Pump worries

so you cant see water coming back in the res? the water level should definitely go down if you added more tubes / components (is that even possible without emptying the rest of the system?)

I dont think you should be able to feel much difference in hardness between a dry tube and one with water (unless the flow is blocked badly)

any pics to give an idea of what you are playing around with?

Air locked sounds probable. As I'd feared, after 18 hours of leak testing, no water ended up in the tubes... lol. Going to try tipping now.

EDIT: shook it pretty vigorously. Still nothing. What the hell?

EDIT 2: There's now water in the loop! However, I can clearly see air bubbles that won't move and the pump starts making a high-pitched noise when turned on - I panicked and immediately turned it off then. Is that noise just normal for a DDC-1T pump or what?

did the system ever run as it is suppose to? or is it all new?
If the entire system was empty before starting filling it, the res would deplete a LOT!

the tubes are solid green? you cant see throe the tubes?
is water coming back to the res? (Im guessing no..)
what pump do you have?

I would try setting up only the pump and the res, to see if the pump is functioning correctly.
If it is fine, try filling your radiators with your coolant (if its possible without coolant ending all over your system) that way there wont be so much air to push around

edit
Quote:

Originally Posted by theseekeroffun

It appears from your picture that your pump is at the highest point in your loop. If that is the case, you will have issues getting your system filled and primed. If you can rest the case on its back and just power the pump, you will have an easier time.

Click to expand...

right! is the res at least higher then the pump? pumps dosnt like to pull water.. its better to have them fed by gravity

or though I suspect its a combined pump/ress, so should be fine?

When filling a loop with a bay res/pump never just switch it on and let it run. Only power on the pump for a couple of seconds and switch it off again, when working properly it will drain the res very quickly anyway.
Guessing that you are using the Alphacool Repack - Laing DDC - 5,25 Bay Station? If so the water in the res has a quite tricky path to get from the reservoir into the pump impeller, and air coming out has an even trickier path. When the impeller chamber is not completely filled with water the pump will not push water very well at all. To beat that you need to tip the res backwards (the whole case on its back) so the pump is at the bottom and air bubbles will naturally float up into the reservoir. While it is on its back power on the pump very briefly and it should start sucking water. It will be a slow process filling the res, powering on and off, and refilling but eventually the res will stop depleting. Then you can move on to leak testing.

If the pump was left running without the system filled there is a chance it has been damaged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakusonfire

If the pump was left running without the system filled there is a chance it has been damaged.

Click to expand...

This.

It sounds like you may have burned out the pump. Especially if it ran for 18 hours!

Here is a vid on what can happen if the pump doesn't get enough water!
Edit: Pardon the comments! I am in no way implying that they reflect you at all! Was just for informative purposes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by healey33

This.

It sounds like you may have burned out the pump. Especially if it ran for 18 hours!

Here is a vid on what can happen if the pump doesn't get enough water!

Click to expand...

ROFL! that video cracked me up!
and totally agree.. with 18 hours of running with air to your pump, your gonna have a bad time.

but I doubt that the pump was this much starved at any point (but yea.. 18 hours? uff)

also. crust_cheese, you might wanna make new posts instead of adding that many edits ppl might not notice.
so the flow is going now? the noise might be due to air bubbles still in the system.. If the system if flowing now, I would let it run for an hour or two, turning it on and off every now and then.
Also, flicking the tubes with your fingers, tilting the case to all sides etc, might loosen up those stubborn bubbles.

best of luck!

I couldn't believe the pump would still be working after that. But it sure as hell is, don't ask me why. Loop's going, I'm pretty sure most of the air is out. Gonna try putting it on its back now (do you mean the side with the I/O, right?)

That video physically hurt me... What a goof.
No worries, I stopped at weird noises, the power switch was always handy.

Probably more than anything, my hardware now taught me: If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well, and I shouldn't be so hasty about crap

I am surprised but glad it's working! I hope this isn't too early but congrats on your first loop!