Grey PVC okay?

[Ding2daDong]

I am shopping around for plumbing supplies and noticed that homedepots electrical department has grey pvc, just wondering if there is any difference and if these parts would be fine for aquarium use?

I compared the unions from the grey pvc and white pvc and the grey was by far a better build quality but the guy at homedepot didn't seem to know if the grey unions can be used on pumps with pressure.

Also if anyone knows where to get spears plumbing parts? I checked out the ball valves at homedepot and they work horribly.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-Matthew

 

[scubasteve247]

go to melrose irrigation supply next to exotic aquatic. they have just about everything for cheap!!!!

but there hours are different

they close at 12 on the weekends, but during the week they are open till 4pm.

o and if you need to buy pieces of pvc.... bring a saw. they only sell it in long pieces, like 20ft sects or something like that. but still best prices around that i know of.

 

[ReefWreak]

Usually grey means schedule 40 or 80, whichever the stronger one is (I think 80). Usually costs more because of that. That's why people usually use schedule 80 unions.

 

[bckane]

"homedepots electrical department" dont thing thats suitable for water. Where you looking at the pvc type pipe they run wires thru. I cant remember the name of the pipe

 

[coralfragger101]

I also believe the electrical PVC is different than the plumbing PVC. The grey PVC for plumbing is schedule 80 and I've been told by home depot that they do not carry it because of liability reasons. Apparently when the grey stuff burns it gives off poisonous fumes.

 

[Husky_1]

I have to agee with Coralfragger and bckane, the light grey pvc in the electrical aisle is different. I am pretty sure I have read that it is not to be used with water.

I know that either lowes or HD has up to 1 1/4 inch grey Schedule 80 PVC for water use. I happened to have needed 1 1/2 so I had to order some. Unfortunately I had to order 20' and I only needed 5', so i had to pay for a lot that I now store in my garage.

BTW, if anyone needs 1 1/2 grey schedule 80, I can sell them some at $1.50 a foot. This is basically what it cost me, actually maybe less.

Oh yeah, one other thing not all Sch 80 is grey...

 

[45commando]

Matt,I'd also be concerned about what it may leach into the water over time.If it is not for domestic water use,then I would stay away from it.You can buy pink irrigation PVC pipe these days-it will hold all the pressure you need,but it is made from PVC that can leach chemicals over time.I would stay safe & stick with "potable water/domestic use"grade PVC.HTH

 

[macawmagic]

yo...what home depot you going to??? everyone i've been in has white pvc! LOL. come to weston! It ain't that far of a drive for ya!

 

[bckane]

All HD have standard PVC

 

[Ding2daDong]

Thanks for the help all!

I guess I will be using standart white pvc. On another note, why do some skimmers use grey pvc? Also people in the large tank threads use grey pvc aswell...?

Thanks again

-Matthew

 

[ReefWreak]

Everyone uses schedule 80 plumbing for heavy duty work because it's thicker. It's especially useful for unions or other joints of particular stress i would imagine. i see people use it all the time, I've never heard a bad thing about it, but I guess you learn something new every day.

 

[bckane]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11254565#post11254565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ding2daDong
Thanks for the help all!

I guess I will be using standart white pvc. On another note, why do some skimmers use grey pvc? Also people in the large tank threads use grey pvc aswell...?

Thanks again

-Matthew

Matt they have schedule 80 pvc which is grey....which is fine to use but you were talking about the stuff in homedepots electrical department, which is not the same

 

[Husky_1]

BTW, then it is Lowes that carries some schedule 80. But only up to 1 1/4