Is pipe decay from nutrients a possible detrimental effect?

aTTicRaT

Well-Known Member
Well I'm not currently building a system but the thought of building one has occurred to me on several occasions.

So I'm just curious if the nutrients themselves would, over time, cause a breach in the pipe due to corrosion/decay. For all examples let's say I'm referring to a simple ebb/flow system.

Say PVC or CPVC and their associated glues/cement are used in a system. Is there any decay in the pipes associated with the chemicals in the nutrients?

What about a copper pipe system brazed together with silver. Is there any chance of corrosion of the copper pipe or its joints due to chemicals in the nutrients?

Also would the nutrients themselves causes some reaction with either material to cause harmful substances in your media and/or buds?

Thanks to all in inquisitive minds in advance.
 
It's not the chemicals, more appropriately called minerals, that you should worry about, it's the acidity. Beer and nutrient solutions have a similar pH and breweries use stainless steel or copper. That is my two cents.
 
My best understanding says use stainless steel or you'll get nasty reactions. I have stainless cooling tubes in my res with no ill effect. Also soldering anything might not be the best idea. In olden thymes they used lead solder for canned goods. Long story short, a lot of people got sick and or died.
 
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