Coolant vs. Distilled Water

[TheDigitalRealm]

This is my first water cooling build and I'm thinking of doing a red themed build, I want to know which is the better/safer/longer lasting way to get a nice red or black color in my tubes.

 

Transparent tubing and red coolant/dye OR Opaque colored tubing and distilled water?

[schoggi555]

I'd say red coolant looks best

[Loe]

I hear that distilled water ionizes very fast, something to bare in mind.

[TheDigitalRealm]

Once ionized it doesn't pose any more of a risk, (providing you don't have leaks)

 

I've heard that coolant, especially mayhem's coolant, fills your water blocks with crap and gunks up a lot? 

[Ghost]

• Nothing is safe. If something leaks while you system is powered up you are screwed.

Distilled water with a kill coil is best for long life. (TIP: Its hard to buy distilled water in the UK)

[Owen]

 

• Nothing is safe. If something leaks while you system is powered up you are screwed.
• Distilled water with a kill coil is best for long life. (TIP: Its hard to buy distilled water in the UK)

 

Distill it yourself:P Why is distilled water hard to buy in the UK?

[Alex(PlayMedium)]

I don't think I would be comfortable with destilled water, because the idea of something growing in my cooling system freaks me out.

[Ghost]

Distill it yourself:P

I'll go grab my handy distilling equipment.

[Owen]

I'll go grab my handy distilling equipment.

A stove, pan and a bottle? :P I was kidding anyway, but again why is it hard to buy distilled water in the UK, I'm curious

[Ghost]

A stove, pan and a bottle? :P I was kidding anyway, but again why is it hard to buy distilled water in the UK, I'm curious

No physical shops that I know of sell it.

[TheDigitalRealm]

No physical shops that I know of sell it.

There are multiple U.K based sites online who sell them, just note that here it's mainly called de-ionized water (the proper name ;)) You can buy 5 litre jugs of it on ebay. I rely on online retailers due to living in Somerset in the middle of no-where. (Farming community - I don't fit in)

 

U.K sites that sell it:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk

http://www.specialtech.co.uk

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk

[Ghost]

There are multiple U.K based sites online who sell them, just note that here it's mainly called de-ionized water (the proper name ;)) You can buy 5 litre jugs of it on ebay. I rely on online retailers due to living in Somerset in the middle of no-where. (Farming community - I don't fit in)

 

U.K sites that sell it:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk

http://www.specialtech.co.uk

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk

Physical shops. In america you can buy distilled water very very cheaply at any supermarket as I understand it.

[TheDigitalRealm]

I don't think I would be comfortable with destilled water, because the idea of something growing in my cooling system freaks me out.

There's every bit of chance something will start growing in coolant, both will have biocides in them once up and running, (PT Nuke, Kill coil) 

Basically there's very little chance of it happening. 

[TheDigitalRealm]

Physical shops. In america you can buy distilled water very very cheaply at any supermarket as I understand it.

Meh, it's not really a negative, something to be aware of I guess. You can get 5 Ltrs for £3.78 - quality is questionable or 25 Ltrs for £13.99

[Ghost]

Meh, it's not really a negative, something to be aware of I guess. You can get 5 Ltrs for £3.78 - quality is questionable or 25 Ltrs for £13.99

I am sure you got those prices wrong. Water weighs 1kg per liter. Postage would end up costing more then the prices you listed.

 

If not link me, I may order some.

[TheDigitalRealm]

I am sure you got those prices wrong. Water weighs 1kg per liter. Postage would end up costing more then the prices you listed.

 

If not link me, I may order some.

5 Ltrs £3.78 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5L-DEIONISED-DE-IONISED-WATER-/380458985353?pt=UK_Vehicle_Oils_Lubricants_Fluids&hash=item58951f6789

25 Ltrs £15.99 (wrong price before) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Deionised-Water-1-x-25-Ltrs-Free-Delivery-/261122975486?pt=UK_Lifting_Moving_Equipment&hash=item3ccc2466fe

[TheDigitalRealm]

On another note, I'm thinking on bidding on a Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD, good sound card or bad?

[Ghost]

5 Ltrs £3.78 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5L-DEIONISED-DE-IONISED-WATER-/380458985353?pt=UK_Vehicle_Oils_Lubricants_Fluids&hash=item58951f6789

25 Ltrs £15.99 (wrong price before) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Deionised-Water-1-x-25-Ltrs-Free-Delivery-/261122975486?pt=UK_Lifting_Moving_Equipment&hash=item3ccc2466fe

De-ionised and distilled are two different things. You can get de-ionised water from halfords.

[JordanMac]

There are multiple U.K based sites online who sell them, just note that here it's mainly called de-ionized water (the proper name ;)) You can buy 5 litre jugs of it on ebay. I rely on online retailers due to living in Somerset in the middle of no-where. (Farming community - I don't fit in)

 

U.K sites that sell it:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk

http://www.specialtech.co.uk

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk

de-ionised water and distilled water are 2 different things by the way, that di water still has small particles of grit, dirt etc in it which will build up in the blocks.

[JordanMac]

I am sure you got those prices wrong. Water weighs 1kg per liter. Postage would end up costing more then the prices you listed.

 

If not link me, I may order some.

you can get some distilled water in model shops, they use it for steam powered model trains. its like £10 a liter. try looking on the internet for hornby distilled water.

[That Norwegian Guy]

Believe it or not, urine is fairly good for these purpouses.

[Ghost]

you can get some distilled water in model shops, they use it for steam powered model trains. its like £10 a liter. try looking on the internet for hornby distilled water.

I know you can get it for ~£5 a liter. Its just ridiculously expensive in the UK in comparison to most other countries.

[JordanMac]

I know you can get it for ~£5 a liter. Its just ridiculously expensive in the UK in comparison to most other countries.

i know thats why i went for pre-mixed coolant, i dont know why we can't buy distilled water from supermarkets like you can in other countries.

[TheDigitalRealm]

de-ionised water and distilled water are 2 different things by the way, that di water still has small particles of grit, dirt etc in it which will build up in the blocks.

If I had a pound for everyone who's told me they're the same...bloody hell. So, de-ionised water is just non-conductive, while distilled water has had all the little particles of dirt removed. 

 

Here's some distilled water, expensive: £7.39 1 Ltr http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-Distilled-Water-FREE-UK-Shipping-Various-Sizes-UK-Seller-Good-Value-/121083126468?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&var=&hash=item1c311de2c4

Here's some better value 25 Ltr £26.74 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-Distilled-Water-FREE-UK-Shipping-Various-Sizes-UK-Seller-Good-Value-/121083126468?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&var=&hash=item1c311de2c4

[Ghost]

If I had a pound for everyone who's told me they're the same...bloody hell. So, de-ionised water is just non-conductive, while distilled water has had all the little particles of dirt removed. 

 

Here's some distilled water, expensive: £7.39 1 Ltr http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-Distilled-Water-FREE-UK-Shipping-Various-Sizes-UK-Seller-Good-Value-/121083126468?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&var=&hash=item1c311de2c4

Here's some better value 25 Ltr £26.74 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-Distilled-Water-FREE-UK-Shipping-Various-Sizes-UK-Seller-Good-Value-/121083126468?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&var=&hash=item1c311de2c4

I really wouldn't buy distilled water from eBay. Anyone can buy a cheap water distiller and start selling distilled water on eBay.

 

De-ionized water is easy to make because ions are attracted to positive and negative terminals. Distilled water requires filtering multiple times depending on the quality.