Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was wondering if anyone has opted to use plumbing that is not PVC based? I've done a little reading about PVC and the potential dangers that exist when using PVC for a number of different applications. I know that firefighter associations in the USA have supported legislation to phase out PVC completely because of the additional hazards that PVC can pose in residential and industrial fires.

I'm a bit concerned that PVC pipes in direct sunlight for vertical towers could leach chemicals into a system.

The recommended plastic alternatives are HDPE and ABS pipes. They seem to be almost identical in price to PVC when you're looking for 3" and 4" pipe. I've thought about cutting up some 4" x 10' ABS pipe for some vertical towers.

Does anyone have experience with ABS or HDPE piping in an aquaponics system? If so how's the durability? Does it cut up as well as PVC?

It was my understanding that it was only the chemicals in PVC that make it flexible that are an issue. The hard PVC pipes are quite safe, just don't set them on fire..

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7399&hilit=Pvc

Enjoy

Do you guys just remember all these threads or bookmark them or something?

Usually just remember them.

Then you search for PVC, and it pops up.

I think the yellow highlights give this one away.

If in doubt use the search box.

Its very rare that new subjects come up here at BYAP. Theres 8 years worth of topics and discussions and you can almost guarantee if you have a question, it will be in here somewhere, just sometimes the answers are hidden amongst other topics. But most of the main ones have their own title.

The best way to use the search engine is to search the word your after and check the box 'topic titles only' and check the box 'display in topics' or use google to search the same word and add backyardaqaponics.com.au to the end of it.

So 'PVC' for example my search results look like this..
search.php?keywords=PVC&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=titleonly&sk=t&sd=d&sr=topics&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

79 matches with PVC in the title. I remembered we had discussed it before so I just clicked on the relevant thread and then copied the link and posted for you.

Make the search button your friend.