Music. And proof-of-concept is achieved.

[kyrielle]

So far, not happy with the CD burning from that service I mentioned yesterday. As in, it failed partway through the first track. No, I don't really want just 1/3 of 1 track, thanx, 'k, drive on. But, it notified me there was an error, told me to check the CD, and to contact their customer support. So, I contacted their customer support (after dutifully checking the CD, but it's pretty well a no-brainer that a minute or so of recording time won't record 15 tracks). And, darnit, that was one of my 80-minute CD-R's, too. *sulks* Oh, well, we'll see what they say.

In the meanwhile, I went back to the fountain and played around with it some more. Using that many of the pipe pieces seemed horribly wasteful, even though that's how the instructions I got said to do it. "But," thinks I, "the plastic screening is relatively rigid - in fact, I selected it based on that attribute, figuring it had better be. So...."

Well, long story short: The bowl I'm using goes out at the edges and back in. The plastic is shaped to fit within that (incidentally, snapping that into place when water was already present was somewhat damp - and rather stupid). So, since I had bought elbows (because they were cheap), I tied 3 of them to the plastic (on the sides that wouldn't have the pump) and shoved it in. Then started dumping rocks on willy-nilly to increase the weight. Yes, supported by the bowl at the edges and the three (THREE, instead of like TEN) elbows and the pump, it will hold the weight of the rocks.

Took it back out. I need to find a better way to attach those three bits of pipe. Very glad I got elbows. I don't think glue will work well, because there's not going to be a lot of contact points - plus, not wanting to glue plastic canvas, that whole 'has holes' thing making it sound like a pain. So, probably need to find some sort of waterproof way to tie it on. I don't think the embroidery floss I used for the experiment is going to last, somehow, in actual use. But it did do nicely for a 5-minute trial run. :)

This will not only save on the cost of parts (net cost: under $1 for the plastic canvas in this case, 48 cents for the pipe parts), it also means yet more room for water, even if the other pieces weren't displacing much.

Color me mostly pleased. Now to figure out something that's waterproof but can be used as a relatively-rigid tie, and will fit through fairly narrow plastic mesh without cutting the mesh. If possible. If I have to, I'll use the securing ties used for computer cords and cut the mesh, but that sounds like a massive pain. There has to be a better answer.

Comments

[pelogrande.livejournal.com]

I can't really tell how small the holes are in that picture you put up, since there's no real scale, but would small zip ties work? Alternatively, I've noticed that some of the electronics I've bought lately have come with round, plastic covered twist ties. Maybe those?

[kyrielle]

Maybe, if the plastic completely encased the metal.

The squares are small - maybe large enough to pull a yarn needle through, but just barely. And they're not actually square - the round canvases taper in. At the inner area, you couldn't get the yarn needle through, but I don't need a pipe under there, so.

[rauros.livejournal.com]

How about dental floss? In principle that should be water proof.

[kyrielle]

My mother suggested that as well. I'm EXTREMELY dubious that it's constructed to last weeks, months, or years immersed in water, however.

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

Fishing line or other monofilament thread.

You can get extremely fine gauge clear monofilament at fabric stores (some people use it for quilting). It's as fine or finer than standard sewing thread, so it should go through the holes, it's nylon and therefore waterproof, and it is (or comes in) clear. It's not as strong as standard fishing line, but that shouldn't be a problem for what you're using it for. I used to use it for beading with transparent/translucent beads.