PVC glue/cement safe or not?

[William Crain Jr.]

So i just finished routing my pvc lines and did a test. It turned better than I expected. Does anyone know if standard pvc glue/cement is safe to use in aquaponics system and if it's not what is??

[TCLynx]

how safe is safe?  Look for a symbol with a PW (stands for potable water) most of the primers and cements I've seen at lowes or home depot have the NSF PW markings.  So you have to simply decide if you think the National Standards Foundation's standards for potable water are good enough for you or not.  I personally figure there is enough other stuff to worry about so I'll go ahead and use the cement for any pipes under pump pressure, any pipes likely to get knocked loose and any pipes buried that I can keep an eye on.  If I must keep a PVC connection "temporary" I'll usually use a little 100% silicone and a stainless steel screw.

That said, I've personally used plenty of the purple primer and clear pvc cement that I get at Lowes.  I've even spilled some (like several drops dripping off the applicator) into a fish tank before and I had channel cat fish in the system at the time, no fish deaths due to spillage. I also seem to spend plenty of time with purple fingers since I rarely put gloves on when doing PVC work.

Now you will have to make the final decision for yourself.

[William Crain Jr.]

TCLynx said:

how safe is safe?  Look for a symbol with a PW (stands for potable water) most of the primers and cements I've seen at lowes or home depot have the NSF PW markings.  So you have to simply decide if you think the National Standards Foundation's standards for potable water are good enough for you or not.  I personally figure there is enough other stuff to worry about so I'll go ahead and use the cement for any pipes under pump pressure, any pipes likely to get knocked loose and any pipes buried that I can keep an eye on.  If I must keep a PVC connection "temporary" I'll usually use a little 100% silicone and a stainless steel screw.

That said, I've personally used plenty of the purple primer and clear pvc cement that I get at Lowes.  I've even spilled some (like several drops dripping off the applicator) into a fish tank before and I had channel cat fish in the system at the time, no fish deaths due to spillage. I also seem to spend plenty of time with purple fingers since I rarely put gloves on when doing PVC work.

Now you will have to make the final decision for yourself.

[William Crain Jr.]

William Crain Jr. said:

TCLynx said:

how safe is safe?  Look for a symbol with a PW (stands for potable water) most of the primers and cements I've seen at lowes or home depot have the NSF PW markings.  So you have to simply decide if you think the National Standards Foundation's standards for potable water are good enough for you or not.  I personally figure there is enough other stuff to worry about so I'll go ahead and use the cement for any pipes under pump pressure, any pipes likely to get knocked loose and any pipes buried that I can keep an eye on.  If I must keep a PVC connection "temporary" I'll usually use a little 100% silicone and a stainless steel screw.

That said, I've personally used plenty of the purple primer and clear pvc cement that I get at Lowes.  I've even spilled some (like several drops dripping off the applicator) into a fish tank before and I had channel cat fish in the system at the time, no fish deaths due to spillage. I also seem to spend plenty of time with purple fingers since I rarely put gloves on when doing PVC work.

Now you will have to make the final decision for yourself.

[William Crain Jr.]

Thanks TC


William Crain Jr. said:

William Crain Jr. said:

TCLynx said:

how safe is safe?  Look for a symbol with a PW (stands for potable water) most of the primers and cements I've seen at lowes or home depot have the NSF PW markings.  So you have to simply decide if you think the National Standards Foundation's standards for potable water are good enough for you or not.  I personally figure there is enough other stuff to worry about so I'll go ahead and use the cement for any pipes under pump pressure, any pipes likely to get knocked loose and any pipes buried that I can keep an eye on.  If I must keep a PVC connection "temporary" I'll usually use a little 100% silicone and a stainless steel screw.

That said, I've personally used plenty of the purple primer and clear pvc cement that I get at Lowes.  I've even spilled some (like several drops dripping off the applicator) into a fish tank before and I had channel cat fish in the system at the time, no fish deaths due to spillage. I also seem to spend plenty of time with purple fingers since I rarely put gloves on when doing PVC work.

Now you will have to make the final decision for yourself.

[David Waite]

Just let the glue dry to offgas and it is perfectly safe for potable water. I use redhot blue glue because it doesnt need a  primer.

[Kenji Snow]

Gorilla PVC glue is the most environmentally safest of the glues out there. No primer required either.

[Kevin Gorham]

The gorilla PVC glue is also considered organic, if you are going for organic certification. We used only this glue in our commercial system.

Kenji Snow said:

Gorilla PVC glue is the most environmentally safest of the glues out there. No primer required either.