PVC in aquariums..

Excuse me if my spellings off it's so cold this
morning I can't quit shaking...

Anyways, this all started because I have some fish
who choose to live in my smart heater.. I was spot
cleaning the other day and chased 4 kubotai and 2
yoyo's out of it.. So I figured I'd borrow the idea of
the pvc cluster I've seen other people use and see if
I couldnt lure them out... So I got some, cut it, sanded
it and got it perfect... I was about to wash it, and zip tie it
when I started reading this book.. I dont know where it came
from ( I live with two other people) but I turned to page 284
and low and behold, it's talking about plastics and resins...

Ever seen the 'recycle triangle'? Apparently the number in the
triangle, refers to the resin used.... here are a couple...
these are quotes, not my words...

Triangle #3 - V or PVC (vinyl)
Used in : cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, mouthwash bottles
Status : is believed to contain phalates that interfere with hormonal development : avoid
Is recycled to make : cables, mudflaps, paneling, roadway gutters..

Wikipedia says about phalates : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalates

I have a few more not associated with aquariums but with food etc..
No. 7 being my favorite.. it goes like this:

Triangle 7 : Other (miscellaneous)
Used in : 3 & 5 gallon water jugs, nylon, some food containers
Status : Contains bisphenol A, which has been linked to heart disease
and obesity : avoid
Is recycled to make : custom made products...

Wikipedia says about bisphenol A : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

So what the hell is it?!... 'progress rules'.... -Peace JT

Good info. Never looked into what the numbers ment. You learn something new each day.

Very interesting, never really put much thought into it!
As far as I know the sch. 40 PVC most commonly used by people in aquariums does not have any indicators that it is recycled. The recycle triangle is applied to materials that contain recycled material.
PVC in many areas is not allowed for indoor use (namely with potable water) but is currently in use all over the country in water distribution systems.
Originally PVC was used in household potable water lines. It was found however, that over time the walls and joint became brittle/leaked due to heating in hot water lines. They discontinued use (in most areas) with hot water and developed CPVC to replace it but later found that had issues too. So depending on where you live you may already have PVC/CPVC water lines in your home and if not you VERY likely have it carrying water to your home.

If you want to feel really save look for the NSF code either "NSF-PW" or "NSF-61" to indicate that the product complies with the health effects requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 61 for materials designed for contact with potable water. This of course does not address the Phthalate issues but I couldn't find anything that talks about the concentration of them in PVC nor their release. Standard 61 talks in a more general sense about those type of things but not to specifics.

At the temperature in aquariums I don't think it would release anything harmful nor would it develop any issues to speak of. That is just my take on it though and believe me I don't want to harm any fish!

Yes I knew that. My father was a chemical/process engineer. Hear is a funny thing to do on the holidays. Put a silver spoon in cut corn and watch it tarnish right in front of your eyes. LOL

I have read in articles that one should limit heating and freezing foods in plastic, and storing food/liquids in plastic. I try to store foods in glass as much as I can, although I have a stack of plastic 1quart containers; I have not been able to find a glass equivalent for freezing soups and stocks.

I'm not sure if using PVC in the tank will pose a risk to you or the fish. For one I think the amount of PVC you'd be using compared to the volume of water in the tank would be minimal, and also the tank wouldn't be that hot so that chemicals from the PVC would leach into the water in high levels.

Well, 'Oh ma dang'... Speak of the devil... Peace -Jt

http://news.yahoo.com/bpa-pregnant-women-might-affect-kids-behavior-040221442.html

It was widely used in plastic baby bottles and sippy cups
but industry phased out that use.


I like the term 'phased out'... seems harmless...

And this, is my favorite part... after some run around,
it seems they 'fell out of character' and slipped up..

"That matters because mothers' higher BPA levels could have come from eating lots of canned foods instead of healthier less processed foods, which might have affected fetal brain development".


Well if that's the case, you, by your own admission, just
testified that the chemicals/processing are at fault!... Not healthy,
unadulterated "whole food, from mother earth",...as they say...

-Peace JT

Great info JT! Thanks for sharing!

I don't mean to

...but I hit up the wikipedia definition
I put up earlier for "phalates"...and noticed that
before the first paragraph is finished, they worked
in the "phased out" phrase... random funny, yo.... peace JT