Replacments for the standard water cooling tubing

Dr. Jones · 06-17-2003, 01:43 AM

I'd say almost every setup i have seen uses that clear plastic tubing you can find at places that sell fish tanks. My question is if there are any good alternitives? Either just to be different, or for some performance reason.

I was thinking that in my next setup i might try and use copper pipes to replace everything. Since i have mad airflow going through the tower, it couldn't help to get some extra cooling while it is traveling through the pipes. Might not be significant, but would be kind of cool (especially if polished).

I also considered using stainless steel piping. I hear it's much more dificult to work with (it doesn't like to bend as easily), but would add a really cool look to the case. I have a roomate that's a mechanical engineer, and he said using elbows shouldn't restrict the flow too much.

Has anyone tried these or anything else?

FuzzyFace · 06-17-2003, 02:51 AM

PH one of the most respected people here has an excellent article “Some suggestions for maximizing flow rates in a water cooling setup”

http://www.procooling.com/articles/h...s_with_h2o.php

Lmandrake · 06-17-2003, 10:16 AM

Copper pipe sounds like a great idea until you actually use it. Because it is rigid, any appreciable length of it becomes a huge obstacle if it is inside your case. Anything around it becomes inaccessible unless you feel like tearing down your system everytime you need to adjust a cable or remove a pci card...

Cooling benefit from using it is probably insignificant.

Tygon and silicone tubing are generally the best choices to replace vinyl.

SparkedFire · 06-17-2003, 10:28 AM

Home Depot sells Black vynal (pardon my spelling) tubing but you cant really see the water. clear tubing seems to be the best simply because you can see the coolant. if the tubing is solid you cant see algy growth or air bubles, or any strange colors on the coolant. Mine is green (anti-freeze).

bigben2k · 06-17-2003, 12:52 PM

Finned copper tubing. It'll assist the rad.

I have yet to find some.

brucoman · 06-17-2003, 04:19 PM

Available, used in heat exchangers/rad. Try http://www.rometurney.com/index.htm & there are a few others. I don't see a need for it, but different oats for different folks.

Al Kaseltzer · 06-17-2003, 05:38 PM

If your going to use any sort of solid pipe, just make sure you measure very carefully.

or you could try this.

06-17-2003, 01:43 AM	#1
Dr. Jones Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7	Replacments for the standard water cooling tubing I'd say almost every setup i have seen uses that clear plastic tubing you can find at places that sell fish tanks. My question is if there are any good alternitives? Either just to be different, or for some performance reason. I was thinking that in my next setup i might try and use copper pipes to replace everything. Since i have mad airflow going through the tower, it couldn't help to get some extra cooling while it is traveling through the pipes. Might not be significant, but would be kind of cool (especially if polished). I also considered using stainless steel piping. I hear it's much more dificult to work with (it doesn't like to bend as easily), but would add a really cool look to the case. I have a roomate that's a mechanical engineer, and he said using elbows shouldn't restrict the flow too much. Has anyone tried these or anything else?

06-17-2003, 02:51 AM	#2
FuzzyFace Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California high desert Posts: 52	PH one of the most respected people here has an excellent article “Some suggestions for maximizing flow rates in a water cooling setup” http://www.procooling.com/articles/h...s_with_h2o.php __________________ Have fun, FuzzyFace

06-17-2003, 10:16 AM	#3
Lmandrake Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: D.C. Posts: 26	Copper pipe sounds like a great idea until you actually use it. Because it is rigid, any appreciable length of it becomes a huge obstacle if it is inside your case. Anything around it becomes inaccessible unless you feel like tearing down your system everytime you need to adjust a cable or remove a pci card... Cooling benefit from using it is probably insignificant. Tygon and silicone tubing are generally the best choices to replace vinyl. __________________ The technology is within the reach of even the smallest nuclear power.

06-17-2003, 10:28 AM	#4
SparkedFire Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Matrix Posts: 114	Home Depot sells Black vynal (pardon my spelling) tubing but you cant really see the water. clear tubing seems to be the best simply because you can see the coolant. if the tubing is solid you cant see algy growth or air bubles, or any strange colors on the coolant. Mine is green (anti-freeze). __________________ If you smell something odd coming from your puter, panic and run crazy. Shut her down and grab a towel. As to watercooling going mainstream: We are truely dedicated to it, we know everything, and we have perfected it.

06-17-2003, 12:52 PM	#5
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Finned copper tubing. It'll assist the rad. I have yet to find some. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

06-17-2003, 04:19 PM	#6
brucoman Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2003 Location: Midwest Posts: 157	Available, used in heat exchangers/rad. Try http://www.rometurney.com/index.htm & there are a few others. I don't see a need for it, but different oats for different folks.

06-17-2003, 05:38 PM	#7
Al Kaseltzer Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2003 Location: Montreal, QC Posts: 14	If your going to use any sort of solid pipe, just make sure you measure very carefully. or you could try this.

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