Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hard to modify then, I guess

One point that has not been mentioned is the history of PVC, I have been using it for fish plumbing since the early 70s, never had a problem with it, its also been used in human plumbing longer, again, no problems reported, and the ambulance chasers are foaming at the mouth waiting for something to sue corporations on.

So, from were I stand, PVC has a very decent track record.

Is there any alternatives to PVC? If not where can i get food grade PVC in syd?

As in?? ... tanks, growbeds??

There is only one proven link to all cancers, it’s called being born. If you haven’t died of cancer it’s simply because something else got you first.

For all the plumbing from tanks to growbeds.

Look for drinking water pipe in the plumbing departments.

Most of the real problems with PVC pipe and safety I understand have more to do with the manufacture and the pollution from such operations. Not necessarily with the actual use of the final product.

Of course the flexible pvc might be less safe as the chemicals (plasticizers) used to keep it flexible tend to escape over time and that leaching might not be so good. I know people who won't use the rain collected off from an Airformed structure (made from a PVC fabric that has plasticizers to make it flexible) for drinking because of the leaching.

So the 50mm/100mm normal PVC plumbing is ok? What does the BYAP use for its plumbing?

The only pvc I've heard people recommend against has been the foam core stuff and that is more about not using it for gravel guards and stuff where you drill tons of holes in the pipe and expose the foam to the water.

Any solid core pipe should be just fine and even the foam core stuff is probably fine for the standard plumbing where it is glued into fittings and stuff so the water isn't contacting the foam.

I don't even know that the foam stuff is bad, just no one could answer that it was indeed safe.

I'll let some one from BYAP answer about the PVC they use.

Plumber/husband says CPVC is for potable water in a pressurized system. He thinks PVC is fine for Flood & Drain AP systems. The water isn't sitting in the pipes.

PEX would need to be used if water was sitting in the pipes 24/7.

In Oz, we mainly use food safe uPVC (Unplastised) for pressure applications. We rarely see Plastised PVC for potable applications.

Actually in WA most of the plumbers have switched to a flexible hose for house water instead of copper due to cost. Fairly sure its not rubber so must be some sort of PVC.

What about the tubing you can get from Bunnings and other places for when you are water sprinkling system for a garden.

Is that type of piping suitable at all or not for these setups?

For my AP system:
I used Blue Striped HDPE (Black 'polypipe') and Plasson (TM) compression fittings for most of the supply pipe work (Also used it for our Mains water supply from the Meter to the House (copper) reticulation). Then uPVC pressure pipe (White, 25 nominal diameter) and Class 18 glued fittings for valve manifolds and the like.
I used 90mm diameter Grey or White uPVC Stormwater Pipe (Suitable for potable water i.e. used for supply pipes from rain water down pipes to tank storage), glued fittings, for non-pressure/gravity drainage pipe work.
Rural Grade HDPE and MDPE black pipe is also available for irrigation purposes, as is plastic (PE) pipe, in sizes from 12mm to 75mm, not to be used for potable water supply.
Plastic pipe (PE) and fittings for Drainage of waste ground water only are also produced, especially Slotted or Perforated Agricultural Drainage pipe (with or without surrounding membrane or 'sock') and fittings. Fittings are normally unglued and Blue to be able to be distinguished from potable water drainage and supply pipe work and fittings.

There have been no instances, that I am aware of, that have shown any health problems, in Oz, with PVC water supply or drainage pipe work.

Cheers IanK

I think this is PEX which I mention in my post.