Best water mixture for an evaporator?

[n_a_c]

I'm planning my water cooling setup, and it seems to me that an evaporator is the best way to go. I'll build some sort of a 'trickle down' evaporator like Joe did on pg 6 of the nuclear tower water cooling article. I'm worried about mineral build up in the expensive waterblock, and fungus on/in the 'trickle substance' (Scotch Bright pads, or maybe stones). I don't think I'm going to want to use distilled water - but that depends on how much evaporates. I'm thinking chlorine would be a great fungus killer, as long as it is weak enough to not smell, but I don't know about preventing mineral buildup.

Thanks in advance for any tips!!

[LimeyGreg]

How about if you put your radiator in the water tower resevoir, that way you can keep the system closed and use secondary cooling - the water in the bong should be cold from the evaproation. That way you don't have to worry about mineral build up in you water block. To stop build-up on the radiator you need to completely change the water every so often.

My plan is to use my radiator as the "water deck" inside the cooling tower and use a small fountain pump to spray water on to it from the bottom resevoir. As the air flow is through the radiator it should have the maximum evaporative cooling effect due to the large surface area of the radiator that is wet. Also, if you run out of water in the tower you at least still have regular air cooling of the radiator.

Do a search on Google for "Evaporative Cooling" to find more info.

[n_a_c]

That would solve my problem, and probably would be a very efficient method. For me though, for now at least - I like the idea of saving money by not buying a radiator. I even save money by not having to buy a humidifier for my hot apt in the winter :)