URGENT! Water is turning green!!!

deeznuts · 05-23-2002, 07:03 PM

i am using a copper block, alu reservoir, and BIX. this is the first time i have been using copper and alu, but everyone said it was not a problem if you use water wetter. well i did, using distilled water, and the slighlty pink water becomes slightly green after a few minutes. one time it turned green almost instantly, as it cycled through the system. is this the battery effect? i put in a lot of water wetter (not A LOT, but enough) and even dropped some in right in the system.

how long does it usually take for the battery effect to take place? do i need more water wetter? please, someone knowledgeable help! it will be appreciated.

gone_fishin · 05-23-2002, 07:12 PM

I'm not sure but green usually means tarnishing in copper. Perhaps the inside of your radiator was corroding before you put it in the system. Take it all out and run it with clean water without the BI and see if it turns green as a test. You may need to clean it out with something.

Cieprus · 05-23-2002, 08:04 PM

Im assuming its a closed loop?

Try running it in your sink or bathtub, and keep the loop open, maybe it will clean out whatevers in there, maybe its grease from the pump, or maybe its I dunno

BobMont · 05-23-2002, 08:19 PM

damn, I would just get rid of the res, build a plastic one, should solve the problem.

deeznuts · 05-23-2002, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BobMont
damn, I would just get rid of the res, build a plastic one, should solve the problem.

yeah, but i like the look. plus i just dropped $25 on it. hmmm, if it is tarnishing in the block or radiator, it shouldn't be the res, i am using water wetter, which a lot of peeps have done with no problem. i did notice the more times i filled it (3 times) the less green the water is. gonna go soak it in clr for a second to see what happens.

deeznuts · 05-24-2002, 12:19 AM

gone_fishin, you were right. i ran it through regular water, it is clear now

bigben2k · 05-24-2002, 09:40 AM

Deeznuts:

What you are experiencing, is commonly reffered to as galvanic corrosion.
See here:
http://www.artmetal.com/project/TOC/material/corros.txt
and here
http://www.pemnet.com/design_information/galvanic.html

If your water goes from pink (aka light red) to green, which is at the opposite side of the color wheel, I would be VERY concerned, especially since it happened in the time frame that you specified.

The green color comes from the Aluminium, not the copper.

The obvious fix, is to change your Aluminium res, because it is single handedly the cause/trigger of the galvanic corrosion.

Another fix would be for you to paint the inside of your Alu res, with some kind of non-conductive coating. Since you probably got an Alu res for its cooling capability (right?) then you might consider a thermally conductive coating. Then again, if it's just for looks...

Beware: IF YOU COAT THE INSIDE OF YOUR RES but leave a tiny little spot exposed, that part of your res will corrode at a tremendously fast rate.

So far, your Alu res has been corroding over the entire submerged face, which is not noticeable.

deeznuts · 05-24-2002, 11:11 AM

thanks for the advice big ben, but it seems to be gone. at first it happened immediately, and was really green. almost the color of anti-freeze. as i kept draining and filling it got lighter. now it is totally completely gone, after 12 hours of running. i will keep my eye on it though.

bigben2k · 05-24-2002, 12:07 PM

Good, glad to hear it.

Do keep an eye on it though.

What you might have encountered though, now that I think about it, is a simple chemical reaction, between the water-wetter, and some type of coating on a new component (tubing?), as most new components come with. If that's the case, then you really don't have anything to worry about now.

Cieprus · 05-24-2002, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben2k
Good, glad to hear it.

Do keep an eye on it though.

What you might have encountered though, now that I think about it, is a simple chemical reaction, between the water-wetter, and some type of coating on a new component (tubing?), as most new components come with. If that's the case, then you really don't have anything to worry about now.

Maybe he had grease or something on his rez from when he worked on it...

deeznuts · 05-25-2002, 08:54 PM

still going, still clear! thanks for all the help fellas, i felt like a freakin newbie again for a couple of hours hehe.

*notches another system on the belt*

Fixittt · 05-25-2002, 10:12 PM

Ok, I dont buy into that.

I have a copper block, Prolly the same alluminum res, and a copper heatercore. Aluminum doesnot that I know of) addmit a color green. Copper does. If you need proof of this, then I can take pics of my copper chip pile soaking in some coolant from machining. the Coolant is all green. its a reaction from the tarf the copper. Ever look at a church that has that Big green Steepel, or Dome. That is copper. the rain is what makes it change color.

