Heads up on Vinyl tubing...

[cjsparky]

Hi all!

I just remembered I wanted to post this a week ago or so, but totally forgot.

I was at Lowes buying tubing to plumb my aquarium, and was getting help from someone in the plumbing department. At first I was going to get the clear vinyl tubing for the last 16" of return, and clear for the drain line to sump. He was cutting the pieces, and then stopped and turned to me and asked "Is this a potable water application" I explained that it was for a saltwater fish/reef tank, to which he promptly informed me that the clear vinyl tubes are treated with an anti-bacterial/whatever coating in the mfg process.

Just a heads up...folks may want to use the braided tubes that are specific to potable water applications.

CJ

 

[raz0945]

Thanks CJ - That is a good one to know!

 

[rbredding]

the vinyl tubing (may be nylon) that I bought from home depot when I set up my system hasn't been an issue in the last year and a half..

it must be a coating that either dissipates, or doesn't effect our tanks..

 

[gnashty]

Its a mold inhibitor that is in the raw material. Ive never had an issue

 

[cjsparky]

gnashty;657427 wrote: Its a mold inhibitor that is in the raw material. Ive never had an issue

So what is the difference between this and the silicon people warn about?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[rbredding]

Cjsparky;657490 wrote: So what is the difference between this and the silicon people warn about?

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I'm not sure about the silicone, but I know that any breakdown that would occur in the vinyl tubing wouldn't happen until it was heated.. (above X* temperature)..

that's why you don't see PVC used for hot lines in a house... you use CPVC for the hot lines because it doesn't breakdown at the lower temperatures the way PVC does..

 

[jennm]

Or just get aquarium or pond tubing. I don't think it's any more costly.

Jenn