Clear tubing

[smashby]

Hi all,
just wondering if anyone knows of anywere in the uk that sells clear tubing fittings ie elbows and t junctions, were planning on tubing our atta colony out into another foraging area but would like all the tubing and fittings to be clar if possible, also planning on 60mm tube does everyone think this will be wide enough?

[Formica123]

That's too wide, isn't it?'maybe 30mm is better

[Leafcutter]

I have 52mm diameter tubing for the Atta highway in my set up.

I haven't tried this yet myself but will be doing. Basically I have some clear acrylic tubing where I can cut 45 degree angles using a chop saw and use Tensol 12 to bond them together, making a 90 degrees L joint which can be larger diameter than the tubing so that you can fit the tubing into the joint.

[Formica123]

Ah ok.

Webbs garden centre usually sell the stuff you need in the aquarium section

[Acromyrmexbob]

When doing a public display we have recently started to make our own fittings. Its quite easy really. You get PVC clear pipe, whose internal diameter is approx the same as the outside diameter of your clear acrylic tube. Use a heat gun and a pipe bending spring. You basically heat the pipe, bend it to the angle you want, cut off the section and use it as you would a normal fitting. Its very heap and it is clear. It is also very flexible because you are not stuck with 90 degrees or 45 degrees. Width wise the diameter we have in our displays is around 30mm outside diameter and 26mm internal diameter. That works well. We pay around £5 per meter for it when buying in bulk.

[smashby]

Ok Thanks

will look at mabye trying to make the corner fittings, and yeah will look at the 30mm tubing, will larger tubing make a difference negatively or will it just cost more?

[Formica123]

They will put fungus gardens I It as the colony progresses so both

[Acromyrmexbob]

Ok Thanks

will look at mabye trying to make the corner fittings, and yeah will look at the 30mm tubing, will larger tubing make a difference negatively or will it just cost more?

Yes they will fill it with fungus possibly. Tubing that is too large is expense for no benefit. When we are creating a 50m walkway the cost to the client would almost double were we to use really large bore pipe, again for no benefit.

[Jackie62]

I use 30mm clear tubing, from Amazon and about £5 per metre...works very well.

[Leafcutter]

I buy my tubing from this company:ClearPlasticTube. Postage is £10-£15 next day but I buy in bulk when I need it.