Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I know this has been discussed at length, and i know that some people trust that vinidex dwv is the same plastic as their pressure pipe minus the certifications (i'm not so trusting), but I am desperately grasping for another solution I have not thought of or read about.

Dilemma:
6x6m 100mm "potable water safe" pressure pipe = $510 in sydney

6x6m 100m DWV = $156

Excluding fittings!!!! Ouch

Can anyone think of a cost effective alternative that will allow me to run my system "food grade" other than pressure pipe?

I know, I know, it has all been said before...

Sorry this was supposed to be in the hardware section.

Sorry that this is not very helpful but...

You need to include the fittings and the installation.

Drainage HDPE PE100 110mm OD (PN4 SDR41) should be comparable with fittings. Pipe is ~5.3/m and ~$5.2 per 90 degree bend but you can't just glue the fittings together. You need to hire a welder if that is possible. Alternatively you can use electro fusion weld fittings for which you can hire the machine but the fittings cost more than twice as much.

I don't know who you can get them from in Sydney. Reece has a drainage range (Geberit) but they are not as cheap as the figures I gave above.

Thanks Stuart,

I was just looking at metric poly pipe (blue line).

I could potentially run multiple runs of 40-50mm in place of a 100mm pressure pipe run. But as you said, all the fittings + stuffing around with installation needs to be considered.

I wish I was in WA, pipeonline has pressure pipe at about half the price you get quotes in sydney.

Go into a NEW carpark, hospital, office building and you will not see as much PVC as you used to. A lot of the drainage pipe is now poly. You just have to find out where they are getting it from and whether you can to.

What about 90mm storm water? Don't know too much about it's specifics, but people use it for collecting drinking water from their roof.

Stormwater is the one that most people get nervous about when they start researching potential PVC nastiness.

For collecting storm water it may be fine because the residency time is relatively short.

Yeah, the key here is contact time and recirculation...the potential for a little contamination to build up over time.

Otherwise I'd drink water flowing through just about any pipe, even a warm garden hose

That said... I think they use storm water pipe on charged rain tank systems....but our installers/builders put a "do not drink" sign on the tap.

IMO, I think you're creating a mountain out of a mole hill... It's a proven fact new carpets and the interiors of new cars give off toxic fumes for months, even years. I've even seen a tv segment about the toxins given off by new concrete and the link to cancers and other ailments, it was even recommended by a specialist on that show that after a new house is built the floor coverings should be fitted and the house left vacant and aerated for up to 6 months... but nobody does.

Most all of us also drink tap water with fluoride in it, consume food and drinks with preservatives and artificial whatevers in them, and live in houses/work in offices that are effectively high level EMR cocoons.

If you're worried about what the pipe will leach, why not connect the system up and run it for 3 months with no fish or plants, dumping the water weekly and running a variety of different pH levels... you'd think any exposed surfaces that are going to give off any toxins would've given up the vast majority of their toxin stash after three months.

Dr Luke under law in NSW and Qld you have to have a sign on tank water stating that it is tank water and not potable. Never mine people like me who have lived of tank water most of our lives.

@ Mr Damage

When investigating all these things there are four things to remember:

1. As you point out there are all sorts of nasties out there that we expose ourselves to all the time.

2. Despite all these nasties once you remove the obvious killers like smoking the next biggest killer is stress. So if you get stressed about purifying your environment your actually increasing your health risk.

3. People in the country don't live as long on average as those in the city principally due to reduced health care access. So even if you do purify your environment by moving to back of Burke then you are actually increasing your health risk.

4. Every little bit helps. So don't buy a new car, paint your house with noxious paints and be careful about what you eat, drink and breathe but still see your doctor regularly.

Go down to your local tip or recycling center and do the environment and your pocket a favour.

Probably dr damage. But if I'm the one that knowingly makes the choice to use a possibly inferior product. And in ten year my wife a children have a disease linked to that choice, I'm not sure I would be comfortable knowing I did not do everything possible to avoid it.

Well Im stuffed then, its been nice knowing you all

Yip, I am off to my grave as well

R.I.P.