What is this?

Jay794

Jay794

Jay794

Soldato
Joined
27 Aug 2011
Posts
5,310
Location
Sheffield, UK
Thanks in advance, and sorry for the crappy photo angle.

I've just replaced my old XSPC CPU block with a Corsair XC7 and within a few days notice this brown, what looks like rust marks appear on the block, I've only ever used distilled/de-ionised water first with a silver kill coil but now I'm using Mayhems Biocide+

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5XqLmuC


What is this stuff thats appeared in the CPU block? it first I thought it was rust, but then Corsair suggested it could be Algae. Is a biocide enough to make it disappear? to do I need to dismantle the block and clean it thoroughly with a toothbrush?
 
If that was my block I'd be stripping loop to find out what it was as it does look like nickel has corroded especially as it is only a few weeks old
 
Biocide does not prevent galvanic corrosion.
Are you still using the silver coil? as your original post seems to suggest you used to and now use the biocide.
If not that is your problem.
You need an inhibitor to prevent corrosion.
 
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Shac said:
Biocide does not prevent galvanic corrosion.
Are you still using the silver coil? as your original post seems to suggest you used to and now use the biocide.
If not that is your problem.
You need an inhibitor to prevent corrosion.
Click to expand...

Replaced the kill coil with the biocide.

Corsair seem to think its algae
 
I really think algae has always been terribly over-blown in the water cooling world.

I also thought silver coils are out moded, solid silver does not particularly 'want' to dissolve into water, which is the only way it would have an effect on bacteria.
 
Silver coils are for galvanic corrosion from dissimilar metals.
Your installed Biocide is to control algae it does NOTHING to prevent corrosion.
You should have had an inhibitor as well or bought coolant with both fitted.
However fitting the silver coil again will now prevent any further corrosion.
 
Shac said:
Silver coils are for galvanic corrosion from dissimilar metals.
Your installed Biocide is to control algae it does NOTHING to prevent corrosion.
You should have had an inhibitor as well or bought coolant with both fitted.
However fitting the silver coil again will now prevent any further corrosion.
Click to expand...

It was my understanding that silver doesn't play nice with nickel? from the research I've done on the subject, the kill coil may be the reason for the possible corrosion on the block?
 
Jay794 said:
It was my understanding that silver doesn't play nice with nickel? from the research I've done on the subject, the kill coil may be the reason for the possible corrosion on the block?
Click to expand...

From what I've read silver coils and nickel don't play nicely but it also shouldn't look that bad after only a month. Not sure I'd even expect that after a year. I have kill coils (no inhibitor) in my nickel plated monoblock and GPU loop and neither have shown corrosion and it's been a bit over 1.5 years of regular use (I work from home regularly). Do I expect some over time? Yes, but I'll worry about it down the line.
 
Just to update everyone, I drained the loop and dismantled the block, still no idea what the browning was, but it did come off with a quick scrub from a toothbrush. So all clean for now.

Just running distilled water and some Mayhems Biocide+ at the moment, will be purchasing some Mayhems inhibitor this week

Thanks for all the advice
 
Jay794 said:
Just to update everyone, I drained the loop and dismantled the block, still no idea what the browning was, but it did come off with a quick scrub from a toothbrush. So all clean for now.

Just running distilled water and some Mayhems Biocide+ at the moment, will be purchasing some Mayhems inhibitor this week

Thanks for all the advice
Click to expand...
Glad you sorted it mate without any damage to the block
 
I've had brown build up again around the oring of my CPU block. Wonder if it's radiator flux or some other weird artefact. I ignore it doesn't seem to do any harm.
 
3t3P said:
I've had brown build up again around the oring of my CPU block. Wonder if it's radiator flux or some other weird artefact. I ignore it doesn't seem to do any harm.
Click to expand...

If it's a brown, oiling looking stain just near the o-ring it might be grease. I think some EK blocks suffered from this a while ago but not sure it's still an issue.
 
Question how do you put a silver coil in the water cooling loop?.
Glad it's sorted now mate :)
 
clone said:
Question how do you put a silver coil in the water cooling loop?.
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You can coil it up near a tube end making sure it's wide enough not to slip through, although I've never fancied that idea. Or my preference, wrap it around something. I weave my silver strip around the EK logo cut out in the anti-cyclone at the bottom of the reservoir. Even bouncing it across the floor wouldn't dislodge it.
 
clone said:
Not got anything in my res that I can do that with ,will need to be inventive.
Click to expand...

You can shape it into a large C shape so it sits against the wall inside the reservoir if there is access? Does the reservoir disassemble? Or really any shape where it won't be sucked into the pump impeller, that would be very bad.

The water pressure should never be powerful enough to reshape it anyway.
 
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