Preparing PVC pipes for loaches

[raecarrow]

Hello everyone,

I recently bought some short lengths of 2 in diameter PVC piping to make my own loach motel and 2 in diameter corner bends to place around the tank.

The question I have, is there any preparatory work that needs to be done to the piping before putting it in the tank? I have been hesitant to just drop the pieces into the tank for fear of injuring my little buddies by polluting the water or anything I have yet to think of. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Rae

[mistergreen]

Just a wash under running water will work.

Now for the other side of things, PVCs do release a small amount of the chemicals called dioxin which is cancerous. In the news lately, you've heard of companies getting rid of baby bottles made of pvcs.

I personally don't think it's that much of a deal in an aquarium.

[Diana]

Use some sand paper on the edges to be sure they are smooth.

[raecarrow]

Thanks!

[PASoracco]

if you are cutting it or sanding the edges i would recommend rinsing it, then soak it in some tank water for a day or two, changing the water once or twice. if anything is going to leach, it will get out here.

[bigpow]

I have a 2" and 1" pipes in my tank.
My biggest gripe with them is that they FLOAT like MAD.
I had to tie a huge (1/2 human head) rock to make them hold their ground.

I've been thinking about casting them into a bucket filled with concrete (concrete like in pool, should be safe for fish tank, no?)
or
drilling/screwing them into a flat rock (super hard to drill a rock)

How do you plan to install your PVC pipe?

[raecarrow]

I put 2" pipe corners in there and they don't float at all. I just partically burried them in the sand.

[LoachOrgy]

you can also boil it in a pot prior to placing it in the tank. bring the water to a boil. place them in once you get a rolling boil. leave it in for a minute. then take out and let cool.

[bigpow]

1st time i heard the boil pvc trick
-will try this week-end

i thought they float like mad because i got the wrong type (black/irrigation), but let me try boiling them

[Keith Wolcott]

bigpow- I think that you have the wrong type. Regular PVC pipe will not float.

[bigpow]

Keith, thanks for letting me know before I make my PVC soup.
By regular, you mean the standard white PVC (schedule 40/80)?



Dave Letterman should add these PVC pipes into his "Will it float?" feature

[Clowntje]

Could it be difrent types of PVC pipes?

I have PVC pipes too in difrent sizes and both my pipes drift if i dont burry them or put rocks on it.

Not that my Clowns bother they deliberate move the smaller piece and then lay back in it while it takes turns floating.

Mmm gonna check it this weekend we have 2 types one for indoor use and one for outdoor use. The indoor ones float.

[BotiaMaximus]

I would be cautious about boiling PVC. PVC is not made for hot water. They make special CPVC to use for hot water installations and is yellowish in color. I don't know what the effect is, but it is possible that boiling it might actually cause it to release chemicals that would otherwise be inert at normal temperatures.

[Keith Wolcott]

I have used white PVC schedule 40.

[DainBramage1991]

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short on this, but the reason why some PVC pipe floats and most doesn't is that some DWV rated schedule 40 pipe has foam embedded in the pipe wall. This is low pressure drainage pipe, the cheap kind. Regular, pressure rated schedule 40 PVC is solid-wall construction and will sink in an aquarium.