As far as the water turning color so fast, My guess is that some copper component had been filled with water, then drained, but not completely, and was left sitting for a while. Prolly the Rad.

I Run rather high mix of WW in my system, And the mix has stayed a nice ink color for over 6 months now.

AllRoy · 05-25-2002, 11:49 PM

So that was my problem too!

Fixittt · 05-26-2002, 12:32 AM

Jus re-read my post and if I sounded pushy or a bit stand offish, Im sorry. I was just stating experiances.

I have been sick for a while now, Ill ame it on the meds! )

Gnozo · 05-26-2002, 01:07 AM

deeznuts: Nice to hear you got it fixed

But what happens if you don't user water wetter, but just some antifreeze coolant and water? Would the corrosion then appear?

Cyco-Dude · 05-26-2002, 04:04 AM

no, because antifreeze contains additives to inhibit corrosion.
to Fix: the rain makes the copper turn green? you know better than that

deeznuts · 05-26-2002, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fixittt
Ok, I dont buy into that.

I have a copper block, Prolly the same alluminum res, and a copper heatercore. Aluminum doesnot that I know of) addmit a color green. Copper does. If you need proof of this, then I can take pics of my copper chip pile soaking in some coolant from machining. the Coolant is all green. its a reaction from the tarf the copper. Ever look at a church that has that Big green Steepel, or Dome. That is copper. the rain is what makes it change color.

As far as the water turning color so fast, My guess is that some copper component had been filled with water, then drained, but not completely, and was left sitting for a while. Prolly the Rad.

I Run rather high mix of WW in my system, And the mix has stayed a nice ink color for over 6 months now.

i don't really understand your post Fixittt, are you saying that you don't believe it is galvanic corrosion? if so, i agree with you, i think the rad or even the block just had some of that green tarnishing in it left, just because it was less and less green as i kept filling and draining it. now that i cleared it out, it is all fine. actually my dye light glows a decent blue now!

Cieprus · 05-26-2002, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by deeznuts

i don't really understand your post Fixittt, are you saying that you don't believe it is galvanic corrosion? if so, i agree with you, i think the rad or even the block just had some of that green tarnishing in it left, just because it was less and less green as i kept filling and draining it. now that i cleared it out, it is all fine. actually my dye light glows a decent blue now!

How is that blue dye-light?

deeznuts · 05-29-2002, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cieprus

How is that blue dye-light?

sorry, just graduated law school (yay!) and went straight to vegas.

the dye light is pretty bright. i got a weak uv light (two small 9" ones from target). but that's all i can fit in my case. i will take pics later in the week.

DigitalChaos · 05-29-2002, 11:09 AM

when you have aluminum and copper in water... the galvanic corrosion is a white milky color as a result.. sometimes a blackish sand ... ALL of this would be comming OFF the aluminum.

the copper just sits there and collets it.

05-23-2002, 07:03 PM	#1
deeznuts Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: san diego Posts: 142	URGENT! Water is turning green!!! i am using a copper block, alu reservoir, and BIX. this is the first time i have been using copper and alu, but everyone said it was not a problem if you use water wetter. well i did, using distilled water, and the slighlty pink water becomes slightly green after a few minutes. one time it turned green almost instantly, as it cycled through the system. is this the battery effect? i put in a lot of water wetter (not A LOT, but enough) and even dropped some in right in the system. how long does it usually take for the battery effect to take place? do i need more water wetter? please, someone knowledgeable help! it will be appreciated.

05-24-2002, 09:40 AM	#7
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Deeznuts: What you are experiencing, is commonly reffered to as galvanic corrosion. See here: http://www.artmetal.com/project/TOC/material/corros.txt and here http://www.pemnet.com/design_information/galvanic.html If your water goes from pink (aka light red) to green, which is at the opposite side of the color wheel, I would be VERY concerned, especially since it happened in the time frame that you specified. The green color comes from the Aluminium, not the copper. The obvious fix, is to change your Aluminium res, because it is single handedly the cause/trigger of the galvanic corrosion. Another fix would be for you to paint the inside of your Alu res, with some kind of non-conductive coating. Since you probably got an Alu res for its cooling capability (right?) then you might consider a thermally conductive coating. Then again, if it's just for looks... Beware: IF YOU COAT THE INSIDE OF YOUR RES but leave a tiny little spot exposed, that part of your res will corrode at a tremendously fast rate. So far, your Alu res has been corroding over the entire submerged face, which is not noticeable. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

