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Brass or copper?

1920 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Ed
Would it be an issue if I used brass or copper fittings on my misting system?
Will it affect my frogs at all?
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Can't say what it would do to the frogs, but I have heard of deposits from brass nozzles having a negative effect on epiphytes and other sensitive plants over time. Food-grade plastics are usually your best bet.
I would think that brass or copper would both be bad. One IS copper and the other is an alloy of Copper and Zinc. Zinc and Copper even in small amounts are toxic to many plants and animals and especially inverts. I don't know for certain that a tiny brass/copper nozzel on a mister head would introduce enough copper into a viv, even over the long term, but, with other alternatives available I wouldn't take the chance.
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It's not a nozzle, but a threaded adapter for 1/4 inch tubing.
I have no experience, but i have seen some hand misters use brass nozzles.
I know for a fact that copper will kill plants. I used to work in a pet shop that had a pond with a waterfall. There were several species of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants in the pond. People would throw coins in the pond and then we began seeing plants die. Did some water testing and...voila, too much copper leaching from the pennies.

Steve
What about all the copper pipes in our homes?

Some people mist with aged tap water. I don't see the difference. :confused:
What about all the copper pipes in our homes?

Some people mist with aged tap water. I don't see the difference. :confused:

Unless you are dealing with very aggressive tap water or new piping, copper piping is very safe as older copper piping develops a mineral deposit on the interior of the pipe which prevent copper from entering into solution. New copper piping or acidic waters or water with a pH > 8.5 are at risk of having copper as a potential issue. In the case of the using it in misting systems, it won't have a mineralized buildup to prevent corrosion from introducing copper or zinc ions into solution (this is also the case with the pennies in a post above).

Ed
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