Basking platform for Red Eared Slider tank

[BPinWV]

Hello,

I'm designing a basking plateform for a turtle tank. I would like to use copper pipe for the support structure. Does anyone know if the copper pipe would leach into the water?

 

[krausch]

Copper is not toxic to turtles. Some people suggest to use pennies in the water as a means to control algae. The copper coating of the pennies leaches off slowly. If your worried about the amount of leaching into the water, i would imagine that pvc or cpvc would be an alternative.

 

[BPinWV]

Thank you for your comment. I'm intending on using a heat emitter, and worried about a constant heat source 12" from the pvc. There would be areas between the rocks where the pvc would be exposed. I haven't given up on pvc, I thought perhaps copper pipe would stand up to the heat better. But then started to worry about long term exposure to the water, which is changed weekly.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Wow, that's a pretty warm basking spot if you're worried about the PVC warping!