Upcoming Watercooling Review/Article

[Clay]

Well, I've been getting ready for my next review/article (more of a guide I think is what it will turn out to be actually). Anyway, I have the following setup:

• My existing mobo/CPU/video card
• Lian-Li PC-71 full tower case
• Danger Den Black Ice Pro 120mm Radiator
• PolarFLO TT Series Basic System Set
• Evercool 120mm fan on radiator (80cfm @ 29dB)
• 120mm Panaflow L1A (not sure if/where I'll use yet)
• Tygon tubing, connectors, etc...

Here's a pic of everything




So, thought some might be interested in an early preview of where I'm at so far.

As you can see in the pic below, the Lian-Li case comes with two 80mm front intake fans and that HD cage is riveted to the bottom of the case.



That presented a bit of a problem since I wanted to place the radiator right there in the bottom front area. So, I drilled out the rivets (no big deal and I can easily re-mount that HD cage later if I need to with screws and wingnuts or maybe thumbscrews).

Here's the rough layout I'm thinking of, the pump is just loose/not mounted there yet.








Here's the hole I cut out for the 120mm.




At first I considered mounting the radiator up here above the power supply. However, I would have had to cut out that highlighted area of the top frame in order for the radiator to fit. The typical placement is down in front so I decided to go there with it...helped to keep my tubing length from being overly lengthy as well.



I'm by no means a watercooling expert (this is my first whack at it actually) so I welcome any tips, info, "hey you idiot do it this way instead" remarks, etc.

So feel free to chime in with anything like that or any questions you might have at this early stage.

One thing I am considering is to put the Panaflo L1A on the other side of the radiator. Is it worth doing? I've read both pros/cons of doing it. If it is worth it, is it better to pull or air away or blow toward that side of the radiator?

[jAkUp]

Looks great! Nice placement! Leave it how it is with the air intaking over the radiator, so you can still get some airflow up to your cards/mosfets/ etc.

[Clay]

Great, thanks for the feedback.

[Clay]

I'm trying to decide on the best approach for preventing algae. Is it actually 100% preventable or only controllable/suppressed with the use of algaecide?

I read this a while back and it's always kind of made me wonder.

I'd love to hear any war stories, suggestions, etc. Thanks.

[GlowStick]

Heh, looks strangely alot like the parts i had laying around. Almost everything is the same accept i had dangerden blocks

[Clay]

Small world.

[jAkUp]

I have never heard of alge for watercooling, I think its barely possible with distilled water...

[GlowStick]

Originally Posted by Clay

I'm trying to decide on the best approach for preventing algae. Is it actually 100% preventable or only controllable/suppressed with the use of algaecide?

I read this a while back and it's always kind of made me wonder.

I'd love to hear any war stories, suggestions, etc. Thanks.

Ahh, i didnt read that part

Ok yes, i have the exact same problem that guy has. However im not exactly sure if its effecting waterflow, i dont have a meter to gauge it but my tubes keep turning white no matter what i try to do. Ive flushed the system and scrubbed the insdies of the blocks and replaced all tubeing. However, another watercooling person suggested that the tubeing could infact the the problem. He said he had an experince where certin brands had a werid coating of something on the inside witch would cause it.

Really wish i had more info on it.

[Clay]

Thanks jAkUp. I got some distilled water (reverse osmosis, steamed, the whole bit).

@GlowStick: Eww, that doesn't sound good. Did you use 75% distilled water and 25% antifreeze along with some algaecide? What tubing did you use? I'm using Tygon as it seems the most highly recommended (although that's just for it's non-kink characteristics AFAIK).

[GlowStick]

Originally Posted by Clay

Thanks jAkUp. I got some distilled water (reverse osmosis, steamed, the whole bit).

@GlowStick: Eww, that doesn't sound good. Did you use 75% distilled water and 25% antifreeze along with some algaecide? What tubing did you use? I'm using Tygon as it seems the most highly recommended (although that's just for it's non-kink characteristics AFAIK).

Hmm, both times i used distilled water i bought from Meijers, Tygon Tubeing also. However, if i were to guess, some bacteria etc could easibly of came from one of the parts i was useing.

However, I have been thinking if i get some spare money around to redo my system, but then again i feel it could be just more of a money sink!

[Clay]

Did you add any Erythromycin to the water? You can get it at pet stores for cheap. I read about it a few days ago here.

[Rakeesh]

Usually when I want to kill anything living in any water, I just drop a chlorine tablet in it, unless of course I plan to drink it. If you offset the Ph by two or more from neutral in either direction, pretty much nothing can live in it. Just make sure it doesn't corrode any of your materials (whether or not it does that depends on what your equipment is made out of and what chemical you add to the water.)