How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

I've run my system for 18 months with distilled and 7% antifreeze. Its time to change the water due to bacteria. I must say that I dont like the green colour of the antifreeze. when I first put it in it was luminous yellow, but then it became a crappy dull green colour.

I'd prefer to run plain distilled and NOTHING ELSE. My rig is just Copper and tin solder. I seem to recall some experiment where people put metal in distilled water and the water ate it. I cant remember if it was to demonstrate galvanic corrosion or if the pieces of metal were in their own containers.

I've searched the forums and cant find anyone talking about Pure Distilled on its own.

Other than that i'm thinking of just putting a tiny bit of anti-freeze in, just a few spoon fulls worth for good luck with the tin and copper and water possibly eating metal.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Maybe best thing would be to go not with the standard antifreeze for car usage.
There are some special liquids out there which are colourless.
As far as I know you need a certain percentage of concentration to help at all, also it does not only help preventing galvanic reactions but also raises the temperature the liquid can accept. You surely would not want to have bubbbles created by heat in your system.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Not an issue with most computer WCing loops as they do not normally get anywhere near a Temperature where bubbles start to form.

I run my loop with Cu, brass, and plastics with plain store bought distilled water.
Have done so for about a year, never had to change it only add more water ever so often.

EDIT: Spelling.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

So the algae forming/bacteria/galvanic corrosion is just a myth invented by the antifreeze producing companies ?! :D

I admit i haven't tried it, just know about the theory and wonder right now, why a lot of people are making such a fuzz about the right concentration and components.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

I run distilled water, 9% Pentosin Anti-freeze (2 colors available) and 1% clear blue die.

The pentosin is a wonderfull product from my use of it, comes in pourple and blue (i use the blue) barely shows up in the concentration i use (looks like careabean(sp?) water) and the clear blue stuff is an additive to water that is clear that makes it glow under UV light.

Been running this loop for over a year, haven;t seen any algea or anything realy, ocasionaly top off teh water but that's it.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Well, if you start messing with metals other than Cu, Tin in small amounts, and Brass then galvanic corrosion becomes a major problem particually with Al and Cu in the same loop.

As for bio growth, I initially was very, very fearful of it but haven't had any troubles with it.

Basically, tubing that does not noticeably admit light will prevent all most all bio growth.
UV light bad! :laugh2:

Combine that with a thorough cleaning of the internals of all parts before you assemble the loop and the use of clean distilled water should eliminate all possibilities of bio growth.

This is my experience so far.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

thanks for the replies. Straight distilled water it is :)

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Life creeps into unexpected places. Be prepared to find out.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Splitting hairs but this is just correct in theory. Yes if you clean everything in a vacuum with pure alcohol then sure maybe. Even then distilled can have little crawlies already in it, that stuff isn't handled at some biohazzard level.

Lope,
Just put in a cap full of iodine. It dilutes pretty well and the water will remain clear. Not much reason to chance it.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

sweet

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Common Copper/Zinc mixed Brass shouldn't cause any problems with corrosion. other Brasses and Bronzes with Tin and other stuff in it may though.

Cleaning out an old system is near impossible. Mainly the radiator. That thing is one big hiding spot for anything. If you can run boiling water through it after a good cleaning you have a chance. :cool:

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

I had galvanic corrosion running tap. Distilled it happens if you leave a loop full of water and don't use it for several months. I had AL and CU blocks with distilled and galvanic corrosion occured on my polarflo TT barbs (light annodizing).

For rad cleaning I recommend prestone radiator flush and removing rad from loop. I have spare mcp300 and run a rad and t line loop. Drain, run a distilled loop, drain, rinse.

Coolant colors
Coolants can be pink/orange like dexcool from GM, red/pink from toyota/waterwetter/ zerex, and purple like Purple Ice from Royal purple which no one recommends. http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/prpice.html
Prestone has blue coolant but i never seen it.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

I should have thrown an "almost" in there. In practice with the right procedures bio-growth isn't an issue.
It can still happen, but towers fall.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Personally I recommend..."Non-Aluminum component loop"

99.?% distilled water
1 oz Pentosin antifreeze (or any other brand you choose)
4-5 drops of Povidone Iodine.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

VW used to have a blue. Really hate the dull green :( I asked around for awhile about any propylene glycol that was a color other than green and never found any... Zerex is probably the only other stuff I'd use.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

I use 1,5 liter destilled water and 2 caps of DD stuff... NP so far in a pure copper/bras system... (1,5 year) color is water...

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

See http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/sho...opper+sulphate

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

My experiences so far in a 100% copper loop, with some brass for barbs and heatercore:
Distilled water alone = white deposit in just a few months (i'd say less than 3 months).
Distilled water + antifreeze = white deposit (whatever it is) starting after about 1 year.
Distilled water + redline WW = oily pinkish / white deposit after less than 6 months. Clearly the WW breaks down (plus the foul smell goes through the tubing).
Distilled water + various mixes of anti corrosion and tensio active fluids = immediate failures (usually due to huge foam production)

I've yet to experiment:
* vodka
* commercial anti-algae...thing.. from a german supplier

If vodka really works, considering its price relative to commercial biocides, my choice will be easy...

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

I run Prestone green antifree in mine, roughly 20%. I've never had an issue with bacteria buildup, even after over a year of use. There's barely any buildup inside the tubes either. Lots of people frown on antifreeze and say it hurts performance.

If I was trying to acheive a huge 1 time overclock, then yeah I'd do every little thing I could for performance, but for something thats going to need to sit under my desk and be reliable for me, i'll gladly sacrifice a degree or 2 for reliability. The temps that I get with my system are perfectly acceptable. I'm sure that the antifreeze isn't making my system run more than a degree or 2 hotter.

Try a higher percentage of the antifreeze.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

glad to hear your switching to straight distilled water, but now those that use UV dyes need to switch ;)

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

worried about algea , ... just buy some biocide it'll kill everything and the family pets if your not careful.

:) :) :)

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

oh yeah is this an american forum?

I'm in UK and this forum is fantastically informative, and its good to see people with a passion for their pc's health lol

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

This is an international forum.

You will find people from Brazil, UK, USA, Portugal, Australia, and all over.

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Well I just started modding ... well not modding building a wooden pc case with water cooling. this is why i visited this forum (good forum!)

i thought that instead of craming everything in a small pretty case i would build one from wood to resemble a 1970's radio you know the big buggers :)

so my pc really will be apart of the furniture hehe

i'm probably posting this in the wrong place , but i'm sure someone will read it

I'll create a proper post with pics when it gets going (christmas argghhh)

cheers chris

Re: How about pure distilled for a copper only rig?
 

Really?

I have been trying to get myself squared away to build my own wooden computer case. Something that would hold two computers but it would resemble a night stand.

Check out Angry Steel's thread on his case.