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algae in tubing... is this a serious issue?

post #1 of 12
Thread Starter 
Hey OCN, First time Water cooler, planning on doing a cpu/gpu loop in my 650D with 3770K and GTX670FTW... I'm concerned about algae and other bacteria accumulating in my loop. Am I worrying too much? Is this a serious issue for water coolers? Will it affect performance or longevity of the system / components?

I ask, because I'm familiar with tubing and water... where there's heat, water, and light, algae can grow.
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post #2 of 12
If you get a silver kill coil, biocide additive, or a coolant/concentrate containing biocide you will not have to worry about loop contamination. thumb.gif
    
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post #3 of 12
Thread Starter 
coolant with biocide seems like the simplest fix to me biggrin.gif rep++;
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post #4 of 12
Just double check with the coolant you buy. Some don't need any prohibitors. How ever if your using distilled water then your gonna need silver kill coil or pt nuke. Etc smile.gif
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post #5 of 12
Distilled water is your very very very best bet. Just use copper sulfate or a silver coil and you're set. You'll have to flush the water every 6-8 month if you're that worried, but I bet you could go up to a year without incident.
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post #6 of 12
Get one of these?

145

Or in all seriousness, some PT nuke.
    
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post #7 of 12
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunnywinkles View Post

Get one of these?
145
Or in all seriousness, some PT nuke.

Funny, but no I can't keep Pleco's in my tank rolleyes.gif I've got Discuss... about $800-$900 worth and Pleco's once full grown (become carnivores not herbivores/omnivores).... long fish story wink.gif
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post #8 of 12
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gliggo View Post

Just double check with the coolant you buy. Some don't need any prohibitors. How ever if your using distilled water then your gonna need silver kill coil or pt nuke. Etc smile.gif

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rognin View Post

Distilled water is your very very very best bet. Just use copper sulfate or a silver coil and you're set. You'll have to flush the water every 6-8 month if you're that worried, but I bet you could go up to a year without incident.

I'd like to add as little to the loop as possible.... as far as extra's. I don't mind adding solution or solvent to the coolant though which is what I assume copper sulfate is? I'll look into it further thumb.gif

Also why do you recommend distilled water above others?
Edited by FishCommander - 6/10/12 at 1:17am
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post #9 of 12
Distilled water doesn't usually leave behind crap and gunk in your water blocks and it holds heat better than coolants.

Some pointers:
  • If going straight distilled, use distilled + PT Nuke PHN (and nothing else)
  • If you have any coolant ratio or added anti-corrosive agent, use PT Nuke Cu instead. PT Nuke PHN will precipitate gunk if mixed with most coolants.
  • Do not use silver kill coils unless you do not have any Nickel or Stainless Steel or you know that the Nickel and Stainless Steel that you have is an alloy that will not be a problem. Galvanic corrosion starts at 300mv, which includes some nickels/steels and discludes others. Copper to steel is fine, copper to nickel is fine, and copper to silver is fine.
  • If you mixed any metals or alloys that have a greater galvanic index difference than 300mv, you must use an anti-corrosion additive or anti-corrosive coolant.
post #10 of 12
Thread Starter 
Thank you, Looks like I've got my work cut out for me. I appreciate the advice, this is def better to know before I've bought parts/coolant... rather than after it's installed. thumb.gif
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