05-24-2002, 12:07 PM	#9
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Good, glad to hear it. Do keep an eye on it though. What you might have encountered though, now that I think about it, is a simple chemical reaction, between the water-wetter, and some type of coating on a new component (tubing?), as most new components come with. If that's the case, then you really don't have anything to worry about now. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

05-25-2002, 10:12 PM	#12
Fixittt CNC Beyatch Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Tulsa Spell it backwards Posts: 721	Ok, I dont buy into that. I have a copper block, Prolly the same alluminum res, and a copper heatercore. Aluminum doesnot that I know of) addmit a color green. Copper does. If you need proof of this, then I can take pics of my copper chip pile soaking in some coolant from machining. the Coolant is all green. its a reaction from the tarf the copper. Ever look at a church that has that Big green Steepel, or Dome. That is copper. the rain is what makes it change color. As far as the water turning color so fast, My guess is that some copper component had been filled with water, then drained, but not completely, and was left sitting for a while. Prolly the Rad. I Run rather high mix of WW in my system, And the mix has stayed a nice ink color for over 6 months now. __________________ Creator of the Spir@l Block Longest post ever http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&postid=43808#post43808

05-25-2002, 11:49 PM	#13
AllRoy Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 67	So that was my problem too! Last edited by AllRoy; 05-25-2002 at 11:57 PM.

05-23-2002, 07:12 PM	#2
gone_fishin Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2002 Location: Da UP Posts: 517	I'm not sure but green usually means tarnishing in copper. Perhaps the inside of your radiator was corroding before you put it in the system. Take it all out and run it with clean water without the BI and see if it turns green as a test. You may need to clean it out with something.

05-23-2002, 08:04 PM	#3
Cieprus Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2002 Location: ~America~ Posts: 180	Im assuming its a closed loop? Try running it in your sink or bathtub, and keep the loop open, maybe it will clean out whatevers in there, maybe its grease from the pump, or maybe its I dunno

05-23-2002, 08:19 PM	#4
BobMont Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2002 Location: NY Posts: 48	damn, I would just get rid of the res, build a plastic one, should solve the problem.

05-24-2002, 12:19 AM	#6
deeznuts Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: san diego Posts: 142	gone_fishin, you were right. i ran it through regular water, it is clear now

05-24-2002, 11:11 AM	#8
deeznuts Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: san diego Posts: 142	thanks for the advice big ben, but it seems to be gone. at first it happened immediately, and was really green. almost the color of anti-freeze. as i kept draining and filling it got lighter. now it is totally completely gone, after 12 hours of running. i will keep my eye on it though.

05-25-2002, 08:54 PM	#11
deeznuts Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: san diego Posts: 142	still going, still clear! thanks for all the help fellas, i felt like a freakin newbie again for a couple of hours hehe. notches another system on the belt

05-26-2002, 12:32 AM	#14
Fixittt CNC Beyatch Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Tulsa Spell it backwards Posts: 721	Jus re-read my post and if I sounded pushy or a bit stand offish, Im sorry. I was just stating experiances. I have been sick for a while now, Ill ame it on the meds! ) __________________ Creator of the Spir@l Block Longest post ever http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&postid=43808#post43808

05-26-2002, 01:07 AM	#15
Gnozo Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 105	deeznuts: Nice to hear you got it fixed But what happens if you don't user water wetter, but just some antifreeze coolant and water? Would the corrosion then appear? __________________ AMD XP1700+ @ JIUHB 12 x 202 Epox 8RDA+ Samsung PC2700 512mb Asus V8420 TI4200 Eheim 1048 - Maze1 - AirPlex EVO240 - Lian Li PC-61

05-26-2002, 04:04 AM	#16
Cyco-Dude Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 836	no, because antifreeze contains additives to inhibit corrosion. to Fix: the rain makes the copper turn green? you know better than that

05-29-2002, 11:09 AM	#20
DigitalChaos Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Waukesha, Wi Posts: 698	when you have aluminum and copper in water... the galvanic corrosion is a white milky color as a result.. sometimes a blackish sand ... ALL of this would be comming OFF the aluminum. the copper just sits there and collets it.

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