Another Case of Elevated Tin - PVC Tubing?

[PlasticOcean]

Hello,

I see there are lots of discussions about Tin being used in tubing. Hadn’t heard that before but my Euphyllia dominant tank has been having serious polyp recession, polyp retraction and some tissue loss.

Triton ICP Tin level is 361 ug/l!

The coral went downhill very shortly after connecting my chiller for the summer, using new tubing bought off Amazon. Likely not a coincidence, right?

Tubing description:

50ft x 3/4" ID Clear Vinyl Tubing, Flexible Hybrid PVC Tubing Hose, Lightweight Plastic Tube UV Chemical Resistant Vinyl Hose, BPA Free and Non Toxic​

 

[PlasticOcean]

I should add -

Have checked all equipment for corrosion/etc.
All other parameters tested A-OK with ICP.
Heard silicone is better option as no tin used in manufacture. Is that correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That tin level, if accurate, does sound like a serious issue. I cannot be sure where it is coming from, but plastics of various sorts can incorporate tin as a heat stabilizer.

I would try a metal binder, such as metasorb, though that is not guaranteed to work since there are many chemical forms of tin used in plastics.

I do not know if tin is used in silicone, but trying it seems a good plan.

 

[PlasticOcean]

Thank you, Randy, for weighing in. I know this has been hashed over many times but wanted to check with some veterans on the specifics. Will try the metasorb this week. Thankfully large water changes have helped stop any downward spiral, but it’s still fits and starts so the level must still be high.

Gonna swallow the pill and pay for ICP test on the water chiller is running in a 5g bucket (removed it immediately post-stressor event) and then one more test on the tank after metasorb. Will post results when they arrive.

Cheers

 

[brucey]

Tin is the worst and at that level it must be having a mug impact to your system

I’m suffering Tin right now
Major pain and metasorb isn’t cheap!
(Well not in the UK it’s not!)

 

[PlasticOcean]

Yes, it’s taken my LPS a month to get back to a healthy place and even still nothing is fully extended. I’m assuming it was from new, flexible PVC tubing used to connect the chiller (this is commonly mentioned in threads on R2R). I’ve switched to silicone tubing and pray there are no issues when I reconnect the chiller.