Watercooling Simple Questions.

[Anders]

I have had some water cooling kit sitting around for a few weeks now and I finally have the time to attempt using it. Just a few simple questions:

I read people talking about a T-clamp/T-valve/T-Cupoff as being useful for filling and bleeding a closed system, is this something I can go to a plumbing shop and ask for (without being laughed at)?

Water additives, I have some Zerex Super Coolant, is this a good product to use? As for algaecide, I assume I should use some, will any do?

How often should water be replaced, every six months?

Cheers, Anders.

[dangel]

T-piece - yes it's not like we're using anything special here, this is plumbing for a computer. My system has push fittings so i can just pull one out for a bleeding point and a reservoir with a fill cap solves fillings.

Additives. Contentious but the cheapest and most effective IMHO is dionised/distilled water with Redline Waterr Wetter added. This makes the water toxic so no algae will grow (which is why you need to replace the water in the first place). I haven't intentionally bled out the system and replaced fluid except recently when i rebuild my machine and needed to reconfigure the blocks. Redline doesn't like UV dye - i.e. it removes it's UV properties so you may compromise on bling going down this route.

[Anders]

Are push fittings simply what the name says?

I was not planning on using a reservoir. Is it important to use one? Does using one make filling the system easier?

I am not bothered about UV.

[dangel]

Are push fittings simply what the name says?

I was not planning on using a reservoir. Is it important to use one? Does using one make filling the system easier?

I am not bothered about UV.

Push fittings - you push the tube in (HARD) until it clicks then pull it slighty and thats done. You can remove by depressing the ring and pulling the tube. Very easy and darn reliable (we use them here at work too).

My res is fitted to the pump like this:



which you can pull the cap off for filling which makes it easy, plus there's a little reserve on the system for when air makes it's way through (it simply bubbles up in the res and so doesn't stay in the cooling loop). You can build a closed loop system without one but i'd have one for convenience tbh with you.

[Anders]

Push fittings sound good. Do you have to buy specialist tubing with these fittings on or can they be attached to any old tubing?

The pump I have can be used submersed. Could I, in theory, put the pump in the reservoir, the out flow pipe going into the computer is attached to the pump, the return from the computer simple flows back into the reservoir? I hope that makes sense

[dangel]

Push fittings sound good. Do you have to buy specialist tubing with these fittings on or can they be attached to any old tubing?

The pump I have can be used submersed. Could I, in theory, put the pump in the reservoir, the out flow pipe going into the computer is attached to the pump, the return from the computer simple flows back into the reservoir? I hope that makes sense

Any old tubing - it's the fittings that are special not the tubing.

I've built two systems - one with clamps and one with pushfits and i prefer the latter (once you've learnt how to make sure they're on properly as they leak like hell otherwise!)


And yes, you could do what you describe. Submersing the pump will keep it cooler too (they get quite hot) which is no bad thing. I haven't done this but i guess i might someday Thing to bear in mind is you want this fairly airtight to minimise fluid loss through evaporation (i have to add fluid to my system every so often).

[Butcher]

You lose a bit of fluid through the tubing over time anyway so expect to have to fill the system. Don't make it too airtight - you aren't trying to pressurise it, just prevent evaporation.

Submersing pumps will put your temps up a little as the pump will dump all its heat into the water, if your pump is rated to run inline, I'd run it inline.

[Anders]

Thanks for the advice. I am not a big fan of having chemicals evaporating into my room

Definitely have to find some push fits.

[Butcher]

Typical tubing losses are about 1cc/week; I wouldn't worry about it. It's largely water anyway (at least I hope you're planning to use something that's largely water!)

[Dark Horse]

I would consider getting some good tygon tubing. It may be more expensive than normal garden hose type tubing but it holds its shape much better and so does not flatten at corners like more soft tubing does yet it is still as flexible. Means there is less chance of it causing any bottlenecks at tight corners.

[dangel]

You can avoid running tubing at angles harsh enough to kink it tbh. Asetek tubing is pretty stiff but my shuttle system's tubing is really soft but still didn't have any problems with kinking.