Yes, you can use PVC cement!

scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
This question gets asked a LOT so I'll post it here.
Yes, you can use PVC pipe cement and the cleaning solvent for the pipes - often sold as "Oatey cement" on PVC plumbing used for fish tanks. See below pic.
Once the product dries, it's perfectly safe for exposure to aquarium water.
Apply the product and allow to cure completely - about 12-24 hours - and you're good to go.

 
otley 1975

otley 1975

Member
I ran water 15 minutes after I used primer, cleaner and glue with no problems. Just make sure to wipe the excuse off.
 
deltablack22

deltablack22

Active Member
Originally Posted by otley 1975
http:///forum/post/2641409
I ran water 15 minutes after I used primer, cleaner and glue with no problems. Just make sure to wipe the excuse off.
Yeah, wiping the excess off may work but its still smart to let it cure completely. Maybe its just me, but when water tight seals are the only thing between my flooring and 100 + gallons of saltwater I'm a little cautious.
Oh, and its good to know its not toxic too SCSI.
 
rockman

rockman

Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2636203
This question gets asked a LOT so I'll post it here.
Yes, you can use PVC pipe cement and the cleaning solvent for the pipes - often sold as "Oatey cement" on PVC plumbing used for fish tanks. See below pic.
Once the product dries, it's perfectly safe for exposure to aquarium water.
Apply the product and allow to cure completely - about 12-24 hours - and you're good to go.


+ 1
 
chilwil84

chilwil84

Active Member
as a drain u might not get a leak if you run water in an hour or so but as a supply (under pressure ) 24 hrs is a good number to be safe
 
digitydash

digitydash

Active Member
It does not take 24 hr for pvc cement to dry.I do swimming pools and never let it dry more then a couple of minutes.PVC cement heat the pipe up and melt it together.This is how it bonds kind of like acrylic glue.
 
scrombus2

scrombus2

Member
It's a good idea to let the glue cure for 12-24 hours. The solvents will offgas for a period of several hours and the fumes are soluble in water. once the offgassing is done, the glue and the pipe are inert.
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Originally Posted by digitydash
http:///forum/post/2652159
It does not take 24 hr for pvc cement to dry.I do swimming pools and never let it dry more then a couple of minutes.PVC cement heat the pipe up and melt it together.This is how it bonds kind of like acrylic glue.
While it's true that the pipes can be pressurized (especially the relatively low pressures of swimming pools and aquariums), the VOCs present in the compound need to evaporate out before the pipes are safe to expose to aquarium water.
In a swimming pool, this danger is not present.
Those of us who are seasoned in this hobby know how to break the rules. But from a tips perspective, particularly to beginners who may not necessarily know how to join the pipe with minimal residual cement pooling in the joints, etc, I will stick with my position on 12-24 hours drying time. Those who are asking the questions about this cement in the first place are presumably beginner, so I didn't want to steer them wrong with shortcuts.
 
otley 1975

otley 1975

Member
Good point SCSInet, newbies may use half the bottle on one joint and not know to only use a little. A little goes a long way.
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Originally Posted by pimpNfish
http:///forum/post/2655099
better safe than a MORON.
I'm sorry, maybe I'm not getting your sense of humor, but do you have anything useful to say? None of your posts seem to be anything other than insulting, sarcastic, or downright rude.
 
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