Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Now I'm really confused.

Could somebody doing barrelponics explain about safety considerations they took when setting up? If I was to go to the shop and buy some large plastic containers, would there be a danger? I can't recall seeing 'Food Grade Plastic' ever written on a container.

why was nitric acid containers deemed bad?

Think it had something to do with cleaning them out Steve...

About the plastics, besides the barrels and wheelie bins, I see a lot of other plastics being used including black plastic sheets and other stuff found in hardware stores.

Is all this stuff safe? I've bought a cheap garbage bin, it has a strong smell when I bought it, but seems OK now (probably because it's full of water). How concerned should I be?

I had all the same questions when I first started building my system.
No simple answer.
My system is now full of plastic.
I use the following rules

If its is plastic
AND
a) it smells bad
OR
2) it is black
Don"t use it

Based on no science what so ever!

HDPE would be the best

LDPE would be next.

certified potable would mean that the plastics were virgin stock and probably had been tested AFTER manufacture to ensure no contaminants.

best you can hope for is a container made from non recycled plastic.

But i'd definatly stick to the PE (HD or LD)

If you go for recycled blue drums then pick one that wouyld have required "food grade" to begin with, for example i got ones containing evening primrose oil...........

How's the PMT going Steve?

Thanks, so my cheap black garbage bin with the bad smell is out. Now I understand why I don't see black polypipe on systems. I'm guessing the polypipe is a no-no? BTW, what is PE type plastic?

hdpe is High-density polyethylene
and Low-density polyethylene
or go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LDPE

The black pipe is PE. The concern is regarding the non virgin nature of irigation type hose which is not intended for food grade purposes (as opposed to say the blue line stuff which is used in plumbing - but you wouldn't use in AP due to the high cost of fittings).

I use some black irrigation pipe in my system to move water from pumps - but would not use it for heating water in a solar application for instance - if the water was going into the system.

Correct Rupe, hydrochloric acid wont hurt you - just ask steve It doesnt stunt your growth , but nitric acid is absorbed through your skin, and dissolves bone marrow afaik. Probably not real good

Plachon, the consensus seems to be that black poly is ok, as long is it is not heated. However that bin sounds bad. My black poly has no smell at all, even when new.

Blue drums are hdpe.

Hmmm but nitric acid H NO3 has a lot of nitrates (NO3-)

Of course it is a dangerous acid, able to do all sorts of unusual reactions with metals and about everything else.

But diluted? And neutralized? We could get some nitrates that way.

Its more the any splash eats you from the inside out thing that I dont like

Slowly killed from the inside out .....,, sounds like Marriage

Dang, I had better be more careful making nitrocellulose then