The Zantiks MWP unit helps standardise behavioural phenotyping in model organisms, such as larval zebrafish, Drosophila and Daphnia. To use the MWP unit you need a small space on your lab bench, a nearby power supply, and your own browser-enabled device (e.g., laptop, PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet etc.).
It is recommended that you read through ALL of the set up and operation manuals BEFORE using the Zantiks system to avoid damaging the equipment.
PLEASE NOTE: For MWP units purchased between March 2021 and March 2026, you will need to follow the instructions for the second generation (Z2 or Z2S) unit which can be found here in the MWP Z2 manual.
For MWP units purchased before March 2021, you will need to follow the instructions for the first generation (Z1) unit which can be found here in the MWP Z1 manual.
Zantiks MWP Z3 kit
- MWP chassis and top box. Integrated with:
- Zanscript (Zantiks proprietary scripting software)
- Computer
- Camera; interchangeable lenses: 1x standard and 1x varifocal "zoom" lens that gives a close up view
- Built-in features / stimuli
- Overhead and under-plate illumination, including:
- RGB LEDs (red 625nm, green 530nm, blue 460nm)
- White LEDs
- Ultraviolet LEDs (365nm)
- InfraRed LEDs (used for tracking)
- Diffuser plate to hold a multi-well plate
- Two types of vibration stimuli
- Stepper motor with control over strength, duration & frequency
- ERM vibration with high, medium & low settings
- Audio/sound output
- Overhead and under-plate illumination, including:
- A temperature control system (heater)
- A 12V power cable (100-240V ~ 47/63Hz input); plus local mains plug
- Zantiks router, power cable, and Ethernet cable
- A router is supplied with the first unit, this is typically a TP Link router with 4 LAN ports. The single WAN port is not used in the typical configuration and is taped over to stop it being used by mistake. Subsequent units can be networked to this router, using a network switch if necessary.
Behavioural studies in the MWP include:
- Locomotor activity
- Circadian rhythm monitoring
- Light/dark transitions
- Toxicity, phenotyping and drug screening
- Startle response; habituation and prepulse inhibition
- Optogenetics
Setting up the MWP top box
- Place the MWP unit on a stable surface close to a power socket and away from disturbances.
- Connect the ethernet cable at the side of the MWP unit, and plug this into any of the 4 slots available in the LAN section of the router.
- NOTE: the blue WAN socket has been covered. This socket should not be used and has been covered to discourage users from trying to connect using the WAN rather than the 4 LAN sockets.
- The remaining wires and cables will have been plugged into the top box prior to shipping. However, if any have come loose during transit, reconnect them as shown in the images below.
- NOTE: CN refers to one of the green ports which are numbered 1-4 on the top board and 1-8 on the lower board. There is a key attached to the side of the top box which can be referred to.
- Ensure all wires are connected to the green connection plugs securely. Please see the tutorial video on how to do this.
Internal lighting and ERM motors wire connections
- Insert the 12V power supply cable into the top left side socket of the MWP and plug into the mains.
- Turn on the router and the mains power to the Zantiks unit. Wait a few minutes for the MWP unit to power on.
- If you have only one Zantiks unit, the address will be 192.168.1.101. The IP address is used to identify the unit on the Zantiks Control Console. The top box should be labelled with the IP address and the licence number. (The IP address is also included on your delivery note).
- Using any browser-enabled device:
- Go to your device’s network settings and connect to the wifi network “Zantiks_XXX” (XXX being specific to your lab and written on the delivery note).
- Type in the network password, which is initially provided as: behaviour, simply (this is also included on the delivery note).
- Your computer will likely come back with "connected without internet". This is correct since it is a local network, it does not provide internet access.
- Open a web browser of your choice, go to the address bar and type in the IP address for the Zantiks unit.
- The web browser should now display the Zantiks Control Console page.
NOTE: There is no on/off power switch on the system. Once you have finished working with the Zantiks system, to shut it down from the Control Console page, wait 20 seconds, and then remove the power cable from the mains. Reinserting the power cable will turn the system back on.
Temperature Control System - Assembly Instructions
This system is comprised of two components which moves ambient air through the unit. If/when required, the air can be heated to achieve a temperature above ambient room temperature by up to 10°C.
Components include:
- 1 x Temperature control heater
- 1 x Cover plate
The 2 components are screwed to the sides of the MWP unit, the temperature control heater is attached to the right hand side of the unit using the four 55mm M3 screws provided. The white cover plate is attached to the left hand side using the 18mm M3 screws provided.
There are 2 pairs of wires that come out of the temperature control heater. These are labelled FAN (with a 2 way green connector attached) and HEAT (with bare wires).
- The FAN lead should be plugged into CN1 or CN2 on the lower board.
- The wires labelled HEAT should be attached to the 5-way plug which already has the grey thermistor wire attached. The HEAT wires are screwed into the outer 2 holes of the connector, opposite the thermistor. The red cable attaches to the outside hole and the black cable goes in the inside hole. This is then connected to CN2 on the upper board.
