role is to lay eggs and expand the colony, but the script also mentions the challenges of ensuring a queen's survival and fertility.

💡Nuptial flight

A nuptial flight is a mating event for ants, where winged ants leave the nest to mate and potentially start a new colony. The script references capturing a queen ant after her nuptial flight, which is a critical moment for establishing a new colony in the ant farm.

Highlights

Introduction to constructing an ant farm using tile, grout, and a mini fish tank.

Mixing grout with water for 10 to 15 minutes to achieve a toothpaste-like consistency.

Allowing the grout to set for 10 minutes for the chemical reaction to occur.

Preparing the fish tank by applying cooking oil to prevent adhesion.

Re-mixing the grout for an additional five minutes before use.

Letting the grout dry for 24 hours to set properly.

Creating hydration chambers and tunnels with pencil guides.

Designing entrances for the ant nest and a hydration pan.

Using a small plastic test tube for the second hydration chamber.

Carving tunnels and chambers with screwdrivers.

Creating an entrance for the hydration chamber.

Completing all tunnels in an hour.

Building a small mountain for decoration.

Using PVA rubber for super absorbency and durability in hydration.

Drilling a hole in the acrylic tank for future expansion or cleaning.

Adding sand to the ant farm for a natural environment.

Using a small plastic test tube as an alternative to PVA rubber for hydration.

Introducing a queen ant to the ant farm to start a colony.

Blocking nest entrances with cotton to encourage the queen to occupy the chamber.

The queen's death due to not being mated during her nuptial flight.

Modifying the ant farm to improve water retention with a PVA sponge.

Drilling a hole for hydrating the nest and elevating it with a bottle cap.

Hydrating the nest with the PVA sponge and preparing for future ant colonies.

A call to action for viewers to like, share, and support the video.

Transcripts

welcome to D colony in today's video we

will construct an ant farm using tile

grout and a mini fish tank so let's get

started first we will mix the grout with

water and stir it for 10 to 15 minutes

or until we got the toothpaste like

mixture

[Music]

and after that we will let it set for

another ten minutes for the chemical

reaction to happen

while waiting we will prepare the fish

tank

[Music]

we will prepare the fish tank by

applying oil inside it and by the way

I'm using cooking oil here

[Music]

now our grout is ready for the last time

we'll just need to mix it again for

another five minutes

[Music]

[Music]

we will just let it dry for 24 hours

here's how it looks

[Music]

some of the edges had slightly cracked

while I'm removing it from the tank but

that's no big deal let's continue making

the hydration chambers and it's and

tunnels and for that we need to make

some guide using a pencil

[Music]

this part here will be the entrances for

the nest

[Music]

I'll also make a small pant here that is

connected to the nest for hydration for

the second hydration I'll be using a

small plastic test tube placing it here

let's finish this guides

[Music]

now it's ready for carving amusing old

screwdrivers in carving what animals

[Music]

let's make the entrance for this chamber

[Music]

it will be look like this now for the

hydration let's connect it to the small

band in the out world more guides

[Music]

after an hour I'm glad all the tunnels

are finished

[Music]

time for the small mountain

[Music]

and it's done now it's ready for some

decoration

[Music]

that looks better

for the hydration I'm using PVA rubber I

think this one normally used in car

washing this one is super absorbent and

more durable than ordinary sponge out

there

[Music]

okay time to put it back to the tank

[Music]

[Music]

I will now drill a hole here for easier

expansion or moving the colony to

another tank or for cleaning purposes in

the near future just remember in

drilling acrylics you need to use step

drill bits to prevent breaking the glass

and take note we don't want to do it in

full speed just go the slowest that you

can that will help a lot to prevent

breakage

[Music]

let's add some sand

[Music]

we will use this small plastic test tube

for this hydration you can used Cotton's

if you don't have this PVA rubber

available

[Music]

and were done I'm excited for our poly

rockers Queen that I caught a week ago

in our cellar

during the enhanced community quarantine

as you can see all the entrances of the

nest are blocked with cotton to force

the Queen to occupy these small chamber

here to start her colony this chamber of

the nest is also designed for semi

claustral Queens because they can go out

teni time to hunt for food in the out

world and take it back to the nest to

consume seems she's also excited to go

out after a week living in this test

tube setup come on

[Music]

there you go

let's cover the nest to attract the

Queen to nest over here

but unfortunately the Queen died almost

two weeks after moving here in the forma

carrion I think she died because of not

being mated during her nuptial flight

that's sad

but sometimes it's normal to caught some

infertile Queens because of what

happened I decided to make some changes

to the form aquarium the pan can't

retain much water I'm kind of watering

it almost 20 times a day in two weeks I

can't make the pan bigger either because

we only have limited space in this small

form aquarium my plan is putting water

to the bottom of the nest that will be

absorbed by the PVA after washing it

with water let's put the hydration media

which is the PVA sponge

[Music]

I have drilled hole here where I'll be

using to hydrate the nest to have some

water below let's put this bottle cap at

the center to elevate the nest there we

go

[Music]

now let's put the day cause back and

hydrate the nest

[Music]

this ant farm will be empty for now but

will be occupied in the weeks to come

when my ant colonies outgrew their

test-tube setups or some queen ants from

their nuptial flights lands again to our

salad

[Music]

I just hope you have learned something

from this video guys be a genie for the

first time by granting my wish in

tapping the like and share button that

would help a lot this is D colony saying

goodbye for now but hoping to see you on

my next videos