Effects of long-term inactivity on water cooled systems?

GV2NIX · Jun 9, 2004

Hi, I just finished building my water-cooled rig (I'll post pics in the next day or so), but the thing is, I'll be leaving town soon. Most likely, my rig will be sitting there doing nothing for the next 2 months.

Will this cause problems with any of the components? Will I come back to find an alge farm growing in my tubing, or that the stagnated water has eaten away at components or clogged up the pump? Should I have someone use it every so often while I'm away?

Sorry for all the quetions, but I have many paranoid neuroses, haha. I'm wondering if any of you have any experience coming back to a water cooled rig after a long period of inactivity. Anything I should keep in mind, or do to treat the system before I leave? Please let me know, thanks!

JDXNC · Jun 9, 2004

I would think as long as you have something in the water to stop stuff from growing and perhaps some sort of a corrosion inhibitor that it would be perfectly safe. But I can't say for sure cause my rig has never been off for more than an hour since I installed my water cooling. If you have any doubts, just drain it and unplug it and make a note on it saying DO NOT TURN ON! just incase someone for whatever reason goes to turn it on, or you return and forget there is no water in it

GV2NIX · Jun 9, 2004

I'm using 1:20 ratio of Zerex and distilled water. do you think it's safe to leave it alone, or should I definitely drain everything? I hope I don't have to take everything apart and clean it when I get back because I basically just put it together, haha!

A-Speck · Jun 9, 2004

Corrosion-wise, leaving the system off should actually slow down corrosion. On the other hand, algae would prefer the stagnant water. As long as you haven't used tap water to fill your system and have some corrosion inhibitor or antifreeze in there, you should be good.

GV2NIX · Jun 9, 2004

I have Zerex and distilled water. I tried not to handle the tubing so much and I cleaned out all the parts with soap before I put it together. So, I guess it'll be fine if it's not used for 2 months?

ZachM · Jun 9, 2004

Get some bacteriostat. Put a bit in the system and circulate it around. That will prevent anything from growing. I've heard stuff can still grow in a system even with additives like Zerex or antifreeze. I've seen this recommended by another member.

squeakygeek · Jun 9, 2004

JDXNC said:
just drain it and unplug it and make a note on it saying DO NOT TURN ON!

A smarter thing to do would be to unplug the motherboard

invisible hand · Jun 9, 2004

squeakygeek said:
A smarter thing to do would be to unplug the motherboard

True, but if you remove the power cable from the power supply it would be easier to reconnect (just hide the cable) and you would be even smarter

squeakygeek · Jun 10, 2004

invisible hand said:
True, but if you remove the power cable from the power supply it would be easier to reconnect (just hide the cable) and you would be even smarter

Well, that's still risky. A determined parent or sibling could easily find the cable and plug it back in, but probably wouldn't think to open the case.

But anyway, if you've taken the proper measures to avoid having stuff grow in your water when it's moving, those measure will still be working when the water stops moving.

GV2NIX · Jun 10, 2004

How much of that biocide do you think I need to put in? will it effect heat transfer at all?

cack01 · Jun 10, 2004

I have left my water cooled rig off for longer than a month mutiple times. As long as you have an anti-bacteria and anti-corrosive mixture you should be fine.

GV2NIX · Jun 10, 2004

ZachM said:
Get some bacteriostat. Put a bit in the system and circulate it around. That will prevent anything from growing. I've heard stuff can still grow in a system even with additives like Zerex or antifreeze. I've seen this recommended by another member.

How much bacteriostat is good to use? I have a 1:20 ratio of zerex and distilled water. Will the bacteriostat affect heat-transfer?

LtBlue14 · Jun 10, 2004

i really wouldn't worry about it

GV2NIX · Jun 10, 2004

LtBlue14 said:
i really wouldn't worry about it

About the heat transfer? Or about problems with leaving my system off for so long?

bizhar · Jun 10, 2004

Install folding@home software and start it. Set your shutdown temp to 65C and leave it on.

jamesavery22 · Jun 10, 2004

I drained my system that had hydroX from swifty more than 4 months ago. i drained it into a half gallon milk jug (was cleaned prior to the draining of course). Its been sitting under my kitchen sink ever since. Dont see any growths or anything in it. The jug is a little stained rigth around the waters edges but thats it. And the jug is definitely not sealed.

ZachM · Jun 10, 2004

I'm not sure how much bacteriostat to use. You might want to PM Big_Baller. He's the one I got the idea from. I'm sure it's not much, and probably not enough to see any temp difference.

Effects of long-term inactivity on water cooled systems?

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