R5 Absorbent Concrete Fourmiculture 500g

Description

R5 absorbent concrete, an innovative recipe developed for the manufacture of artificial ant farms.

Allows for the creation of artificial ant farms or mineral slabs as a healthy, natural nest with excellent moisture conduction.

Create your own ant farm by pouring into a container, using silicone molding or any other creative method to obtain a natural, healthy and original result.

Suitable for pouring a 3-4mm slab at the bottom of a plexi nest to make it healthier and more humid.

Created and used professionally by Fourmiculture to improve the health and management of our breeding stock.

 

The advantages of our recipe:

• Developed specifically for ants, its qualities are controlled for optimal results.
• Absorbs moisture remarkably well, superior to resin-coated plaster, over a minimum continuous thickness of 8 to 10cm.
• Microporous for rapid moisture exchange, breathable and absorbent.
• No artificial additives, 100% natural, healthy and ecological materials. Zero Volatile Organic Compounds.
• Very light dry tint for good contrast
• A wet tint that changes sharply towards dark beige to measure humidity.
• Exceptional precision for molding, allows for extremely detailed impressions.
• Good fluidity for concrete, facilitates molding.
• Also suitable for plexi nest tiles only 3 to 4mm thick.
• Naturally limits the proliferation of mold.
• Designed and made in France .

 

The origin of our research: Since the 2000s, mixtures of cement, sand, and various absorbents have been made by hand to construct ant farms. Existing mixtures, such as non-absorbent "reconstituted stone" with varying qualities, are also used. Achieving absorption capacity and the ability to change color between light and wet is crucial and delicate, as is ensuring a solid, healthy, easy-to-use, and sufficiently fine mixture, otherwise the colony risks being lost if the result is not satisfactory. Ants are not guinea pigs.

We therefore conducted our research and trials from early 2021 to the end of 2022 with the participation of materials specialists and engineers. After the theoretical development, five recipes were tested to obtain this final mixture, hence its name. We use it to manufacture our own "bamboo" tubes with an absorbent concrete base to improve the growth of our colonies and to develop new ant farm designs. The R5 absorbent concrete provides a specific and consistent quality for the ants. The exceptional results obtained motivate us to develop new products based on this innovation, and also to make it available to our customers in its raw form.

 

A creative product to improve your chances of success: R5 Absorbent Concrete for Ants is a professional product offered to all our customers to unlock creative possibilities and reduce failures. We would love to see your creations. Please send us feedback with photos of your work; in return, we'll give you a €1.50 discount on your first box with the code: REVIEW150 🙂

Example of a completed project:

Composition: Special hydraulic binders including calcium carbonate (same chemical structure as marble, origin: France), white sand (origin: Fiji Islands), absorbent earth (origin: Japan).

Instructions for use:

1.  Fill a small container with water to less than half full.
2. Add our R5 absorbent concrete slowly by sprinkling it in until completely absorbed. No liquid water should remain on the surface.
3. Add a little more powder if the texture is too runny.
4. Mix with a utensil until a homogeneous and fluid mixture is obtained. A higher powder content increases the final strength but may reduce the fineness.
5. Pour it into the mold or container provided. Tap if necessary to smooth and spread the mixture evenly.

• Mixing time: 1 minute 30 seconds.
• Working time: Approximately 15 minutes before thickening.
• Demolding time: 8 hours.
• Complete hardening: Approximately 20 days.
• The mixture can be tinted using natural colorants (based on metal oxides) by mixing with the powder. Test beforehand to determine the desired shade.

These times are given at +20 °C, they are longer at low temperatures and reduced by heat.

Replaces absorbent mortar and reconstituted stone nests, allowing you to build your own ant farm and create an ant nest without buying cement. Available in a 500g tub. Ideal for home and classroom educational projects.