Cloudy water after just 2 weeks?

RoEy · 22 Jun 2013 at 10:43

Hi all,

New loop is two weeks old and I took the side panel off this morning to make sure everything is looking ok. However, the water in my res has gone a little cloudy. I don't understand it because I have used everything the same as I did with my last loop which lasted 3 years and looked fine. I flushed my rad several times before building the loop. Using XSPC Black tubing, XSPC res top for Laing DDC pump, Heatkiller CPU block (3 Years old), Heatkiller 7970 brand spank, Feser Quad Rad (3 years old) Feser Bi-distilled water, silver kill coil and Feser corrosion blocker. Is cloudy water an indication that bacteria is growing or could it just be coming from my tubing or res?

Hope someone can advise me.

Many thanks,

RoEy

DavidS14 · 22 Jun 2013 at 14:12

Did you use the same coolant/kill coil/blocker mix/type in the previous rig ?

RoEy · 22 Jun 2013 at 14:14

DavidS14 said:
Did you use the same coolant/kill coil/blocker mix/type in the previous rig ?

Yes everything the same. Is it something I should be concerned about or shall I just monitor it to see if it gets worse? For the love of God I don't want to rebuild the system a 3rd time in quick succession.

OLDPHART · 22 Jun 2013 at 14:59

That's one reason l use a clear pre-mix, fill loop job done --> EK Clear Coolant.

Frozennova · 22 Jun 2013 at 15:12

It'll be the plasticiser from the tubing leaching into the coolant. I noticed that the xspc tubing goes cloudy a lot quicker than masterclear.

RoEy · 22 Jun 2013 at 15:44

Frozennova said:
It'll be the plasticiser from the tubing leaching into the coolant. I noticed that the xspc tubing goes cloudy a lot quicker than masterclear.

Yeah I thought it could be that but it never happened last time. I'll keep any eye on it and if it is that I don't mind because I have black tubing anyway and res is out of sight.

Frozennova · 22 Jun 2013 at 16:07

Personally unless the coolant starts going green, or something seems wrong with the temperatures then I'd leave it like it is. I'm not as ocd as some people though

:(Rhodri:) · 22 Jun 2013 at 16:43

Frozennova said:
It'll be the plasticiser from the tubing leaching into the coolant. I noticed that the xspc tubing goes cloudy a lot quicker than masterclear.

I can attest to this, I had XSPC clear tubing that went really really cloudy after a few months. Switched to a different brand and stayed clear for well over a year.

OLDPHART · 22 Jun 2013 at 18:08

Rhodri said:
I can attest to this, I had XSPC clear tubing that went really really cloudy after a few months. Switched to a different brand and stayed clear for well over a year.

Using it myself using XSPC tubing + EK Clear Coolant year old since replacing, both are still clear.

RoEy · 22 Jun 2013 at 20:58

Two weeks seems incredibly fast for this to happen though. Should I just drain it without pulling loop apart and use different fluid maybe? I can siphon most of the water from the res using a bottle and straw.

tipes · 23 Jun 2013 at 07:06

Could it be left over residue in the cpu block, res etc from the previous build - as I suspect some residue could have built up over three years. You mentioned that you flushed the rad several times but not the blocks/res. Just a thought. I do however suspect it is leeching from the new tubing.

Mark

Mayhems · 23 Jun 2013 at 07:16

Using a clear coolant tubing will prolong the life and help reduce the risk of leaching. If it is leaching check you blocks regularly for blockages as this is were it will form up causing you issues. The only way you can tell what it really is, is by getting a sample analysed. With out doing that no one will know and its all about second guessing.

RoEy · 23 Jun 2013 at 09:46

tipes said:
Could it be left over residue in the cpu block, res etc from the previous build - as I suspect some residue could have built up over three years. You mentioned that you flushed the rad several times but not the blocks/res. Just a thought. I do however suspect it is leeching from the new tubing.

Mark

The res is new and the 7970 water block is new too. Only rad and cpu block from previous loop. I rinsed them both with boiling water several times, then de-ironized. Then after 24 hours my pump died so I had to drain all the system again and rebuild so it's had two lots of bi-distilled in it too. I'll monitor it over the next few days and if it looks like its getting worse I'll siphon it out and put some pre-mixed stuff in instead.

deFiniLoGy · 23 Jun 2013 at 13:02

Use Primochill Advanced with Mayhem DI water

tipes · 23 Jun 2013 at 14:44

RoEy said:
The res is new and the 7970 water block is new too. Only rad and cpu block from previous loop. I rinsed them both with boiling water several times, then de-ironized. Then after 24 hours my pump died so I had to drain all the system again and rebuild so it's had two lots of bi-distilled in it too. I'll monitor it over the next few days and if it looks like its getting worse I'll siphon it out and put some pre-mixed stuff in instead.

In that case tube leeching seems prime suspect. As suggested above by deFiniLoGy you could try changing the tubing and fluid, and hopefully the problem will disappear.

Mark

RoEy · 24 Jun 2013 at 09:23

I really don't want to pull it to bits again. If the tubing is leaching, will it continue to do so or could I just siphon the current water for some pre-mixed stuff and see if that works?

tipes · 24 Jun 2013 at 10:45

If it is the tubing leeching, then there is every possibility it will continue to do so. Maybe it is just the fluid you are currently using, not getting along well with the tubing and encouraging leeching. You could try flushing and then some pre mixed by just siphoning to save work and see how it goes. If it still does it you may have to face another re build with some Primochill advanced tubing.

Mark