Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
Moderator: ooper01
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Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
I have an interesting problem, not sure if it's minor, major, or nonexistent. I bought 20ft of clear vinyl tubing at Lowes, they don't sell it on the big spools, which means the only way to get it is pre cut to 10ft or 20ft.
After buying the 20ft one 1/2in. O/D I got home cut it in half and ran warm/hot water through both 10ft sections, just to clean out any dust.
I have my Ant nest on one part of my room and the outworld is far enough away for one 10ft section, so the outworld is 10ft away. Now the nest I have hooked up only has maybe 10-12 nanantics.
My problem is a worker ant will get about 4ft down the tube (from the nest side) and turn around and high tail it back to the nest. It's been about 4 days and the workers don't go any further then about 4-5ft down tube before running back to nest.
I took the vinyl tube off and put it up to my nose and the inside of the tube has an EXTREMELY strong vinyl smell. I'm wondering if the inside is too "toxic" and that's why they run back. Or does that not really matter to ants. If it does matter does anyone have a good solution to cleaning out the tube or fixing the problem in some other way?
After buying the 20ft one 1/2in. O/D I got home cut it in half and ran warm/hot water through both 10ft sections, just to clean out any dust.
I have my Ant nest on one part of my room and the outworld is far enough away for one 10ft section, so the outworld is 10ft away. Now the nest I have hooked up only has maybe 10-12 nanantics.
My problem is a worker ant will get about 4ft down the tube (from the nest side) and turn around and high tail it back to the nest. It's been about 4 days and the workers don't go any further then about 4-5ft down tube before running back to nest.
I took the vinyl tube off and put it up to my nose and the inside of the tube has an EXTREMELY strong vinyl smell. I'm wondering if the inside is too "toxic" and that's why they run back. Or does that not really matter to ants. If it does matter does anyone have a good solution to cleaning out the tube or fixing the problem in some other way?
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- Location: louisiana
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
if the colony is that small, they probably dont like getting to far from the nest. most outworld distances i see for young colonies are 12" or considerably less.
but i am also new to the hobby, so i could made a mistake
but i am also new to the hobby, so i could made a mistake
Founding:
3 Solenopsis I/X
5 Tapinoma sessile
1 Nylanderia terricola/vivulda
Colonies:
1 Brachymyrmex patagonicus
1 Pheidole soritis
1 Tapinoma sessile
The difference between a hobby and a scientific pursuit, is detailed notes.
3 Solenopsis I/X
5 Tapinoma sessile
1 Nylanderia terricola/vivulda
Colonies:
1 Brachymyrmex patagonicus
1 Pheidole soritis
1 Tapinoma sessile
The difference between a hobby and a scientific pursuit, is detailed notes.
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
I think your problem is that young colonies don't like to travel far. I'm surprised they wanted to go even five feet.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
- Whitelotus
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 5:50 pm
- Location: San Joaquin County, California
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
The tubing is not toxic. My ants have no problem with the vinyl tubes in my set up. Only issue is that they tend to use varying parts of the vinyl tube as their graveyard.
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- Posts: 27
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 11:34 am
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
Thank you Whitelotus my only reason for worrying is because of how strong a smell it is. It almost smells as strong as vinyl melting. It seriously is that strong.
Should I still worry?
Should I still worry?
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
I am unsure how your setup is but depending the tubing may be too hot? Only thing I can think of that could cause a smell like that
Nylanderia Sp.
Pheidole Sp.
Founding - Cremagastor & Solonopsis Invicta
Pheidole Sp.
Founding - Cremagastor & Solonopsis Invicta
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- Posts: 27
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 11:34 am
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
Tubing has no heating element anywhere near it. The inside of the tubing just smells that strong, but not because it itself is hot or melting. I was just using the melting vinyl smell as a comparison as to how strong the inside of the tubing smells.
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- Location: Orangeville
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
Okay first was it washed before you used it. Alot of the times factories aren't up to code when it comes to plastics and health issues. If there is a strong smell I would give it a couple of wash with some very hot water and soap rinse and repeat 3 times rinsing 3 times after all soap washing is done. That should cut down on alot of the smell.
Ants are life's most successful invaders. Understand and respect that power.
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- Posts: 27
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2018 11:34 am
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
Thank you Morbidbugg
Will try this out, what soap do you recommend, and do I just run the soapy water through it, or do I need to actually "wash" the inside of the tube. If I need to "wash" the inside of the tube how do I go about that?
Thanks again
Will try this out, what soap do you recommend, and do I just run the soapy water through it, or do I need to actually "wash" the inside of the tube. If I need to "wash" the inside of the tube how do I go about that?
Thanks again
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- Posts: 153
- Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2018 5:11 pm
- Location: louisiana
Re: Is Vinyl tubing Toxic?
make sure you reduce the distance too.
Founding:
3 Solenopsis I/X
5 Tapinoma sessile
1 Nylanderia terricola/vivulda
Colonies:
1 Brachymyrmex patagonicus
1 Pheidole soritis
1 Tapinoma sessile
The difference between a hobby and a scientific pursuit, is detailed notes.
3 Solenopsis I/X
5 Tapinoma sessile
1 Nylanderia terricola/vivulda
Colonies:
1 Brachymyrmex patagonicus
1 Pheidole soritis
1 Tapinoma sessile
The difference between a hobby and a scientific pursuit, is detailed notes.
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