HUZAH WHAAA!! Got an infection in both loops!!!

Ok I got the algea or something!!!
For my first multi-loop set-up I guess its bound to happen to most everyone??
BUT
for the first fill I used all the expensive Koolance stuff and was instructed NOT to add anything else.
In fact the GPU loops are just about 100% Koolance hardware...

Anyway, going forward I am making my own "mix", but this really bothers me!!
Not a ton of run time(~25 hours ambient 20C) and some sitting around, but I always try to let it run a bit when not actively using.

Started in the cpu loop and then a few days latter it was everywhere!
Any ideas as to why and if I have a beef with Koolance? (Nothing was damaged, so far that I know. I am servicing everything before re-rig.



See http://www.overclockers.com/forums/...dename-XmasList-project?p=7977536#post7977536
for more pics...

EDIT: Added pic per JB







Thanks for any feedback or stern lesson's learned advice

Salud

Add the image of the liquid in the bucket to your post as well, for others to see.

To me this looks like growth atm, based on the color of the fluid but it can also be the breakdown of metal.

Give us the time when you put this together and how long after you started seeing signs.

What liquid and any additional additives were you using and with what tubing?

Give us a list of your PC and its watercooling loop.

I have multiple ideas of what it could be but can't say till I know the answers to those questions.

When you drain the loop run some through a sieve or a coffee filter. It will be easier to see the makeup of the particles then.

Looks like plasticizer to me. It turns the tubing white-ish and will really screw up your loop, turns the fins in your cooling blocks into very good filters to catch everything else in the loop. It also leaves a film on all the surfaces, we'll talk about how to clean it when we determine what it is first.

Edit: I stand corrected, saw the other post, that is gnarly looking, you got that from Koolance liquids, that's a shame. I know I won't buy their liquids now.

Suggestion, buy lots of distilled water and start running dish soap though the loops, but best to tear everything apart and clean it properly do the rad dance all over again, put it back together and then run dish soap through it before rinsing and refilling with just distilled water.

Some specifics

Updated original post.

I "was" using:

http://koolance.com/tubing-clear-uv-reactive-pvc-10mm-x-16mm-3-8in-x-5-8in
&
http://koolance.com/tubing-black-pvc-13mm-x-16mm-1-2in-x-5-8in

With this stuff:
http://koolance.com/liq-705-liquid-coolant-bottle-low-conductivity-700ml-clear

Koolance said:

Koolance's product warranty does not cover the use of 3rd-party coolants, coolant additives, or corrosion. Koolance LIQ-702 or LIQ-705 coolants are strongly recommended to help avoid issues with mixed metals or biological growth. Additionally, do not use aluminum with bare (unplated) copper or bare (unplated) brass in the same system. Do not use silver with nickel in the same system.

Click to expand...

I never added anything, thinking I was good!?

Lochekey said:

When you drain the loop run some through a sieve or a coffee filter. It will be easier to see the makeup of the particles then.

Click to expand...

Too late Didn't seem there much visible cloudiness. I did put some citric acid in the fresh distilled water I flushed the system with.

t1nm4n said:

Looks like plasticizer to me. It turns the tubing white-ish and will really screw up your loop, turns the fins in your cooling blocks into very good filters to catch everything else in the loop. It also leaves a film on all the surfaces, we'll talk about how to clean it when we determine what it is first.

Click to expand...

Uh, err Locheky!? Plasticizer dab ding dang it!!!

Lochekey said:

-Post from FatherTime proj-"What type of tubing is that clear section. The discoloration reminds me of plasticsizer( I may have butchered that spelling)."

Click to expand...

Pics he is talking about...



before, running with EK Coolant, Koolance tubing!!!



So uh er, the tubing not the coolant??!!!

I need to revisit my proj-log and subs to get a real idea of time. Will be adding an index as well.

Thanks!

Cheers!

Loop Parts

Apologize for the pics, just mostly grabbing from sites...

CPU Loop

http://www.performance-pcs.com/pump...b-fully-modded-d5-12-vdc-water-pump-blue.html


http://www.performance-pcs.com/frozenq-lf-reaction-250mm-reservoir-black-white-helix.html


https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fb-ga-z170x-monoblock-acetal-nickel


http://koolance.com/hx-240xc-radiator-2-fan-120mm-30-fpi-copper


GCard Loop

http://koolance.com/image/cache/data/products/rp-452x2_p1-228x228.jpg
set up with dual pumps in serial mode.


through this
http://koolance.com/radiator-2-fan-140mm-30-fpi-copper


and this
http://koolance.com/radiator-3-fan-140mm-30-fpi-copper



and two of these!


and all Koolance fittings as well.

I must say I did not spare expense on this rig. from the get go

I am going to go with EK's new clear possibly!!
Could it be the stupid UV reactive of the tubing??!!

Eskerrik Asko! (Thanks! in Basque)

From my experience, distilled water and a silver kill coil didn't look so well on my koolance QDCs. Lots of oxidization while my bitspower fittings looked good as new. While I've always like Koolance in the past, I started to look at other mfgers that swam well with other 3rd party components.

The irony here is, koolance says to use their tubing and their fluid and this happens.

If its plasticizer, open up the CPU block and see if there's any blockage. You'll see if its plasticizer or not and flush the tubing and see if the clouding goes away.

