miszt: Ants & Vinegar (3. Dez 2007 20:45)

i'm contemplating adding Vinegar to the water around my island (Polych.dives), i've read lots about its ability to get rid of ants in the home, and i wonder if it might work to persuade them to move into their new basin...

Issue is, are the fumes of Vinegar toxic to ants, or just the acid in the liquid?

I dont want to kill my colony, just make their home 'unlivable', as the pump as blocked up 3 times already, and keeping the water clean is going to be impossible very very soon...eek! lol

If i do add it, it will be a gradual amount, i dont want the whole colony trying to move at once, as the tube isnt big enough, and they'll all end up in the water!

SteveUK28: (3. Dez 2007 21:07)

Miszt it has to be said.. im glad im not in your position right now.. Hope it all works out tho mate.

JimmyVe: (3. Dez 2007 21:28)

I'm not sure about that, as for as i know Vinegar is not toxic to ants. Anyone has experience with it ?

miszt: (3. Dez 2007 21:52)

I know that ants dont like it, in Africa u find peoples beds are standing in jars of Viniger, to keep the Driver ants out of their beds

I'm going to do a test tonight with a few workers, who will hopefully survive...

Purifier: (3. Dez 2007 22:13)

Good luck!
Cant you handle it with the temperature and the heat mat? Stuipid little things :lol: They have to move soon ^^

miszt: (3. Dez 2007 22:17)

yeah, the problem is, my filter keeps blocking up with all the soil they threw in, and the amount of rotting matirial is causing the water to turn into a sludge of algae :( I estimate less than 24hrs before they can walk straight over the water lol

Purifier: (3. Dez 2007 22:19)

:lol: then you have some Moses ants. But he seperates the water ^^
Than you have jesus ants :lol:

Okay enough of kidding ;) Try with some and give us an response....

miszt: (3. Dez 2007 22:58)

lol :P

well i've got a few ants in a tub with a bit of vinegar in a small container, if they are not dead tomorow morning, I will add vinegar to the island water

CapitalO: (4. Dez 2007 02:47)

Vinegar (acetic acid) is very similar to formic acid chemically and probably has a lot to do with them avoiding it. I would guess it's really irritating to them, but not poisonous.

I would try adding copper sulfate to the water (in very low conc.) to prevent algae growth. Most aquarium shops will carry copper sulfate.

miszt: (4. Dez 2007 19:18)

well I tried it out, and the 2 ants survived the night, so i've put about 200ml of vinegar into the water, lets see what happens...nothing yet......

at least the acid will hopefully disuade them from going near the water for a while, it absolutly stinks of egg now tho, think its reacted with sumthing lol