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trevstonbury: Drainage pipe and moisture question (13. Sep 2011 12:50)

Afternoon all,

Just a couple of questions that hopefully somone here can help me with :-).

Drainage Pipe
I have a drainage pipe for my farm and have read that you should put cotton wool at both ends (or just top im not sure) and place it into your farm so that it reaches the bottom. I know you have to put water down this, but how much do you need to add to keep moisture to appropriate levels? I'm not 100% on the mechanics of how this works....

General moisture sand/loam
I read somewhere that its best to add some water and moisten the sand/loam before you add it over the top of your granulate in your farm and then let it dry and harden in the sun, is this correct?

Thanks again guys :-)

Shiver: Re: Drainage pipe and moisture question (13. Sep 2011 16:46)

Cotton wool at both ends of the drainage pipe, I actually use a rolled up bit of kitchen roll at the top as it's easier to remove with tweezers than cotton wool (you can't get your fingers in the farm) but depends on the size of your drainage pipe I suppose!

You need to work out moisture yourself, too much and you'll have condensation everywhere, too little is hard to see, but you should be adding some every week or two imo.

I've never read about wetting it before you put it in, that seems daft to me, it's easier to put it in dry say an inch layer at a time then use the round end of a pipette (you should get one with the kit?) to compact it down (you don't want it too loose). Then add water.

trevstonbury: Re: Drainage pipe and moisture question (13. Sep 2011 17:02)

Thanks Shiver! Good advice as always :-)

Yeah I have a pipette, do you need to let it dry and solidify before its ready for the ants?

Shiver: Re: Drainage pipe and moisture question (13. Sep 2011 17:28)

Not especially, so long as it's not flooded! They will take a while before they move in there anyway ;) perhaps months