24/7 water cooling

[arcas]

Hi guys. This will be the first of probably several posts looking for advice.

First, what are your opinions of 24/7 water cooling? I'm looking to make the jump but the first machine I'm looking to convert needs to run 24/7 (at least until I get around to assembling an EPIA-type system). What concerns me is the longevity of the pumps. To me the pump seem like a big ol' single-point-of-failure. I'm not so much concerned about emergency shutdown (since I'll design a circuit that'll handle that in the event of failure) but the fact that there doesn't seem to be any redundancy available. With air cooling, if one fan fails, you generally have another one that's still operating. Your system might not run optimally in the meantime but you're not dead in the water.

Anybody ever suffer a pump failure? Am I being too paranoid here?

Thanks.

 

[Sokratz]

Not being paranoid at all, but it's totally doable. You can check out ocforums for folks who have backup pump setups in case the first fails. My Hydor l30 failed on me. Although if I was going to be running 24/7 and not checking up on it, I wouldn't have gotten such a cheap pump. Might want to go with a better brand, Eheim or Iwakie.

Sokratz

 

[shelaby]

one quick ? on water cooling, what can u run thru the system to get algae out? i have heard antifreeze, but im not 100% sure on that.

 

[HardWarrior]

I think frozencpu.com has something especially for algae.

 

[Falloutboy]

been running mine 24/7 no problems yet

 

[Sokratz]

don't buy anythin from frozencpu, wel unless you want to pay the 50%-100% markup. just go to the pet store an get anti-algae. If you do develop yuck, get some shock or bleach and it'll take it out. adding anti-freeze is generally to make water transfer haet better and/or get the air bubbles out of it.

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: Sokratz
don't buy anythin from frozencpu, wel unless you want to pay the 50%-100% markup.

I see this statement sometimes when it comes to the better online stores. This may come at a surprise, but there are consumers who want don't mind paying a bit more (50-100% is hyperbole) for good selection and service. They've never screwed me in any way and have actually made getting parts a lot simpler.

 

[juggalojaS]

I disagree

 

[VisableAssassin]

FLuid FX sold thru D-tek customs...has the same or better properties than water and nothing grows it in and it isnt conductive.
also to keep stuff from growing.....use about a teaspoon of betadine...Ive been running the same coolant for over a year with no problems...also betadine has the awsome side effect of helping out with leaks in cracked poly tops....once betadine hits air it gums up and clogs the leak...does a damn good job too.
but it wont gum up in your system since its suspended in the water

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: juggalojaS
I disagree

Good.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Sokratz
don't buy anythin from frozencpu, wel unless you want to pay the 50%-100% markup. just go to the pet store an get anti-algae. If you do develop yuck, get some shock or bleach and it'll take it out. adding anti-freeze is generally to make water transfer haet better and/or get the air bubbles out of it.

well not exactly, last i checked antifreeze actually is worse then water at heat transfer. its used for its antifreeze/anti corrosion properties

 

[VisableAssassin]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Sokratz
don't buy anythin from frozencpu, wel unless you want to pay the 50%-100% markup. just go to the pet store an get anti-algae. If you do develop yuck, get some shock or bleach and it'll take it out. adding anti-freeze is generally to make water transfer haet better and/or get the air bubbles out of it.

well not exactly, last i checked antifreeze actually is worse then water at heat transfer. its used for its antifreeze/anti corrosion properties

then you also have to point out bleach is highly corrosive to copper.
if your gonna use anything algicide for aquariums,humidifiers or betadine work so very well. but here shortly ill be useing fluidfx since in a review a little while back showed that it actually worked slightly better than water for some reason

 

[NewBlackDak]

Algae destroyer is cheap, works, and can be bought and any LFS.
As for pump longevity. Most pumps are made to run 24/7, and the stopping/starting are usually what kills them. They're made for ponds and fishtanks which you can't turn off. I've never had a pump die in an aquarium.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: VisableAssassin

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Sokratz
don't buy anythin from frozencpu, wel unless you want to pay the 50%-100% markup. just go to the pet store an get anti-algae. If you do develop yuck, get some shock or bleach and it'll take it out. adding anti-freeze is generally to make water transfer haet better and/or get the air bubbles out of it.

well not exactly, last i checked antifreeze actually is worse then water at heat transfer. its used for its antifreeze/anti corrosion properties

then you also have to point out bleach is highly corrosive to copper.
if your gonna use anything algicide for aquariums,humidifiers or betadine work so very well. but here shortly ill be useing fluidfx since in a review a little while back showed that it actually worked slightly better than water for some reason

ah my mind skipped over the bleach part. yea thats iffy too. but yea, read any car manual like chiltons or whatever and i swear they mention how coolant works as i wrote above. think its on howstuffworks.com

either way, for 24/7, best to get a zalman resorator right? that giant reservoir/heatsink. one less point of failure it would seem

 

[Ackmed]

The pump can fail in the Zalman unit, just like any other pump. If you buy reliable parts, there is very little change of failure. Most motherboards have a shutdown temp setting in any case.

 

[0roo0roo]

can you install a pump in series with the zalman? or do pumps not allow flow when siezed?

 

[HardWarrior]

The instructions on the Res actually include steps for installing an inline.

 

[Jitsu]

As an avid tropical fish hobbist and fish store employee I suggest putting formaldehyde in your water systems to pwn anything living in the water (Algae spores, Bacteria, etc...)

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Jitsu
As an avid tropical fish hobbist and fish store employee I suggest putting formaldehyde in your water systems to pwn anything living in the water (Algae spores, Bacteria, etc...)

OMG you noob don't you know formaldehyde just preserves stuff?!?!!