Comment

Comment by Jerry Walsh on January 3, 2012 at 5:24pm

My concerns with glue and primers are the toxicity levels for the fish. I read you should not use copper in any of the associated plumbing with the system, yet pvc is not code for potable water for human consumption, and this is ok for fish ? So, fish are wired different then we are, use shark bite fittings, they slip on yet are reusable and will not seperate under presure and I use CPVC. Like I say, PVC has known carcenagenics towards humans, not keen on pvc but it may be perfectly fine.

Comment by Kellen Weissenbach on January 3, 2012 at 10:48am

The "absolute" here is that a secured joint is "absolutely" a safer than one. :)

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on January 3, 2012 at 6:44am

I encourage people to get into aquaponics with the resources they have and using their own creative minds. Bringing "absolutes" into the mix can inhibit this process. There are many ways to skin a cat, and many ways to manage joints. Building a good system takes a study of known methods, an assessment of the individual environment, thinking through potential situations, discernment, an imagination. All this, influenced by the creator/operator's personality, brings about a unique system that works well for him or her. Aquaponics is a combination of science, mechanics, and art.

Comment by TCLynx on January 3, 2012 at 5:42am

I understand that glued joints are going to be safer, however, that wind blown limb, good chance it won't matter if the joints are glued or not, it could easily just break the PVC.

I woke up this morning to a rain water tank knocked over, it broke all the pipe connections near it as well as breaking the electric fence next to it.

Glued pipe joints don't guarantee the HSM won't happen. they only make sure it doesn't happen because of an unglued joint popping out.

For a water distrobution grid on the grow bed, don't glue it together but most other things it is normally safer to glue or secure in some fashion.

Comment by Kellen Weissenbach on January 2, 2012 at 8:51pm

We should keep in mind that "easiest for the system operator" ceases to exist when a non-secured joint leaks or becomes dislodged (via animal, kid, a windblown limb or yard item, etc.) while the operator is away, and loses a tank full of fish (a considerable lost investment) as a result.  Does this happen frequently?  No.  But it does happen, and I've seen it firsthand as an aquaculture (and aquaponics) professional, and I just shake my head.  Why CREATE a point of potential failure in a system by design?  That's what you are doing by not securing your pipe joints.  Plain and simple.

It is exceedingly "easy" to cut a pipe, put in a longer piece and fit it all back together with a coupler if you have glued your joints.  We're talking about mere minutes.  That's not tough at all.  Securing your joints doesn't limit "flexibility".  It is also equally as "easy" to use rubber couplers with pipe clamps or use union joints for anything that might be a point for cleanout/maintenance needs or an area where future expansion could be needed.

100+ years of "best practices" with regard to plumbing is quite applicable to aquaponics systems, as is the solid knowledge and experience that has led to time-proven "best practices" within the aquaculture industry in terms of system and plumbing design.  AP systems are no different. :)

Comment by Sylvia Bernstein on January 2, 2012 at 8:36pm

Ack!  I hit that nasty blue X in the upper right corner when I just meant to fix a typo in my previous comment!  Technology - LOL!

What I said before is basically that ease of maintenance and expansion are paramount in our systems designs, so we only glue joints when we feel we really need to..  Not sure what you are getting at with your reference to "best practices" in aquaponic systems design, Kellen.  I'd like to hear more.

Our philosophy is to slip fit if there is no pressure at the joint - for example, right after a pressure valve.  If there is, then we try to find a threaded fitting.  And if we can't then we will resort to glue.  It limits your options, exactly as Jonathan has said, IMO.

Comment by Jonathan Farrand on January 2, 2012 at 7:40pm

I like to not glue when I can as well. This way I can reuse my parts as my systems evolves. I am not opposed to pvc cement I just like to keep my options open.

Comment by Kellen Weissenbach on January 2, 2012 at 3:52pm

Pressure matters, but pressure or not, it's a very bad idea to use unglued joints.  It's not a matter of preference.  It's a matter of best practices. :)

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on January 2, 2012 at 3:42pm

Even unglued slip PVC can be a bugger to pull apart at times, but the screw takes care of the concern for popping apart. Silicone stops the leaks. We're using flex tubing for most mobile areas, but have used threaded PVC (use plumbers tape) and slip PVC. Unless you're working with strong pressure, it's a matter of preference.

Comment by Kellen Weissenbach on January 2, 2012 at 3:37pm

You can get the rubber couplers all the way down to 3/4 inch, but they aren't always terribly easy to find.  Unions are a great solution too. 

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