Works out to $12 per fish "tree". The cement isn't necessary, but I think it'll help
Average weight of each tree is around 30lbs

I made three trees from the following components
Three five gallon buckets with lids that snap on
200 feet of 1/2 inch PVC irrigation tubing
cut the tubing into 2 feet limbs for the base (about 25 limbs on the base) and 1.5feet sections for the lid limbs (about ten limbs on the lid) I cut the tubing with garden sheers
1/2 inch circular drill bit and electric drill (25 holes around the base and 10 in the lid)
1.5 inch circular drill bit to make a few big holes (two in the lid and three around the base)
gravel/rocks
50lb bag of quickrete (I used about half the bag)

instead of cutting each "limb" why not cut one long enough to go through 2 holes?

You could definitely do that, but it would be very hard work. In order to get the "1/2 inch " tubing into the 1/2 inch hole, I had to fold the end of the tubing length wise and with great force, pull the tubing through the hole. That tubing isn't going anywhere. I believe the "1/2 inch tubing" is the diameter of the hole (empty space) in the tubing, not accounting for the pvc itself. Accounting for the pvc material, 1/2 inch pvc irrigation tubing is more like 5/8 inch in total diameter.

You can see in some of the pictures how I had to pinch/fold the tubing ends to get them to fit. Also note the puckering around some of the holes and a tiny crack at one hole where I had to use a lot of force to pull the tubing into the bucket.

I had done some research prior to making the habitat, and several recommended using a 5/8 drill bit to make holes for the 1/2 inch tubing. It was easier to slide the tubing into a 5/8inch hole; and would work, but it wasn't as snug as I'd like.

I do something similar but used some old garden hose my neighbor was throwing away. I have also made them with the irrigation pvc tubing.

Very cool. I like the height on those

I made some out of regular 3/4" pvc, ive been told they will and they wont hold bass, anyresults from these?

vertical ones hold more crappie, horizontal layed over ones hold more bass.

Good to know. I also made some Lowe's bucket fish habitats to see if the fish care about home improvement store politics.

Looks great. Is the garden hose soft enough to snag a hook though? That would be my only hesitation.

more Ideas Just fill coffee cans with cement and you can chunk them up under boats ordocks..Also they fold down pretty nice so you can haul a bunch and people wont see them in your boat..

Update--the habitats are consistently holding bait fish, crappie, and bass in 20fow

Think soaker hose would hold up?

Soaker hose material is notoriously flimsy and tears easily.
It should work well for attracting algae and other bottom of the food chain critters(porous rough surface)
However, a hook could easily penetrate and get stuck in soaker hose material.

Makes sense. I have 200ft of the sorriest soaker hose money can buy. Nice fish attractors!

great thread
Lake Arlington is way down
I am going to put some out behind my Dads house