Ultra Flex pvc not for potable water use safe?

[fullmonti]

I found and used some Ultra Flex brand pvc flex tubing in a tanks plumbing. It said FDA non-toxic formulation but not for potable water (I did not notice this info before). I am in the process of plumbing another tank & looked up the suppler to get more of this tubing when I saw the not for potable use notice. Now I am wondering if this product is safe to use long term in a reef tank.

The reason for this question is the tank I used this tubing in before after a time fish started dying with out any visible sign of disease. Water chemistry all checked out & every other thing we could think of didn't seem to be the problem either. Never found the reason why fish were dying & eventually gave up & broke the tank down. I have had fresh water and salt water tanks for decades & never had anything like that happen before. Is there any way the tubing could have been the problem???

 

[mcgyvr]

others have used it without issue...

Companies only pay for the certifications they need on a product.. If its not intended for potable water you don't get the certs.. Doesn't mean it wouldn't meet the requirements though..

 

[dkeller_nc]

Yep. There's unlikely to be any additives in flex plastic that would harm fish, save for plastic items specifically noted as anti-mold/anti-mildew.

Nevertheless, I personally choose to only use hard plastic PVC plumbing, and if I require flex hose, I use platinum-cured silicone tubing. Silicone is a good bit pricier than flex PVC, but it's a one-time purchase, as it will not degrade (ever) in salt water.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that it's unlikely that the tubing is the problem. I might have replaced it anyway, just for piece of mind. I think it's more likely that the problem was some sort of disease that's very hard to spot, but there are a lot of other possibilities.

 

[fullmonti]

Thanks all

Didn't really think the tubing was a problem but never hurts to ask. I was thinking of using some of the BRS silicone tubing this time. Only thing I don't like about that is having to convert back and forth from couplers to barb fittings. Not that big a deal though.

thanks again
Jim

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome! Good luck!