HDPE/Poly Irrigation Fittings

[Punchanello]

Hi All,

I'd be grateful for your expertise. I am building a manifold to t-off from my return line to run reactors, water change etc. I have had no problem getting hold of the PVC but getting metric reducing fittings and barbs for flexible tubing to the reactors has been difficult here in Australia.

I was wondering if HDPE garden irrigation fittings such as the ones in the link would be safe? - https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/garden/watering-accessories/irrigation/25mm-poly-fittings

Can HDPE leach bisphenol-A (BPA)? Is BPA harmful in a reef tank?

Thanks!

 

[Diesel]

I know what you talking about but honestly I haven't a clue on the release of toxins.
This is a question for @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[afhtan]

I use hdpe poly fittings and store my ro and asw in hdpe containers from bunnings.

I performed a Triton test recently as I lost all my sps and lps in an 18 month old tank.

The only issues the test found was high levels of antimony (244 micrograms/L) and zero iodine.

Not sure if plastic leaching resulted in high antimony levels. Most likely I lost my corals due to a combination of events rather than one specific thing.

 

[Punchanello]

I use hdpe poly fittings and store my ro and asw in hdpe containers from bunnings.

I performed a Triton test recently as I lost all my sps and lps in an 18 month old tank.

The only issues the test found was high levels of antimony (244 micrograms/L) and zero iodine.

Not sure if plastic leaching resulted in high antimony levels. Most likely I lost my corals due to a combination of events rather than one specific thing.

Thanks afhtan. What was recommended for the antimony level?

 

[afhtan]

Recommended level was 0 haha

 

[Reef Monkie]

Hi All,

I'd be grateful for your expertise. I am building a manifold to t-off from my return line to run reactors, water change etc. I have had no problem getting hold of the PVC but getting metric reducing fittings and barbs for flexible tubing to the reactors has been difficult here in Australia.

I was wondering if HDPE garden irrigation fittings such as the ones in the link would be safe? - https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/garden/watering-accessories/irrigation/25mm-poly-fittings

Can HDPE leach bisphenol-A (BPA)? Is BPA harmful in a reef tank?

Thanks!

'
'All' plastics leach and are permeable to some degree. Salt water makes this worse, gaskets/tubing is generally worse than hard plastics. Plastics that are BPA free often still leach other Endocrine disruptors or chemicals that show estrogenic activity. That said HDPE is considered a food-safe by regulators and is often used to store liquids for human consumption.

Most Plastic Products Release Estrogenic Chemicals: A Potential Health Problem That Can Be Solved