To the best of my knowledge the only 3-way 90 degree fittings that are
available are PVC. These fittings are made for making PVC lawn furniture and
are a bit thicker and stiffer than normal PVC fittings (Schedule 20 and
Schedule 40). The problem is that they are also more expensive than normal
fittings and not as strong as metal. The strength issue could be solved by
filling the entire frame structure with cement and letting it set up. I would
recommend using mortar mix so that you won't have gravel in the mix. You
could also add a bit of strength by slipping pieces of rebar into the pipes
before assembly.
Another suggestion that I just thought of...since it appears that you aren't
looking to create anything that is very deep and won't have a lot of pressure
pushing outward...you could just use rebar for your frame. Assuming that you
don't have access to a welder, the frame could be constructed using wire ties
like those that are used to tie steel together when pouring concrete footers
and such. If you made a prototype that was wired together and liked it, it
may be worth finding someone to weld future ones together for you. To keep
the abrasive surface of the rebar from cutting the liner material, the rebar
could be wrapped in pipe insulation (the cylindrical stuff with a slit down
the length) and then wrapped in duct tape. Not pretty but fairly cheap and
functional I would think.
Rob Denkhaus
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark
> Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2003 2:38 PM
> To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Subject: NANFA-- Building cheap fish containers
>
>
> I haven't read the list today, so I don't know if I'm missing
> anything recent, but I want to run this by all these smart and
> creative people while I'm thinking about it:
>
> I set up a kiddie pool last night I had bought earlier to use as a
> backyard fish container. It's a pastic canvas model with steel pipe
> supports. Looks like it was made in Brazil. I'm going to look into
> the cost of replicating this design with steel electical conduit and
> fittings, if I can find the pieces I need. Then throw some cheap
> liner material over it. I want to try this as a design for a
> raceway/mini-riffle for breeding darters and madtoms. Any good ideas
> for corner fittings to assemble lengths of steel conduit pipe into a
> box-shaped frame? I suppose iron plumbing pipe would work, but it
> has to be much more expensive than the conduit. I need a corner
> fitting that will accept conduit pipe at 90 degrees in three
> directions. In other words, two pipes for the horizontal supports
> and one pipe for the vertical support (and one of these assemblies
> for each corner of the pool). Alternatively, I could use 90 degree
> couplings, and then use "T" couplings nearby for the verticals. Does
> that make sense? Any ideas about what I can use for these couplings?
> Maybe these are common parts and I just need to go to the hardware
> store? Thanks!
> --
> Mark
> Ohio
> USA
> <))><
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/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org