One of the culprits here could be the FrozenQ reservoir. Last time I used their product (Dual Bay res), just after prototype stage, all hell broke loose to their plug fitting and some other compatibility issues, let alone the none existent CS and wait time I had to wait (almost a year) to get a reservoir from them and RMA twice. I believe the side plug was made from aluminum as it looked chewed up therefore investigate that reservoir closely and have a look at the plugs. Since then I have steered the hell away from FrozenQ since I got started into H20 a while back. Make sure that reservoir doesn't have any aluminum and I would quite frankly go with PrimoChill Advanced LRT tubing and either Aquacomputer or Innovatek pre-mixed fluid that has a high life usage period. Might want to see others that have used these liquids first before making the switch if you do with your existing H20 gear.

Keep us up to speed on what you're looking to do and the outcome.

I was under the impression you made your own "mix" of coolant.
But you used Koolance coolant correct?

I would not use Koolance tubing since it may be the cause of plastisizer its either that or a combination with the stop plug from your reservoir made from aluminium just as GTXJackBauer said. I quick search on google verifies that one example:

http://www.ncix.com/detail/frozenq-lf-reaction-250mm-green-fb-75822.htm

Personally i had no issues with using Koolance blocks, fittings and their coolant. Perhaps its the Koolance tubing plasticizing and the Aluminium cap of res causing your issue.
If its indeed the coolant well...that would be a shame indeed...but suspect its the above causes.

Let us know what you find ie possible causes.

Small silver coil probably would have keep this at bay.

been there dealt with algae in my loop. run some peroxide through everything flush it out, run some vinegar through it, flush it out, fill with hot soapy water, rad dance rinse.
if its algae that is. ive had good luck with a few drops of ptnuke and silver kill coil, also had good luck with the fish tank algae control drops.

I'll conserve my "Thank You" quota and thank all here for your feedback!
Very much appreciated...

Few remarks...

wagex said:

few drops of ptnuke and silver kill coil, also had good luck with the fish tank algae control drops.

Click to expand...

Shiozaki said:

Small silver coil probably would have keep this at bay.

Click to expand...

I've read about this popular solution, but Koolance says:

Do not use silver with nickel in the same system.

Click to expand...

So I never used it...

LawShadow said:

I was under the impression you made your own "mix" of coolant. But you used Koolance coolant correct?

Click to expand...

I meant I am going to "start" making my own. At least for cold runs on "The Bianch" (sig.)
But yes, I was using the coolant identified in my previous post, the 705 clear.

GTXJackBauer said:

One of the culprits here could be the FrozenQ reservoir... I believe the side plug was made from aluminum..

Click to expand...

Whoa, OK Yeah - explains the CPU loop possibly, I don't think any plugs got swapped to the other loop. I'll check...
How would I determine a plug is aluminum?

I'll be servicing all the parts and will post what I find.
First gotta order some new tubing and look into this "high life" coolant options for this rig.

Hasta Entonces!

SwartHack said:

I've read about this popular solution, but Koolance says: "Do not use silver with nickel in the same system."


So I never used it...

Click to expand...

Watercool and EK say the same or similar now. I'm still on Distilled and Silver coil with my loop but will switch over to a pre-mix coolant at my next tear down. So far I'm still clear but don't want to take any chances.

ok, back to the bleachers for me...

I run a light mix of distilled and anti freeze with a silver coil, so far so good.

Shiozaki said:

I run a light mix of distilled and anti freeze with a silver coil, so far so good.

Click to expand...

Why the anti freeze?

I like my nice windshield washer fluid

That flow meter you are using Swart. What do the internals on that look like?

Mr.Scott said:

Why the anti freeze?

Click to expand...

Small, cheap loop, as a test, I like green and it's anti corrosive when metals are mixed.

Works well, be over a year.

Monoblock tear-down pics

Lochekey said:

That flow meter you are using Swart. What do the internals on that look like?

Click to expand...

It's a small temp probe and a little bitty fan. I'll try and take a pic. But there is more to it than that, let me get back to you on that...

Blaylock said:

will switch over to a pre-mix coolant at my next tear down.

Click to expand...

pre-mix like Prestone? or pre-mix like:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/prim...ntrated-liquid-pre-mix-8oz-clear-uv-blue.html

I am getting a little punch drunk trying to decide on tubing and coolant and what to do. I was convinced to make my own, but now...

What's up with the pre-treatment stuff? Worth it? DIY options?
http://www.performance-pcs.com/fluids-additives/shopby/color--clear/?limit=90

Lots of great info coming out here!!!

OK, just gonna dump-em. All pretty self explanatory. Not as bad as I expected.
I did tear down the Dual Res/pump. I am questioning its efficiency/operation in serial mode, off topic...
It has the same brownish film.

The monoblock fins?? Interesting pics depending on lighting/flash.



















Thanks for all the great feedback!

Tot Ziens

Looks similar to plasticizer to me mixed with some junk from inside some of the components. Some of that little threadlike material reminds me of what comes off of a mill when doing work on plastics.

It looks to me like your losing your nickel plating on the VRM and CPU blocks, maybe the mono block as well. I would definitely contact koolance to find out their recommendation. I would ask for a replacement if it is the plating. Even if there is plactisizer that should cause the corrosion. Just my opinion.

I don't think he is losing plating on the blocks, it's just residue from the fluid left behind playing with the light. Blocks aren't that dirty, not like that water you poured out in the bucket.

I'll just say I'm all for running GPUs in parallel, just need to remember that the flow is cut by the number of cards in parallel, but I've only even needed .5gpm to keep a GPU cool while folding, so 1.5gpm is more than enough for 2 cards.