PVC Questions

daveedka

daveedka

Purple is the color of Royalty
Jan 30, 2004
3,822
0
0
56
Columbus, ohio
I know PVC is safe to use, and have used it extensively, I have a question about glueing PVC for my tanks. Is there any problem with PVC cement in the aquarium? In the past I have always just pressed it together, but am thinking of a couple of projects that would require cemented joints and thought I'd ask before I did this. obviously I would clean and rinse it well afterwards, but didn't know if the cement left any nasty residue that would be a problem in a closed system.
Dave
 
Never cause a problem in any of my SW setups. I don't even worry about letting it dry completely or rinsing--just clean the PVC, glue, and plumb.
 
PVC is safe regardless of color.

The black piping your seeing is likely ABS, as Ive never seen black PVC stocked in a home depot/lowes before.

ABS too is perfectly safe in aquariums, as things like Mag drive pumps or the overflows in all-glass tanks are made of it.

in any case, its recommended that you wash the pipe to rinse out any dirt and contamiments before you put it in the aquarium, and if your using cut pieces, to try to remove the little bits that cutting leaves behind before putting it in the aquarium. Those little bits of PVC or ABS will float to the surface and a fish could mistake it for food.
 
I use lots of PVC/CPVC in and around the tanks - prime, cement, join. Air dry 2-3 hours (the truly anal among us read the directions: my brand of cement say do not pressure test before that, good enough for me even if I do not pressure test), then rinse and use. A couple of links cannot be removed w/o cutting, so were capped with bored caps and rinsed in place. Did one today - only it cured longer before the rinse hook-up. Back in full operation tonight.

I've never used black - is it potable water safe? If so it should be fine.
 
ABS or PVC

When looking at the plumbing in my 'house' the builders used white pvc for fresh water delivery to the misc. faucets and used black abs to connect the drains to their respective waste drains be it storm or sewers. uhmmm. was the strenght of the material and bonding agent the only determining factor when deciding which material to use for the respective expected working pressures. white PVC = higher working temps and presurre then the black abs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom