PVC or UPVC ?

[Midwater]

I am slowly planning a new large freshwater tank with a sump filter, as I prefer. It is a long term project, and might not get going until well into the year. But I am, unbeknownst to the missus, planning.

PVC is widely and cheaply available here, and most fittings are available in PVC. The only thing I cannot get made here in PVC are good bulkheads, which I have already ordered as UPVC from China.

So now I am considering all the other fittings that I will need, unions, valves, etc. The locally made PVC fittings are about half the price of Chinese UPVC. The pipes themselves will be PVC, but is there any advantage using UPVC over regular PVC?

 

[Preacher]

I got industrial bulkheads and turned the PVC fittings down on a lathe. I am sure a job shop would not charge you to much. It was totally worth it.

 

[M1A1]

There's no real difference between UPVC and PVC for aquarium purposes so use whatever you want.

The only thing I'll note is that generally UPVC is rated safe for potable water while normal PVC is not rated safe; normal PVC is used only on the waste side usually.

 

[Midwater]

... for potable water while normal PVC is not rated safe; normal PVC is used only on the waste side usually.

Over here, pvc is the default medium for all household water, both waste and potable. It is readily available, cheap and blue.