Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Following up on the other thread is there any alternatives to PVC?

Has anyone tried using copper piping for the plumbing for the GBs and FT?

cue everyone telling you how bad copper is.

have you tried searching the forum? theres a really nice search function. type copper in and see what you get.

Yeah i did search by copper but didnt see anything on the first page, i had a look more into it and see what you mean

I guess copper is out but i would love to see if there is anything else i could use.

Bamboo?

Wish i could

stainless steel?

HDPE
MDPE
PE
PEX
SS
FG
Ameron
Glass
Acrylic
Poly Carbonate
Chrome plated anything
Aluminium (Doubtfull)

uPVC as an alternative to PVC

NOT:
Copper
Brass
Alloys of Cu, Brass, Bronze, Sn etc.
Zinc

Cheers IanK

The black tubing you can get from Bunnings and other places, that is oft. used in gardens etc. with small "heads" that you screw into the pipe where you want a drip / spray etc. etc.

Is that suitable for piping?
EDIT:
This sorta stuff: http://lh5.ggpht.com/_nu8MnrzG0PA/Swkjr ... SET%5D.jpg

Thanks for the info Ian. I should clarify my question. Is there any alternatives that i can use in a AP setup that is as easy to use / affordable like PVC but i guess more than anything else safe

The black pipe is commonly known a poly pipe or ag pipe, the high pressure stuff is used for domestic water supply and is very expensive compared to the cheaper ag pipe which has a brown stripe (in Australia) it is very versitile as it comes in large rolls, bends around corners and the joints can be re-used as no glue is required. The joiners do cost a bit to buy.

Sometimes called funny pipe here also. It is cheap but hard to get in large diameters.

I use PVC pipe in combination with food grade flexible tubing that you can purchase at most hydroponic stores. It's pretty cheap at less than a dollar per foot. I've found that it allows for more system alterations than rigid piping that must be glued since the hydroponic tubing can uses a barb type connectors.

Just beware that small size tubing and then even smaller bore barb connectors will clog quickly. Just because 1/2" PVC might be the appropriate size for something, that doesn't mean the 1/2" poly irrigation pipe and barb fittings will do the same job as well.

But if PVC is so dangerous, why do we think that any of the other plastics are really going to be much better?

Vic the pipe is fine but the drippers clog up very quickly

The black pipe has been shown to off gas some nasties when it gets over a certain temperature in the sun... Ummm, why is it that we've decided PVC pipe is no good and an alternative needs to be found?