Painting PVC Piping

joobie · 10/26/2012, 07:51 PM

Hi Guys,

I've been doing a bit of reading about painting PVC piping and most of what i've found is that only specific paints are safe.

That said, the section of PVC I wanted to paint was outside of the tank water (it's a section that runs along the wall to the sump). I wanted to paint it as it would match the wall colour (it's the same paint that I used to paint the walls).

Is this safe given the paint wont be in the water? Not sure if I should be worried about the PVC absorbing something from the paint and contaminating the water going within the pipes?

Cheers, Richard

thegrun · 10/26/2012, 08:41 PM

It will be safe if it is not in contact with the water.

Mouse · 10/26/2012, 08:52 PM

Safe if outside, how well it sticks depends on the paint. I painted mine with Krylon Fusion, sticks darn good, and I hear its safe if in the tank as well.

mgargiullo · 10/26/2012, 09:30 PM

I used krypton fusion on some submerged 1". No issues. Make sure it is fully cured before you use it however.

mgargiullo · 10/26/2012, 09:30 PM

Lol krylon. Autocorrect strikes again

joobie · 10/26/2012, 10:14 PM

What about joining the PVC pipes? Is there a recommended glue that's aquarium safe?

I think I might go the PVC route given I can paint it!

Also can you safely (and securely) connect the PVC pipes without glue? I'm thinking this might be good so that I can dismantle it easier if needed to clean, etc..

I do have a threaded bulkhead btw that I need to integrate the PVC into.

Cheers, Richard

ebacon · 10/26/2012, 10:55 PM

Standard PVC cement is fine, just let it sit for a good 24 hours so it can fully cure before getting it wet or the glue leaches into the water and can cause issues

joobie · 10/26/2012, 11:33 PM

Thanks ebacon.

How is it constructed so that you can take apart the pipes usually? I'm hesitant to cement the PVC because of this (my pipes will have a few bends in it, bit akward to dismantle if cemented.

Cheers

ebacon · 10/26/2012, 11:39 PM

Over time it will become brittle so if it ever needs to be dismantled,your better off just replacing it as it is relatively inexpensive to do so. Otherwise you can buy threaded unions that will have a male and female end for the larger sections.... Go to Home Depot and spend a couple hours just looking at fittings , look at all of them, you might get a few ideas. Take your time, Rome wasn't built in a day. Just look and be creative. Also remember ball valves are your friends. Don't be afraid to use them.

RyanSweatt2004 · 10/27/2012, 08:41 AM

Just glue in some PVC unions so that you can unscrew each piece to dismantle it. You will need to cement all the PVC joints and fittings or you will have constant leaks.

uwbadgerfb · 10/27/2012, 11:10 AM

I used Weld-On P-70 primer, and 711 PVC glue for my fittings. Works great. Make sure your pipes are clean and cut straight. At that point there won't be much interaction of the PVC glue and the water anyway.

sleepydoc · 10/27/2012, 12:38 PM

+1 on the unions. Also, they make something called spa flex - it's flexible PVC tubing (http://www.plumbingsupply.com/spaflex.html) that's great for reducing some of the elbows you would otherwise need. If you use it, you need to use a thicker glue, but it's good stuff.

If you're painting before setting up (always the best idea,) make sure things are fully cured. If you do anything afterwards, be aware that a lot of latex paints use ammonia as part of the solvent base, so you could potentially get ammonia in the tank. As a general rule, try to avoid volatile chemicals in the vicinity of your tank.