The image below illustrates how the wires for the temperature control should look if wired correctly. Please refer to the Temperature control demo MWP page in the support section of the website for more detailed information on how to operate the temperature control unit.
Attaching the external LED assembly
The main components of the external LEDs include:
- Removable blanking plates attached to chassis
- External LED mounting plate (with choice of wavelength colour)
- Control circuit (Z2 loop) to plug directly into the MWP top box
- Connector cable to join the LED's to the Z2 loop
The MWP system comes with 4 ports in which the external LEDs can be attached: above and below the experimental chamber at the front and the back of the chassis. The procedure to attach the LEDs is the same no matter which position the external LEDs are installed.
The ports for the external LEDs come with a metal blanking plate. To attach the external LEDs, first remove the blanking plate via the two connected screws. Then install the external LEDs in this opening using the screws from the blanking plate.
The control circuit (Z2 loop) is plugged into the top box with the 4-way connector plugs in CN3A on the upper board, the 3-way connector plugs into CN4 on the lower board and the 8-way connector plugs into CN5 on the lower board.
The LEDs are connected to the Z2 loop via a connector cable. The white end fits into a port on the LED panel. There is only one way in which this cable will insert without force. The yellow adapter plug connects to the corresponding yellow adaptor plug connector on the Z2 loop.
Cables overview
The cables for all of the standard stimuli are summarised in the image below.
The unit's 12V power supply is in the top left; below this is the sound card (USB cable with white connector) and camera cables (USB cable with blue connector); and ethernet cable. On the lower right are the connectors for sound exciters for audio, the audio jack and audio power.
On the upper board, CN1 houses the power supply for the internal LEDs, CN2 is the heater and thermistor's cables. CN3A is the external LED loop connector's power cable & CN3B houses the ERM motor cable.
On the lower board, CN1 houses the power supply for the temperature control unit's fan. CN4 and CN5 are the external LED power supply and the loop connector. CN6 houses cables for under-plate and overhead UV LEDs, CN7 houses the cables for the under-plate RGB LEDs, CN8 holds the cables for the overhead RGB LEDs, respectively.
Turning on the IR lighting
Once connected to the Zantiks system via the IP address in a web browser, you will find the home console page. From here if you select "Live Video" in the bottom middle of the page, you will bring up the live camera feed.
When the MWP system is first turned on, the InfraRed lighting (IR) will be off. It needs to be turned on by running a Zanscript called "autostart.zs". This script will be pre-loaded onto the system and can be found under the Zanscript directory. An autostart script runs automatically when the Zantiks system is turned on. Zantiks MWP Z3 systems are shipped with the code for turning on the IR lighting on boot up (when power is applied).
The IR lighting should, therefore, turn on automatically and you will be able to see an image on the live camera view. If the autostart script has been deleted or adjusted, when the MWP Z3 system is booted up the live video will show up black.
Details on controlling the IR options inside the MWP Z3 system can be found in the Internal lights demo MWP Z3 page. Further information on how autostart scripts work and can be adapted can be found on the Autostart script page.
Assembling the Side Stand for Cuvettes
All of the Zantiks systems can provide a side view by simply rotating the system onto its side. Here we will describe how to set up the side view stand for cuvettes in the MWP:
1. Rotate the MWP system onto its side with the standard temp control facing downwards. Two foam supports are supplied to help raise the MWP to allow space for the temperature control.
2. Place the locator plate within the observation chamber of the MWP. It will fit between the left and right side of the chamber (top and bottom when the system is standing upright) and will hold the cuvette stand within the camera view.
3. Place the diffuser plate on the locator plate and to the left (the bottom when the system is standing upright).
4. Place the loaded cuvette stand on the locator plate to the right of the diffuser.
5. Cover with a foam door.
Once the side view stand for cuvettes has been assembled correctly into the MWP system you can build the arenas and zones asset. See the Asset building in the MWP page for instructions on asset building and for the script download.
Changing the camera lens
When higher magnification is required (e.g., measuring zebrafish embryo activity or up close work), the standard 4mm camera lens can be exchanged for the 10-50mm varifocal "zoom" lens.
To do this requires first changing a lens layer within the MWP Z3 chassis from the standard layer with a domed lens layer supplied with the MWP Z3 system as standard.
Once the layer has been replaced the camera lens can be changed from the standard 4mm to the varifocal lens. You will then be able to adjust the lens manually to change the level of zoom and your field of view.
The video below outlines how to set up the MWP Z3 for higher magnification and how to focus the image using the live view. To do this you will need to be connected to the MWP Z3 system and have the live video page open.
Setting up the MWP Z3 system with the varifocal lens for higher magnification
Next, go to the manual Calibrating you Zantiks unit, to see how to calibrate the unit in order to generate tracking assets.
