Your opinions and a few questions

[SatanSkin]

Hello all. This is my first post to this great forum.

I have been considering watercooling and researching it. I would like your opinion on some of the products that I have chosen for it.
This is what i have for now:
D-Tek Aluminum Topped Spir@l Waterblock - $ 52
D-Tek cooler Core combo (unpainted) - $48
D-Tek Delta high performance 120mm fan - $14
D-Tek 120mm fan grill - $2
D-Tek Via-Aqua 370GPH pump (Pre-setup) - $23
Tubing - $5-8
Fittings - $11

And now a few questions...
Also, which is better tubing: Tygon or ClearFLEX 60?

The Innovatek reservoir filling tank says that it is fitted to the EHEIM pumps, will it not work with my Via-Aqua or is there some kind of connector i could get?

Which is better and why? 3/8 or 1/2?

Would i be alright if i put the radiator at the top of the case with the fan pulling air through it and out of a blowhole?

Thank you all in advance for you time and help!!

[NeoMoses]

don't pay $48 for the cooler core. Get yourself a chevette heatercore from autozone for $16 and put barbs on it. You can use JBweld if you have nothing else available.

Most will say that Tygon is the best tubing available. It is more clear than clearflex60. I prefer ultra clear, thick walled PVC tubing. I'm running it right now, and like it better than tygon, plus it's cheaper.

Just run the pump inline with the system. Don't worry about a reservoir.

1/2" tubing is generally regarded as better because you will see less head losses (pressure drops) with it than with 3/8" tubing.

That radiator placement would be great.

[SatanSkin]

Thanks a lot. The only reason i was sorta resilient to make one out of the heatercooler from a car was because i don't know how to put on the barbs and such. Could you point me towards a guide please?

I really wanted the reservoir because i am new to this and figured it would help out with filling and bleeding so i don't fry all my stuff. But if you could also show me a good guide on how to do this with the inline, that would be great.

Thanks again.

[NeoMoses]

Here's a picture of my heatercore, with the hose barb connected using JBweld. It's an 89 camaro heatercore from AutoZone. You can use a hacksaw, dremel, or other cutting tool to remove the existing pipes. Leave about 1/2"-1" of the straight tube sticking out of the heater core. The hose barb used for this was a 3/8" 1/4NPT brass hose barb. just place it inside the remaining piece of tubing, and seal with JBweld. If you're worried about looks, you can file away the excess JBweld once it's dry.
http://web.umr.edu/~bpryor/pics/hc.jpg

[SatanSkin]

Thanks a lot! but will that fit into a case at the top? It looks kind of big.

And what about the bleeding and filling with the inline pump? any great guides on that? Thanks again.

[grim]

heres a guide to using a t-line to fill an inline system: http://wc101.com/guides/t-line/

[NeoMoses]

I have heard of people using a T-line system that filled the system using a res, then attached the intake line to the pump once the system was filled and bled.

[grim]

yeah thats the easiest way to do it. filling using the t-line takes forever cuz there is so much air that gets trapped
.

[Milkman]

I agree a t-line is much easier to install and maintain and sure makes getting the air out of the system a snap,I have used both a reservoir and t-line and I am sticking with the t, as far as the radiator goes the Dtek core is very nice, thats what I run and it may make your first water system easier to build,but you can also do as the others suggest and mod your own,it's all up to personal preference

mamer

[HighFlowRod]

Originally posted by mamer
I agree a t-line is much easier to install and maintain and sure makes getting the air out of the system a snap,I have used both a reservoir and t-line and I am sticking with the t, as far as the radiator goes the Dtek core is very nice, thats what I run and it may make your first water system easier to build,but you can also do as the others suggest and mod your own,it's all up to personal preference

mamer

Tygon is better tubing. Because, tygon doesn't soak up your additives (like water wetter).

[JML]

Instead of the spiral get the tc-4. and don't get a via aqua unless you plan on running it submerged. If you want an inline get a Maxi-jet or an eheim

[SatanSkin]

What is wrong with the via-aqua? i am probably going to go with the T-line so it won't be submerged. I wanted to get an eheim but money is at a great shortage! and the same with the tc-4. i don't have much to spend so i need to go cheap, but effective. any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[nikhsub1]

Originally posted by SatanSkin
What is wrong with the via-aqua? i am probably going to go with the T-line so it won't be submerged. I wanted to get an eheim but money is at a great shortage! and the same with the tc-4. i don't have much to spend so i need to go cheap, but effective. any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
The TC-4 is actually CHEAPER than the spiral - $47 the via aqua will be fine, If you dont have the $$$ for the Eheim, the via should work well.

[JML]

Originally posted by nikhsub1

The TC-4 is actually CHEAPER than the spiral - $47 the via aqua will be fine, If you dont have the $$$ for the Eheim, the via should work well.

I've heard of the via aqua dieing when run inline. My via aqua has been running inline since august, but then I might just be lucky.

[EluSiOn]

I also have a via aqua sitting in the corner collecting dust.... it is a spare pump..... I use inline as well.. so I got an enheim 1250... by the way... how long can enheim 1250 run under 24/7 condition?

[Wangster]

Why is the TC 4 better than the Copper Spiral WB?

I like the Copper Spiral because it is directing the flow directly over the center of the WB (hottest part) .

Wangster