whats the best water coolant/why
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Deionised water is much the same as distilled, except considerably cheaper. Pure water will pick up CO2 and various other things shortly after being placed in the system, so the difference between the two is likely to be slight.
Mixing it with ethylene glycol makes it a slightly worse coolant, but it wont support algae or freeze if things get too cold. Otherwise copper sulphate/pt nuke tend to kill algae, and a kill coil achieves much the same thing again. I prefer the latter since it's install and forget.
You can make arguments in favour of the more exciting ones based on it extending pump life, looking different, or in rare examples having a slightly higher specific heat capacity. For ten to fifteen quid a litre, relative to 80p for deionised + 3 or 4 to kill algae, got to be the latter. Especially if you think you'll go through a lot of coolant.
Mixing it with ethylene glycol makes it a slightly worse coolant, but it wont support algae or freeze if things get too cold. Otherwise copper sulphate/pt nuke tend to kill algae, and a kill coil achieves much the same thing again. I prefer the latter since it's install and forget.
You can make arguments in favour of the more exciting ones based on it extending pump life, looking different, or in rare examples having a slightly higher specific heat capacity. For ten to fifteen quid a litre, relative to 80p for deionised + 3 or 4 to kill algae, got to be the latter. Especially if you think you'll go through a lot of coolant.
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Soldato
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I went for distilled water, silver coil and primochill Utopia. For around a tenner i have a gallon of fluid.
Man of Honour
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I have De-ionised water (2x 1Litre bottles from ASDA for 25p each 
) and Primochill Liquid Utopia in my loop. I had Feser one before and it seperated and clogged all my blocks up.
) and Primochill Liquid Utopia in my loop. I had Feser one before and it seperated and clogged all my blocks up.im using the clear Themochill EC6 at the moment and have no complaints, but have used de ionised water in the past.
the only thing i will say is don't use a coloured fluid all the ones i have used have been very bad, use coloured tubing.
the only thing i will say is don't use a coloured fluid all the ones i have used have been very bad, use coloured tubing.
Totally agree! Using clear EC6 and it works like a charm.
Never use coloured coolant, it deposits gunk in the blocks which reduces their cooling abillity and ruins any re-sale value as you have to open them to clean.
Soldato
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R-113 and Ethylene Glycol are good bets. 
Soldato
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deionised water only - cools the best and is cheap. Never had a problem with algae in a white cathode-lit case, though the water's never been in for more than 6-12 months.
Not going to use dye again - every dye I've tried separates, clogs up blocks and stains everything to the point it can't be cleaned properly.
Not going to use dye again - every dye I've tried separates, clogs up blocks and stains everything to the point it can't be cleaned properly.
Reverse Osmosis water and then ran thru a deionizier you can get this from any good marine fish shop or you can buy a RO unit and deionizer(expensive) and a TDS meter - Yes i have marine fishes <3
IT's so pure it's actually dangerous to drink.
IT's so pure it's actually dangerous to drink.