Is ABS pipe safe for my reef tank?

[Wiskey]

I am making a skimmer for my tank, mostally to see if it will be better than the sea-clown, and becaue I like diy.

I was able to find 3 inch clear PVC for the body, but not able to find 3 inch pvc end caps.

Can I use the ABS (black plastic) end caps I picked up?

Thanks,
Whiskey

[TrojanScott]

Yes, absolutely. I have that suspending my live rock.

If you get anyone that says otherwise, ask them to explain why.
I've never understood anyone that says it may "leak" something into your aquarium, it makes no sense. If that's the case, take your powerhead out, most of them have ABS plastic of some type.

Use it.

[flyhigh123]

i dont know the reason but i heard that black ABS pvc is not good for your tank... dont know why, just what i heard... so i'm using SCH 40 which is supposedly safe...

[Putawaywet]

That's one of those urban reefing legends that just doesn't seem to want to die. True ABS is not only safe, but used by many hobbists. Myself included.

Just make sure you pick up the regular stuff from like Lowes and HD and not some weird specialty stuff that has things mixed in with it.

Brett

[Wiskey]

These caps are from home depot, I just got worried when I saw that this stuff is only used for sueage and drain lines, not drinking water. Nobody at HD could tell me if you could use it for drinking water.

Thanks,
Whiskey

[Northside Reef]

Some ABS has mildew inhibitors in it, if the ones you got from HD say not for drinking water, they may have that inhibitor in it.

I was at HD the other day and I noticed that some of the pipe stated that right on the card with the price and description.

I guess if I were you I would investigate this before I put it in my tank

[johnydart]

ABS mildew inhibitors would work against the natural Bio-filtering bacteria (nitro bacter et al) but only (or so i've heard) at the point of contact. I looked into it once and concluded, rumor or no, it wasn't worth the risk. White as PVC may be, we all KNOW it's okay for water use. Besides, it all looks the same after six months in the tank.

[svb57]

I built (2) over flow boxes out of ABS. They are 8" x 4" and have had LPS and softies in the tank now for 4 months and everything is growing great. (I do run carbon) Bought the ABS from McMaster Carr (not sure if they are throughout the States)

[Putawaywet]

To be certified for potable water supply you have to meet certain government specifications. ABS drain pipe was designed for non pressure rated, non potable applications. They no doubt affix the warning to cover their bases with the idjiots that might try to use the stuff as a freshwater supply line.

If you are truly worried about ABS then you should also be worried about the powerheads we are using in our tanks because many of them use ABS housings.

I researched ABS pretty well prior to selecting it for my tanks, including reading a couple emails from ABS manufacturers who verified it being innert, so I had no hesitations about using it. Right now I have easily 12' of 2" pipe carrying water throughout my system and like I said earlier, my SPS certainly can't tell the diff.

Just keep in mind that it can't be used for pressure applications so you don't want to be using the stuff for your return lines coming from your pumps.

Brett

[Northside Reef]

Originally posted by Putawaywet


If you are truly worried about ABS then you should also be worried about the powerheads we are using in our tanks because many of them use ABS housings.

Brett

again it is not that the plumbing is made from ABS it is the additives that is used in some sewage pipe that makes it a bad choice for our systems.

next time you're at HD take a look. It will say right on some pipe "mildew resistant". All I am saying is before you put it in your tank make sure it does contain this additive.

[Ron]

I made a skimmer stand for my sump with 1 1/2" ABS. It's been up and running for 6 months now without any issues.

Ron
:strooper:

[johnydart]

I just don't think that given the extreme sensitivity of the average reef system that this is anything you want to take a chance on. There's not much that you need ABS for that you can't make due with PVC. Until I hear from a manufacturer of ABS that the product is safe for reef use (or at least for potable water use) I just wouldn't take the risk. It reminds me of the shortcut I used to a quick reef via lava rock. I thought I had a cheap solution to providing mass to my reef, turns out it was what ultimately came to be the cause for my perennially low pH. Once I got it out the pH shot up from 7.8 to 8.4 You may get away with ABS with no visible issues, but then low viability in a fish or invert is a lot to risk for some plastic pipe whose primary function is moving human waste.

[Northside Reef]

Originally posted by johnydart
I just don't think that given the extreme sensitivity of the average reef system that this is anything you want to take a chance on. There's not much that you need ABS for that you can't make due with PVC. Until I hear from a manufacturer of ABS that the product is safe for reef use (or at least for potable water use) I just wouldn't take the risk. It reminds me of the shortcut I used to a quick reef via lava rock. I thought I had a cheap solution to providing mass to my reef, turns out it was what ultimately came to be the cause for my perennially low pH. Once I got it out the pH shot up from 7.8 to 8.4 You may get away with ABS with no visible issues, but then low viability in a fish or invert is a lot to risk for some plastic pipe whose primary function is moving human waste.


Does this mean Vic won't go to the bathroom?

[johnydart]

No, Vic will drop trou just about anywhere, it just means he won't use ABS in the home brew lager he's working on.

[Wiskey]

It does not say "mildue resistant" or anything

It does say,
ABS-I
NSF-dwv
NIBCO

(BTW) this will be a no pressure applacation.

Does this shed more light on the subject?

Thanks everyone,
Whiskey

[johnydart]

I just spent an hour on the following googles: ABS (hereafter shown by asterix) mildew, * toxic, * reef, * tank safe, * leach, * pipe safe, * fungicide, * fish tank etc. I couldn't find anything, and that's interesting because three years ago when I built my most recent FBF I found dozens of manufacturers ready to proclaim the "Mildew free" capabillities of their product. I just wrote off all ABS. Then I do a search on "ABS potable" and find the following manufacturer quote:
NON TOXIC/TAINT FREE - The ABS formulation contains no harmful metallic stabilizers and it has been widely used for many years in piping systems for high purity water, medical preparations, food products and soft drinks. ABS systems are ideal for potable cold water. They conform to World Health Organisation, EEC, AS4020 and WRAS requirements for potable water reticulation and distribution

Here's the site:
http://www.epco-plastics.com/htmlemail/eme004.htm

[Old Yeller Tang]

So it's safe to say "it's safe"?

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6846965#post6846965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Old Yeller Tang
So it's safe to say "it's safe"?

My DIY skimmer's body is made of it. Haven't had any problems.

[Old Yeller Tang]

On to HD I go!:)

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6847389#post6847389 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Old Yeller Tang
On to HD I go!:)

Too bad you're not closed to me, you could have the other half of my 4" diameter pipe that's just sitting in my closet :)