Water

[-DC-]

How often do I have to change the water? And whats a substitute that i can use instead of antifreeze coolant? Coz i don't thin the green would look too good if i got 2x blu cathodes... anything that could keep the water clearish?

[City_Idiot]

well i'm using bleech with soem baking soda in it and a chem based dye for colour

[-DC-]

whats the baking soda for?

[Method]

I think id does the same as if youd have salt minus the damage?

[mird-OC]

there are a number of things you can use. water wetter is a good thing to use but it usually makes yer water turn pink :D

but yeah just a little bit of bleach will keep the bacteria and algae under control. baking soda is an optional extra which raises the pH level a little bit in case you're worried about the acidity of the bleach, and it may also help with water tension a little. some people use a little bit of dish washing detergent (although from experience this stuff is a bit of a pain as it causes froth!), but you can basically use anything like that.

[SerN]

I'm running a 75%:25%, water : antifreeze mix. I havn't ever changed my water so my water cooling has been untouched for well over a year now.
I guess it depends how clean the inside of your rad is, mines very clean and shouldn't ever need a water change.

I run 2 blue cathodes which work well with the green antifreeze, infact it even makes my hoses glow a nice bluey greeny colour :)

see my pic below

[-DC-]

Originally posted by mird-OC
(although from experience this stuff is a bit of a pain as it causes froth

now we wouldn't want my open top res looking frothy do we ;)

hmmm cheers for the tips guys :)

[RedeviL]

Originally posted by SerN
I'm running a 75%:25%, water : antifreeze mix. I havn't ever changed my water so my water cooling has been untouched for well over a year now.

Curious, what made you go for the 75%:25% ratio?

[GooGlo]

I dont use any additaves at all as i semm to change the water 1-3 times p/week :eek:

I allways empty out my res when im moving it which is quite often.

[SerN]

Originally posted by RedeviL
Curious, what made you go for the 75%:25% ratio?

Well i'm mixing aluminium and copper and even brass in my setup, so need a reasonable amount of antifreeze (25%) to stop the different metals reacting. I originally used 40% antifreeze but later changed t0 25% as 40% seemed a bit overkill.

I could possibly even get away with less than 25%, but meh.. I don't care as my temps are really good as it is.

[Method]

Originally posted by -DC-
now we wouldn't want my open top res looking frothy do we ;)

hmmm cheers for the tips guys :)

u can use dishwashing (the one that goes ionto the dishwasher) liquid, that makes no bubbles..does it?

[ktulu]

Just a point that some of you may not be aware of.
If you want to reduce algale growth, don't use clear hoses. The light allows bugs to grow.

[-DC-]

Originally posted by ktulu
Just a point that some of you may not be aware of.
If you want to reduce algale growth, don't use clear hoses. The light allows bugs to grow.

clear = silicone clear, or tygon clear?

also one more thing thats come to mind... why would there be algae growth if we use distilled water? :S

[City_Idiot]

there would be no gorths with distilled water aslong as the following rules are applyied:
1. that water has been stroed in bacteria free jugs
2. that it dose not come in contact with and non-sterial aire/water/anything
3. you WC setup is totaly bacteria free.

If you can do all those you will have no probs

and i will eat my hat

[SySteM]

can we use
-food color or dye color
in the water for nice color? :)

[RedeviL]

Originally posted by SerN
Well i'm mixing aluminium and copper and even brass in my setup, so need a reasonable amount of antifreeze (25%) to stop the different metals reacting. I originally used 40% antifreeze but later changed t0 25% as 40% seemed a bit overkill.

I could possibly even get away with less than 25%, but meh.. I don't care as my temps are really good as it is.

Ahh, Ive got the same problem.
Copper, Aluminium, Tin, and abit of brass through the whole system.
What type of water are you using? Just tap water, or you go Distilled?
And what Coolant you use?

Might go for it in mine - proven working is good enough for me.

[-DC-]

well i use this type of coolant/antifreeze from Repco and it seems to foam a tiny little bit on the eded on my res... i didn't notice it untill 3 days ago...

[dumass]

I use Castrol antifreeze (twas lying around) and some of that finish rinse aid stuff (cheap water wetter, and doesnt foam like ordinary dish liquid)

That finish stuff stoped all those noises of my pump hiting air pockets and stuff. I was quite suprised how good it worked :)

[mird-OC]

using distilled water is kinda wasted to a certain extent, as the bugs are still gonna get in there (and flourish if given a chance). it is however a good way to ensure there are minimal amounts of other minerals in the water that could start building up on yer gear.

[SecretSquirrel]

rince aid is bloody expensive, and isnt it to stop the glasses getting streaks?

surely you mean you just added ordinary dishwashing powder?

also, if you DID add the dishwashing version, which is extremely caustic, do you balance it out with some baking soda?



Also, to recap, in my deathtank, the mega mix of cheap (stick to a semi-original plan, apart from that damn toobing!) I want to add :

Water
Antifreeze (necessary in summer?)
a form of low boooble Detergent
baking soda?

anything elses?

[RedeviL]

Originally posted by mird-OC
it is however a good way to ensure there are minimal amounts of other minerals in the water that could start building up on yer gear.

Thats what I'm wanting.
Anti-freeze, now mainly called Radiator Coolant, has a anti-corrosion part but since its aimed at being diluted with water, I would rather remove the whole metals-in-tap-water thing from my rig.

[SerN]

Originally posted by RedeviL
Ahh, Ive got the same problem.
Copper, Aluminium, Tin, and abit of brass through the whole system.
What type of water are you using? Just tap water, or you go Distilled?
And what Coolant you use?

Might go for it in mine - proven working is good enough for me.

Water : Christchurch water 99.9% fresh and clean :D

Didn't see any point in using distilled water, and i'm using generic antifreeze (it's all the same)

By the way you guys, if you're using antifreeze theres no point adding baking soda and all that other sh1t you're putting into your systems. antifreeze handles everything. :rolleyes:

[SecretSquirrel]

SerN - cheers, thats EXACTLY what I wanted to know.

[SilverPriest]

I've posted this before, and i'll post it again, read this (http://www.procooling.com/articles/html/chems_of_oc_n_and_super_coolin1.shtml).
Very informative :)

[SerN]

That link SP posted is well worth a read :)

[sIg]

-DC-
ive got the answear to all you probs (colour wise)
all you need it a UV light and
http://www.pccasegear.com.au/prod500.htm
:D

[mird-OC]

here's another good read about coolants:

http://www.overclockers.com/articles609/

rather long-winded, but a good read none-the-less...

[Method]

i thought distilled water also reduces the risk of damage if there is a leak?

[ktulu]

Originally posted by Method
i thought distilled water also reduces the risk of damage if there is a leak?

nah... water becomes deionised as soon as it hits anything like dust/CO2/dirt/ect... as as soon as it hits your mobo, it'd be like tap water and short whatever it felt like.