I am considering using papercrete to build planters that will 16 inches high and vary from 8 to 16 inches in diameter with the average about 10 inches. They will have to be heavy enough not to topple so I am planing on adding a ring at the bottom for stability.
Not having any experience with papercrete could anyone guide me as to whether it needs to be reinforced and/or mixed with bitumen as is suggested for ponds?
Also I am considering using it to build aquaculture/hydroponic tanks.
The tanks will be 6 x 4 x 32" which is 500 gallons of space filled about 80% of the way.
Obviously I will need to waterproof these and reinforce them. Any suggestions on the mix and the best way to waterproof would be appreciated.
One thing I have played around with is making a clay and sand mixture with crushed bamboo chips a few inches long and using bamboo as reinforcing. The test logs I made were about 10 inches or so long and 3 to 5 inches thick. They were very strong and lasted 3 years out in the rain.
The bamboo is hollow so using it as reinforcing kills 2 birds with one stone as it lightens the structure and increases the insulation as apposed to steel which does the exact opposite.
http://www.whisperingwindsbamboo.com/article3.html
GUIDELINES FOR BUILDING BAMBOO-REINFORCED MASONRY IN EARTHQUAKE-PRONE AREAS OF INDIA
http://www.usc.edu/dept/architecture/mbs/thesis/thesis_2002/shreemathi%20iyer..pdf
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