10/26/2012, 07:51 PM	#1
joobie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 47	Painting PVC Piping Hi Guys, I've been doing a bit of reading about painting PVC piping and most of what i've found is that only specific paints are safe. That said, the section of PVC I wanted to paint was outside of the tank water (it's a section that runs along the wall to the sump). I wanted to paint it as it would match the wall colour (it's the same paint that I used to paint the walls). Is this safe given the paint wont be in the water? Not sure if I should be worried about the PVC absorbing something from the paint and contaminating the water going within the pipes? Cheers, Richard

10/26/2012, 08:52 PM	#3
Mouse UnRegistered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Rio Linda CA Posts: 739	Safe if outside, how well it sticks depends on the paint. I painted mine with Krylon Fusion, sticks darn good, and I hear its safe if in the tank as well. __________________ Somedays it just isnt worth gnawing through the straps...... Current Tank Info: 125g > < this close to being set up

10/26/2012, 09:30 PM	#4
mgargiullo Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hightstown. NJ Posts: 229	I used krypton fusion on some submerged 1". No issues. Make sure it is fully cured before you use it however. __________________ People think I'm crazy when I tell them I'm saving my money to buy Rocks and Sand. Current Tank Info: 112g mixed reef, 40g Breeder, 16g Nuvo and 8g Nuvo,

10/26/2012, 09:30 PM	#5
mgargiullo Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hightstown. NJ Posts: 229	Lol krylon. Autocorrect strikes again __________________ People think I'm crazy when I tell them I'm saving my money to buy Rocks and Sand. Current Tank Info: 112g mixed reef, 40g Breeder, 16g Nuvo and 8g Nuvo,

10/26/2012, 10:55 PM	#7
ebacon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Charles Mo Posts: 1,084	Standard PVC cement is fine, just let it sit for a good 24 hours so it can fully cure before getting it wet or the glue leaches into the water and can cause issues __________________ Everybody Loves Bacon

10/26/2012, 08:41 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It will be safe if it is not in contact with the water.

10/26/2012, 10:14 PM	#6
joobie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 47	What about joining the PVC pipes? Is there a recommended glue that's aquarium safe? I think I might go the PVC route given I can paint it! Also can you safely (and securely) connect the PVC pipes without glue? I'm thinking this might be good so that I can dismantle it easier if needed to clean, etc.. I do have a threaded bulkhead btw that I need to integrate the PVC into. Cheers, Richard

10/26/2012, 11:33 PM	#8
joobie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 47	Thanks ebacon. How is it constructed so that you can take apart the pipes usually? I'm hesitant to cement the PVC because of this (my pipes will have a few bends in it, bit akward to dismantle if cemented. Cheers

10/26/2012, 11:39 PM	#9
ebacon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Charles Mo Posts: 1,084	Over time it will become brittle so if it ever needs to be dismantled,your better off just replacing it as it is relatively inexpensive to do so. Otherwise you can buy threaded unions that will have a male and female end for the larger sections.... Go to Home Depot and spend a couple hours just looking at fittings , look at all of them, you might get a few ideas. Take your time, Rome wasn't built in a day. Just look and be creative. Also remember ball valves are your friends. Don't be afraid to use them. __________________ Everybody Loves Bacon

10/27/2012, 08:41 AM	#10
RyanSweatt2004 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: maine Posts: 590	Just glue in some PVC unions so that you can unscrew each piece to dismantle it. You will need to cement all the PVC joints and fittings or you will have constant leaks.

10/27/2012, 11:10 AM	#11
uwbadgerfb Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: OH Posts: 51	I used Weld-On P-70 primer, and 711 PVC glue for my fittings. Works great. Make sure your pipes are clean and cut straight. At that point there won't be much interaction of the PVC glue and the water anyway.

10/27/2012, 12:38 PM	#12
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	+1 on the unions. Also, they make something called spa flex - it's flexible PVC tubing (http://www.plumbingsupply.com/spaflex.html) that's great for reducing some of the elbows you would otherwise need. If you use it, you need to use a thicker glue, but it's good stuff. If you're painting before setting up (always the best idea,) make sure things are fully cured. If you do anything afterwards, be aware that a lot of latex paints use ammonia as part of the solvent base, so you could potentially get ammonia in the tank. As a general rule, try to avoid volatile chemicals in the vicinity of your tank. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting