Is PVC toxic at all?

[SALTY 75]

I bought some white PVC pipe For my tank and i am wondering if it is safe for corals and fish and inverts. SHould i remove the black printed ink on the side? ANyone that has put PVC in their tanks Advice would be GREAT! thanks in advance.

 

[AndyinAtlanta]

Completely safe. It only gets "potentially" dangerous at high temperatures, temperatures that would have long killed everything in your tank. I do think there are some types of PVC that are less safe, but I'm out of my expertise at that point.

 

[SALTY 75]

Completely safe. It only gets "potentially" dangerous at high temperatures, temperatures that would have long killed everything in your tank. I do think there are some types of PVC that are less safe, but I'm out of my expertise at that point.

Ok thanks. Do you think i should try to remove the black ink at all? i dont really care if it is on there unless it is toxic.

 

[SALTY 75]

this is just the standard white PVC schedule 40, the guy at the store said it wasn't safe for drinking water and that made me scared.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have had it in my tank (previous tank) for over 12 years with no issues. Even the writing part. Just do not shave and eat like Hawaiian ice. It does not taste good.

 

[OrionN]

PVC is what pipe water in our house. The ink are on the out side. We can drink water coming our of our PVC piping so I would not worry about it.

 

[OrionN]

this is just the standard white PVC schedule 40, the guy at the store said it wasn't safe for drinking water and that made me scared.

That is not very logical becasue that is what we use these day to pipe all the water. From the street to in our house.
He must be trying to sell you something expensive or else trying to get you to buy a filter system.

 

[SALTY 75]

Oh something i should mention is this is not for plumbing this is for a hide inside of the tank

 

[SALTY 75]

That is not very logical becasue that is what we use these day to pipe all the water. From the street to in our house.
He must be trying to sell you something expensive or else trying to get you to buy a filter system.

yeah i didnt think it was right but better safe than sorry

 

[SALTY 75]

Thanks a ton guys!!!!! Eel is going to love it.

 

[GaryE]

yeah i didnt think it was right but better safe than sorry

White PVC is not safe for drinking water. It's typically used for drains and utility purposes.

CPVC is what is used for drinking water. It is not safe for fish. Has chlorine impregnated in it.

 

[CK00020]

what you bought is sch 40 coex cell core it will probably say as most brands do it is made for waste and low pressure systems it isn’t toxic just can’t take the pressure regular sch40 can, regular sch 40 can be used for all water distribution systems as well as wastewater. The coex is referred to as foam core because the center is foam, it is used for residential drain systems

 

[Peace River]

Realizing that there is mixed input on PVC in fish tanks, I have been using it both for plumbing to move water and for caves inside tanks for many years in both saltwater and freshwater systems.

 

[CK00020]

One thing I never thought of is that it could possibly hold copper if used in a qt

 

[CK00020]

It’s all fine as long as you don’t run 40 psi through it, they only make foam in 1 1/4 and above so diy’s don’t get it mixed up

 

[JCTReefer]

PVC is only toxic in the State of California.
All jokes aside, been using it for 20 years without issues. For plumbing of course and Supports for rock structures. I’ve also used pex and fiberglass rods without issue.

 

[robbyg]

PVC is only toxic in the State of California.
All jokes aside, been using it for 20 years without issues. For plumbing of course and Supports for rock structures. I’ve also used pex and fiberglass rods without issue.

Yeah I have had it for 25 years and no issues. It is used by most countries for all their water delivery systems and house holds. I find it interesting that in the USA we are told to use copper which is IMO much more toxic for humans and has a much shorter life span when compared to PVC. I keep wondering if the copper industry is in bed with the people who made those anti PVC laws.

 

[OrionN]

We use copper pipe outside near or out of the ground, where there is a chance of water freeze in winter. Everything else we use PVC. There are PVC for hot water which is grey instead of white. We use the thicker PVC. Schedule 40 for high pressure. Thin ones for drains.

 

[SALTY 75]

HM this is all very interesting, i had no idea that there was so much to know about PVC haha