Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So if this is true then how do any fish that are kept by most people survive? Most people have copper water pipes and fill their tanks from their house water. How does that work?

Maybe since it is passing through the copper pipes one time it doesn't build up enough, but in a recirculating system it has more time to build up? This is just off the top of my head, I don't know if it's true or not.

Yeah I have no idea either. My grandfather was an Ichthyologist and owned a large fishery, so maybe I will try to see what his take on it is.

Very small amounts of copper will kill fish but really tiny amounts will kill crustaceans.

Goldfish must not be very susceptable. Ever notice all the pennies in wishing wells where there are goldfish? Either that or they aren't recirculating the water.

When the water sits in the hot water system the higher temp allows the water to pick up much more copper than it would in the cold pipes. Higher temperature speeds up chemical reactions.
People use hot water to match the new water to the aquarium, to prevent thermal shock.
After I learnt about the copper i started using the kettle
So thats probably the theory
Copper also kills algae...I think. You can buy a copper based algae killer at B
I think copper may also kill bacteria so would never use it in ap

This would be true also

I will try to revive the original subject, it seems to have switched over completely to copper. Of which I am partly responsible I guess. But here we go again;

We're building our system and have placed all piping last weekend. After which I found out that we used sandwiched pipe . Stupid and a bummer but that's how it goes. PVCu outer and inner layer but in the middle, foam like layer, of recycled pvc. Also in the pipes with a lot of holes in them. Nobody seems to know for sure if this is a heath threat in an AP system. But many claim it would be possible.

Since I did not want to suspect every strawberry, radish, lettuce and what not of being possibly "poisonous", we decided to rip it all out and go for potable water approved as much as possible.

I contacted the certification institition here in Holland who informed that the materials used in non-potable PVC-U are different for potable PVC-U. They advised to use only pipes of their approved type. PVC is not allways just PVC apparently.

If you want to be sure of everything, you must also have a good look at the pump, media, glue, silicone kit you may be using. On the other hand, it does not make sence to try to be more catholic that the pope(famous dutch proverb). I don't think that all materials used in current food production have been researched exstensivly. I suspect that if there is no sign it may be harmfull, nobody seems to worry about it to much.

Ever considered if the back of the pen you chew on is food grade? It is a plastic world we live in. Take it into account, adjust or don't , but aknowledge .

I make sure all my pens are food safe

Try some bacon flavoured ones while you are at it!

I Think most of the Health problems that went with PVC where due to the additives they used in the extrusion line! e.g. Lead for lubricant and the rubberising agents that were cainogenetic ( I think?)

Nowadays most plastics really are fairly safe apart from reclaimed plastics as you never know what has been used!

Case in point a company I was a director for made the mistake of using some pesticide drums for recycled plastic tree Stakes......… killed all the plants in a 1M radius ...… LOL they couldn't be told though stupid idiots!

Maybe I'm naive. But I will stick with presure pipe as much as possible over stormwater or DWV. If it was just me I would not worry. But I am feeding my stuff to others, in particular, brand new additions to this world.

I figure if they use it to carry water to my house, then what I produce in AP can be no more tainted than what I drink everyday out of the tap.

People go on about stressing or obsessing over it. Nah, i just pay the extra money and get a little piece of mind rather than constantly looking up reason why I SHOULDN'T be paying the extra $$.

In my opinion, spending a lot of time studying if DWV and Stormwater pipe is okay to use will take up more time than its worth compared to just paying the extra. Besides, you only pay heaps the first time round, you learn the tricks and places to purchase from the second time around.

It's only if you plan to go for large diameter > 60mm pipe that Storm and DWV get rediculously less expensive.

Im fairly sure its only 110mm DWV and larger which has foam filled wall.
It be very surprised if its a real issue and most pipes will be coated in algae/fish crap pretty fast and most cuts and fittings are designed to ensure ends of pipe are glued against end stop anyway

the 90 and 100mm are foamed as well!

really I think people are making to much of this! yes years ago the plastic additives were bad for you! but they have improved to a point where they are fairly safe, I would be more worried about what comes out of the end of an exhaust pipe then what's in my plastic!

that depends on what's in it, and how much of it comes out.
We need an expert.... ?