UHMW Reef Safe?

[weatherson]

Hi Randy,
I'm curious as to your thoughts regarding the use of UHMW plastic within a reef tank. I'm attempting to trouble shoot an issue of some Slow Tissue Narcosis on some SPS in my tank and thought I would look toward this plastic I use in my sinusoidal valve as a diverter drum. I did find a chemical content sheet HERE (http://www.sdplastics.com/uhmwchem.html) and hoped you could take a look. I know there are a few chemicals listed that don't look too friendly but wonder if they could even leech into the water. Thanks and regards,

Joseph

[Habib]

That is fortunately not a chemical content chart but a chemical resistance chart. :)

UHMW stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight.

I don't think that much different catalysts are used to manufacture it compared to HD PE.

Since PE is hydrophobic, I doubt that catalysts would leach out in a significant quanity.

IMO the Tissue Ncrosis might have another cause.

Let's see what Randy has to say. :)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

UHMW PE is perfectly fine for a reef tank, IMO. :)

[weatherson]

Heh... Oops. Guess I should have read that better. ;) Thank you both for the input though. I'm trying to eliminate all the possible candidates and my next step is to see about having an analysis done on my water. The other possibilities are Phosban, of which I have discontinued its use, and the recent switch to Oceanic salt from IO. Thanks again.

Joseph

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck. :)