How long does it take nature to degloss PVC pipe? It is moss less 5 years later!

To all the wise structure builders:
I didn't want to sand the pieces originally. It just seemed like a ton more work. I was building ten at a time, mass producing. I've been a regular reader on here for 5 years. I've been building structure with everything but the kitchen sink. I figured if PVC was in the water long enough nature would strip the high gloss off the PVC and then moss would form. 5 Years later and low water, I realize I may have to wait way longer than I wanted. It seems like it may take 20 years?? I may not use scrap pieces of new PVC anymore unless I want to sand it. Which thats a lot of work to save a few hooks! Used worn out PVC has mossed up and held fish great, wood and boo have as well. But New -unsanded PVC has been kinda a waist of time. I guess in life you have to learn the hard way sometimes! Any thoughts??

buy some now, or accumulate it, leave it out behind the shed for a few months, then build your structures

sand it or rough it up and it will build up alge much quicker.

Just lay it down on concrete or chat and run it over with a four wheeler or somin not hard to scratch it up a little.

Anyone ever tried this? 4" pipe and it comes already perforated for easy sinking????

I have use the black four inch threaded into a five gallon bucket four ways , with about 6 foot each way A company makes these and they call them bass buckets I've not had much luck fishing them

I have used the drain pipe and I put a large rock in the bottom and a pop bottle in the top and then insert 1/2" black irrigation pipe thru at different angles at the top of the pipe so it looks like a palm tree when it is done. Pretty cheap and the fish seem to like it. You can get 100 ft of drain pipe for $35 and 100 feet of 1/2" irrigation pipe for $9. That is about $3.75 for 1 8' tree.

Oly1

I know mold grows on the house every year. have to wash with bleach.

Think of it this way, that smooth finish is DESIGNED not to "slime up" in a rather hostile situation (drainage and sewer systems); in water, ain`t gonna happen in a couple of decades unless you scuff it, unfortuneatly...never tried the black drainage tile...

When sanding your pvc you don't have to spend alot of time. Just get a piece of really rough sand paper and pull it down the pvc 1 or 2 times. Will only take 5 seconds per piece at most.

It could be the water, some lakes have more algee in them than others. I built a massive pvc structure years ago & it started holding fish right away, still has fish on it every time I fish it, but they don't always bite ! LOL

Good info. here. I didn't know that new pipe resisted algae. Wonder if washing it removes any unkind residue? Try some dawn and water and see if that helps. We make our fish habitat out of vinyl siding, which has a textured finish. NEVER have any problems getting it to fuzz up in a matter of weeks. I bet that pvc pipe has a coating of some type. Sanding by hand is to much work, sandblast!

Sand blasting would be fast AND leave tiny bits of sand embedded which DEFINATELY encourage algea growth...GOOD idea, Peepaw!

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Originally Posted by carter

I know mold grows on the house every year. have to wash with bleach.

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LOL Good one!

I was just made aware of an old Tennesse trick by a local good ol' boy. He said if you pour buttermilk on the pipe and let it completely dry in the sun, it will grow algae like a banchie! Must be the proteins and stuff left over in the film that brings the algae in to eat/grow. Give it a shot, can't lose anything. He says go to the store and get the expiring stuff for free!

It took a year for my pvc condo,s too get real green and with no sanding

try the gray electricial pipe PVC

Got to look at some of the gray electrical pvc last summer that I had placed the year before and it was slimed up really good.

I scuffed mine up with a Scotchbrite pad and it grew in about a month.

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Originally Posted by Railroad Man68

I scuffed mine up with a Scotchbrite pad and it grew in about a month.

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I do the same. You don't need to sand the heck out of it...just knock some of the gloss off.

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Originally Posted by keeferfish

Anyone ever tried this? 4" pipe and it comes already perforated for easy sinking????

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I use that too, and put black well pump pipe through it. Block on bottom, pop bottles on top.

You can even put in deep water with a long rope to block, and have it however deep you want it.

I'm learning that the color/fertility of the water plays a big part in algae growth as well.

Yeah in the hot shallow muddy water where I fish, your boat will almost grow algae if you leave it in the water overnight!

Same with our lake, can't see in more than 10-12". Makes for great shallow action!

Get your cribs in now giving them all season to grow algae in the warmest months. Also as the water temp. rises, fish will seek out shade as well.

I weight mine with concrete. Just take a little soupy concrte and rub it quickly over the pvc. Will dry like muddy water on the pipe. Easy, quick and the algae grows quick.