Water has gone green!

Fernanjoe · 2 Jul 2016 at 11:00

Hello, Just looking for a bit of advice on my water loop. I set it up about two years ago (first time watercooling) and im a bit lazy and so havent really done any maintenance on it. The temps im getting are still fine, same as the day i installed it but looking inside the pc the other day i noticed that the water has a slight green tinge to it. I never put in any kill coils or biocide and so i guess it was to be expected.

Im curious if this will be damaging the pump or the cpu block/radiator? Im going to drain the loop as i have a new case (which will be fun as i didnt put in a drain point!) and wanted to know if i should just buy all new stuff or if i can re-use my current set up?

Any one got any advice? Am i best trying to clean this current loop by draining it a few times? Its going to be awkward to drain and re-fill due to my noob build method.

Cheers.

BluD · 2 Jul 2016 at 11:17

Yeah just clean it, i forgot to put biocide in my loop once about 10 years ago, it all went green so I just replaced the tubing. The temps never got any worse but i suspect if ya left it long enough they would as the fins on the water blocks would start getting gunked up with algae.

Some mayhem blitz might clean it all off the tubing but its so cheap to replace tubing i would just buy new and either take the blocks apart and give them a scrub out or just blitz them when you do the rads.

Fernanjoe · 2 Jul 2016 at 11:22

Cheers buddy, ill give cleaning the main parts a go and just get some new tubing. Now i just have to work out how im going to drain the system.

D1craig · 2 Jul 2016 at 12:54

you may aswell figure out where to put a drain in aswell now you are moving the hole thing to another case. be logical with it though, if you put it in wrong place it will be all but useless.

Fernanjoe · 2 Jul 2016 at 13:17

Yeah im going to add in a drain point. Am i right in thinking to put it basically at the bottom, lowest point of the loop? I only have the cpu cooled so i was just going to buy one of those t-fittings and add a stop valve.

BluD · 2 Jul 2016 at 13:32

Yeah thats right, lowest point so as much can drain out as possible. Ya want some way of letting air in also, so if your res doesnt open easily add a fill port also. Its also handy as you can blow into the fill port to help force more water out of the drain, saw that on Jayztwocents

Fernanjoe · 2 Jul 2016 at 22:26

Thanks for the advice. Got my new case today so its all systems go. I think i want to water cool my gpu so i have another question....

I have a OcUK GeForce GTX 980Ti "Reference Design" 6144MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
GX-212-OK

So can any one point me to a suitable gpu block? Ive seen some that mention 'Asus design' so im not sure if that would fit my card. Does me having a reference design card restrict my choices?

Holst1981 · 2 Jul 2016 at 22:49

Most manufacturers make a block for the reference pcb, so you should get plenty of choice.

Fernanjoe · 3 Jul 2016 at 20:36

Cheers man. I managed to drain the system today. Ended up taking the cpu waterblock off and then dangleing it down into a bucket before taking the tubes off. Bit nerve racking for a while. Ordered some new bits so looking forward to setting up the next loop.