Is polypropylene aquarium safe?

I think you may be confusing polypropylene with something else. If anything I think vinyl and polyvinyl chloride (pvc) has a worse rep for carcinogens (check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloride ). As stated above by many posters, PP is found everywhere including many things intended for human consumption. I just opened up the fridge looking for PP. Most things clear are PETE, most things squeezable are LDPE or HDPE. PP is a bit more rigid. As suspected the first thing I grabbed was PP, yogurt cup. Look on the bottom by that triangle and you’ll see PP. Somehow I don’t think they would be using it for yogurt if it leached carcinogens (at least any more than any other food grade plastics). I continued looking, butter, cream cheese, and sour cream containers were all PP.
 
AndrewMack said:
Ok but better safe then sorry. another reason why i thought P.P wouldn't be fish safe because the water hoses for an RV do not have that chemical in it and thats what supposedly makes them safe for human consumption
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No hoses, garden, water tank filler, clear vinyl, heater hoses, etc, etc - polypropylene isn't pliable enough to use in hoses. Whoever told you that your garden hose leeches polypropylene is misinformed. What it does leech however are chemicals such as DEHP (di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate) that is used as a softening agent used in treating vinyl for applications such as IV bags, clear hoses and other pliable vinyl films, as well as other vinyl softeners used for other applications. There has been media concern about these chemicals, which are widely used, concerning environment and health effects.

Back on track, the only reason you don't see polypropylene used widely in the construction of tanks is because in it's purest form, it lacks the structural rigidity to sustain the weight of large volumes of water without succumbing to a bowing effect. It is used to store liquids commonly, but with the aid of circular structures, or reinforced containers(the liquid shipping totes with the plastic vessel inside of a metal cage.)
 
Clear vinyl comes in many potable applications and is considered pretty safe. Polyvinyl chloride has been the subject of debate for a while (PVC), as well as other vinyl products like siding and other building materials. But c'mon, there is PVC all around us, probably well over half of us have it as plumbing and alot as siding and flooring, etc. I wouldnt be more worried about using it in a fish tank then I am for myself. PVC involves many carcinogens throughout its life cycle, but debatable how much it will leach in normal use. Its the additives and plasticizers that could possibly leach out. PP is far lower on the potential health risk compared to vinyl products, but I've never heard of anyone worried about any of these for aquarium use.

As far as you having PP confused with something else, yeah I'd say you did, or atleast who ever you heard from did... You were talking about its use as a water hose in an RV and garden hoses... as far as I am aware there is no PP hose for applications like this, i.e. you dont have the choice because it doesnt exist. There might be some random hose or pipe made out of it somewhere (you can get plastic tubing made out of just about any type of plastic, like at USplastics.com) but by no means commonly available for the application. PP is just not as well suited for use as a hose.

I think though that eventually just about everything will have some level of toxicity to it. Its just a matter of the precision of our instruments. A while ago when we could only measure things to parts per million we found certain toxins and carcinogens. Then we found more when we could measure parts per billion, and more at parts per trillion, soon we'll be able to detect carcinogens in everything I fear.
 
I would have to agree with the rest of the posts. I wouldn't see an issue using it all.
loaches r cool said:
But c'mon, there is PVC all around us, probably well over half of us have it as plumbing and alot as siding and flooring, etc.
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Well paint used to have lead in it and that was all around us too. :p Well not me, but some of those older than me. Or how about asbestos?

But I agree. I wouldn't be too concerned with PVC.
 
Silicone hose, like polypropylene plastic, is inert. That's why it's used in food utensils like heat resistant spatulas and such.

PP is used in margarine tubs, yogurt cups and such. Polyethylene, both high and low density, is used in a variety of food container applications. The way you can tell is that PP is sort of rubbery, while PE plastics are kind of waxy feeling.

Only certain vinyl compounds are approved for close contact with food and water. Sometimes you see PVC type water pipe, but nowadays, you more often see PEX, which I think is a type of polyethylene tubing. You can pull it just like wiring and you don't have to worry about fittings except where you have your faucet.

I'd almost consider using PEX for filter tubing, as it's NSF rated and is commonly used for water supply tubing. I think it costs more than vinyl tubing, however, and it's much stiffer due to its greater wall thickness.
 
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