PVC Tree and 1 gallon plastic jug ideas

Going build some artificial pvc trees. 5 gallon bucket of cement a chain from bucket to a 4" PVC pipe. I'm gonna put 1/2" drip tubing through the 4" trunk and cit the 1/2" about 4' lengths to simulate branches. These trees will be either 5' tall or 10' tall depending the location in the lake. I am wondering what is the best thing to use for flotation. I will be making a lot of these trees so something expensive will not work for me. I have the opportunity to buy some new 1 gallon attic jugs for .57 a piece with the screw caps. Here is a pic of the jugs I was thinking I would have to use 3 jugs per tree to keep them up but not sure! Any other ideas for flotation??
20141204_093218.jpeg

How about a picture of the tree? You could probably ask a couple local restaurants to save you some jugs.

Am not certain how much water pressure they can take. Some one a while back used yellow radiator fluid jugs at about 15 fow and later snagged 1 with their anchor, brought it up to clear the anchor and noticed it was flattened and had algae growing in it. Air readily compresses; water does not. Might want a stouter stiffer container OR as silly as this sounds try ping pong balls assuming you can get enough if them. The Myth Busters used them at 20 fow to refloat a sunken sailboat and they WORKED...wonder if the Styrofoam packing peanuts would also work inside the container? DO know from Myth Busters a sealed air filled standard 55 gallon drum is mashed flat and collapses from the water pressure due to it`s large surface area at 9-11 fow even though it`s made of steel. Was amazed to discover that a 6" ball made of the strongest steel ever devised with a 1" hollow center hole dropped in the ocean at the standard average depth of 10.000 fow will violently IMPLODE due to water pressure well above the bottom. That`s 5" of the toughest steel known to man popped like a balloon...

I have had good luck filling the jugs with expanding foam, it will not collapse and very buoyant.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JayDeb

I have had good luck filling the jugs with expanding foam, it will not collapse and very buoyant.

---

Now that's a good idea. I've them in fishing buoys, just drill a hole, fill, and let expand. Trim off excess and good to go.

Should work...just let it dry thoroughly 1st.

Also seal the hole where you fill the foam. foam will take on water after a while under pressure. Dave

Also seal the hole where you fill the foam. foam will take on water after a while under pressure. or just fill from cap and use a silicone caulk in the threads to fully waterproof. Dave

I built 2 of these used with 4" well casing and 1" poly... I also ran rebarb through the bottom of the bucket so the tree would have better stability on the bottom... Floated both with 1 gallon jugs. Tie your jugs off with stainless wire too... The water won't eat it up as quick.