Lubrication for PVC

BradMugs · 12/14/2011, 11:44 PM

I'm using PVC down to my filter. I built it so I can twist the last section of PVC so it's eaiser to clean around it. Now the PVC is sticking is there a lubrication I can put on it so it will move eaiser?

sporto0 · 12/14/2011, 11:48 PM

Vaseline.

leeit2me · 12/14/2011, 11:53 PM

Use food grade silicone grease.

redfishblewfish · 12/14/2011, 11:53 PM

Not vaseline! It's petroleum based.

I don't use anything on the two lines I have coming into my sump....just friction fit. In the past, I've also wrapped a little telfon tape around the pipe to help hold the pipe in the fitting.

If you're still hell-bent on using a lubricant, then make it Plumber's Grease or Pool Lube. Both are safe to use within your tank. I personally use Leslie's Pool Lube to lube all my rubber parts. Good stuff.

BradMugs · 12/14/2011, 11:59 PM

OK, no vaseline. Where does one get food grade silicone grease? How about Plumbers grease or pool lube? The plumbers grease I think I've seen scares me.

OH the reason I want to lube it is because its putting a lot of pressure on the rest of the system when I twist it.

sporto0 · 12/15/2011, 12:00 AM

Petroleum based products won't contaminate your tank, I've used it before, you will have to reapply occasianally, it breaks down in saltwater but if you use it sparingly, you won't have a problem, especially since it doesn't have direct contact with your water flow.

sporto0 · 12/15/2011, 12:04 AM

Guess what, Fish oil is petroleum based, don't believe everything anyone says.

redfishblewfish · 12/15/2011, 12:22 AM

Plumber’s grease or pool lube is silicone based (or other non-petroleum based stuff) that is safe for use in potable water systems. Again, I’ve been using Leslies’s Pool Lube for as long as I could remember…both on freshwater and saltwater tanks.

I also agree that you “can’t believe everything anybody says”….fish oil is petroleum…lol.

"pe·tro·le·um -n. A thick, flammable, yellow-to-black mixture of gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons that occurs naturally beneath the earth's surface, can be separated into fractions including natural gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, fuel and lubricating oils, paraffin wax, and asphalt and is used as raw material for a wide variety of derivative products."

fareforce · 12/15/2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradMugs

OK, no vaseline. Where does one get food grade silicone grease? How about Plumbers grease or pool lube? The plumbers grease I think I've seen scares me.

OH the reason I want to lube it is because its putting a lot of pressure on the rest of the system when I twist it.

Food grade silicon you can get at your local beer brewing supply store. Us home brewer use it all the time to lubricate and seal our kegs.

doctorgori · 12/15/2011, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporto0

Petroleum based products won't contaminate your tank, I've used it before, you will have to reapply occasianally, it breaks down in saltwater but if you use it sparingly, you won't have a problem, especially since it doesn't have direct contact with your water flow.

I saw that and was thinking about all those Magnum O rings et over the yrs sealed with vaseline...I'd be more worried about the toxics entering the tanks via ones hands

Dustin1300 · 12/15/2011, 07:29 AM

As the others have said don't use the petroleum based lube, no reason to risk it if you have much better alternatives.

jimmyj7090 · 12/15/2011, 12:12 PM

Install a PVC union where you want to be able to piviot the pipe.

billdogg · 12/15/2011, 12:22 PM

IMO, the easiest (and safest option is plumbers grease, which as stated above, is nothin more then silicone lubricant. It is found in the plumbing section of any hardware store and is food (and therefore aquarium) safe. Unless you are trying to recreate a Gulf oil spill biotope, vaseline is a very poor choice for use with anything that comes into contact with your system.

BradMugs · 12/15/2011, 06:55 PM

Wow, I love all the opinions - I believe that people have probably used vaseline for years with out any problems - I think I'll look for some silicone just for the extra level of protection (I think I may even have some...it it the stuff you use on a treaded pipe inplace of the tape?)

12/14/2011, 11:44 PM	#1
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Lubrication for PVC I'm using PVC down to my filter. I built it so I can twist the last section of PVC so it's eaiser to clean around it. Now the PVC is sticking is there a lubrication I can put on it so it will move eaiser?

12/15/2011, 07:29 AM	#11
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	As the others have said don't use the petroleum based lube, no reason to risk it if you have much better alternatives. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

12/15/2011, 12:12 PM	#12
jimmyj7090 aka John K Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sudbury Posts: 2,367	Install a PVC union where you want to be able to piviot the pipe. __________________ my reef ate my wallet Current Tank Info: 57G, RBTA's Zoa's and softies

12/15/2011, 12:22 PM	#13
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IMO, the easiest (and safest option is plumbers grease, which as stated above, is nothin more then silicone lubricant. It is found in the plumbing section of any hardware store and is food (and therefore aquarium) safe. Unless you are trying to recreate a Gulf oil spill biotope, vaseline is a very poor choice for use with anything that comes into contact with your system. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

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12/14/2011, 11:48 PM	#2
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Vaseline.

12/14/2011, 11:53 PM	#3
leeit2me Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: bklyn,ny Posts: 241	Use food grade silicone grease.

12/14/2011, 11:53 PM	#4
redfishblewfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 716	Not vaseline! It's petroleum based. I don't use anything on the two lines I have coming into my sump....just friction fit. In the past, I've also wrapped a little telfon tape around the pipe to help hold the pipe in the fitting. If you're still hell-bent on using a lubricant, then make it Plumber's Grease or Pool Lube. Both are safe to use within your tank. I personally use Leslie's Pool Lube to lube all my rubber parts. Good stuff.

12/14/2011, 11:59 PM	#5
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	OK, no vaseline. Where does one get food grade silicone grease? How about Plumbers grease or pool lube? The plumbers grease I think I've seen scares me. OH the reason I want to lube it is because its putting a lot of pressure on the rest of the system when I twist it.

12/15/2011, 12:00 AM	#6
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Petroleum based products won't contaminate your tank, I've used it before, you will have to reapply occasianally, it breaks down in saltwater but if you use it sparingly, you won't have a problem, especially since it doesn't have direct contact with your water flow.

12/15/2011, 12:04 AM	#7
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Guess what, Fish oil is petroleum based, don't believe everything anyone says.

12/15/2011, 12:22 AM	#8
redfishblewfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 716	Plumber’s grease or pool lube is silicone based (or other non-petroleum based stuff) that is safe for use in potable water systems. Again, I’ve been using Leslies’s Pool Lube for as long as I could remember…both on freshwater and saltwater tanks. I also agree that you “can’t believe everything anybody says”….fish oil is petroleum…lol. "pe·tro·le·um -n. A thick, flammable, yellow-to-black mixture of gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons that occurs naturally beneath the earth's surface, can be separated into fractions including natural gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, fuel and lubricating oils, paraffin wax, and asphalt and is used as raw material for a wide variety of derivative products."

12/15/2011, 06:55 PM	#14
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Wow, I love all the opinions - I believe that people have probably used vaseline for years with out any problems - I think I'll look for some silicone just for the extra level of protection (I think I may even have some...it it the stuff you use on a treaded pipe inplace of the tape?)