My HTPC, in mineral oil, in a fish tank.

[Angry Postman]

I've been urged to put this here in my build log.  So let's see if I can figure this forum nonsense out...  Later I'll post a video, I'm better at video, it's actually my profession.

 

My Problem:

I needed to separate my computer from the TV so I can work while everyone else in the house can watch TV.  WOW that sounds sad now that I type it out!

Solution 1:  Use a Raspberry Pi.  That worked for a while but it got tired after a while so I decided to upgrade.

Solution 2:  Buy an actual Android TV box thing.  That only worked for a month and the thing kept dropping the digital sound signal!

Solution 3:  Get a refund and combine two projects that I've been wanting to do for a LONG time and go ALL out.  This consisted of buying proper PC hardware, designing a custom perspex "tank", getting oil with which to fill it up, getting a fish tank to put the perspex tank in, guilting the girlfriend into buying fish for the fish tank because she killed the last one.

 

The Parts:

Mobo:  GA-B85M-HD3-A (rev. 1.0)

Chip:  i5 4460

RAM:  Some sort of Kingston 1600 Mhz low profile nonsense (2 x 4Gig)

SSD:  Samsung EVO 850 120Gig SSD

PSU:  Raidmax RX-450

Computer Tank:  Custom design (ask me for drawings)

Mineral Oil:  Engen's Poweroil TO 1020 (60U)

Fish Tank:  Juwel Vision 180

Keyboard/Mouse:  Rii i25

 

Parts added later in the build:

Radiator:  XSPC EX240

Fans:  Cooler Master SickleFlow 120mm

Fish tank pump:  Some random SP2500 ssubmersible thing I had laying about.

 

As you can see, nothing special in the machine component department.  The fish tank I will say is fantastic as a standalone thing but that's not the point of this post.  Now please forgive me if I make this post wrong, I'm a dumass deep down

 

The procedure (The pictures aren't great, I was too excited!):

 

First thing was to get the tank, some fish, and some decorations from my local pet shop and let the tank "cycle" before I actually get to doing anything.

 

 

Next step were the bits and pieces of the computer and getting them fit and ready for use and to test it all out with my entertainment system.

 

I ended up installing Windows 10 and Kodi.  I then got the network up and running using a little WiFi dongle I had laying about.  Then downstairs I hardwired it to the network and tested the audio.  Then let Kodi do its thing and categorise all my stuff.

 

 

This part was me testing to see if I could output digital audio through the HDMI properly from a "normal" computer... success!!

 

 

Custom tank finally arrives a few days later from a local perspex company.

 

 

Next step was to put everything into the case and test it out.

 

 

Yes I was watching a review of Duke Nukem 3D   And here are a couple more pics of it in the oil tank without oil...

 

 

In the mean time my fish can go into the tank since it's been long enough for the water to cycle.

 

 

At this point some of the more unobservant of you are freaking out: "DON'T PUT THE FISH IN OIL!! YOU'LL KILL THEM!!!"

 

No I won't...  End of discussion

 

After a few days my oil arrives so it's time to begin filling the oil tank

 

 

Now here's where I hit my first PROPER snag.  The CPU fan won't properly engage once the machine shuts down... OH NOES!!!

 

After some back and forth and a lot of help from this forum (I'm calling @Stefan1024 out here to say thanks) it finally came to light that this little fan will NOT start in oil.  The PSU fan runs just fine!  I then decided to get myself a radiator, some fans, and pipe plus sundries for this whole activity.  Like I said before, I'm a dumass, I'm GUESSING my way through this whole project

 

 

Here's the proper Frankenstein bit.  Basically now the oil is being pumped out of the tank via that silly little fish pump through the pipes, through the radiator, and back into the tank.  See that black thing just above my left foot shoe?  That's the pump.  Also for those REALLY paying attention you'll see I've made myself a "front panel" out of some plastic that I found from the fish tank cover with some recycled LEDs a NEW USB 3.0 header and some buttons (this fails later).

 

Now comes my temperature tests.  I ran it in a few different circumstances to see what the best would be and also bought some submersible temperature gauges so I can properly see what's going on.  Totally guessing here!  Also bare in mind I'm going by memory here so I could be wrong.  You'll notice I've measured the water as well so I can see what happens.

 

• I let the pump sit doing nothing to see what "normal" was and I got about 40 degrees.
• I ran the pump with no fans and got about 37 degrees (no surprise here).
• I then ran the pump with the fans going using the machine "normally" and it came down to about 29 degrees (I do some research and the fish actually prefer it.)
• I also experimented with the position of the oil's "in" and "out" points and found that the best heat reduction came from pulling the hot oil from the top, cooling it, and pushing the cold oil to the bottom.  This sounds counter intuitive but my cheap, little, blue temperature gauge doesn't lie.
• Finally decided that it was time to put it into the tank.
• These 16 liters of oil with components and perspex are HEAVY!!!!!

I removed about half the oil so I can lift it without it slipping out my hands, removed about 30 liters of water from the tank (I'm being cautious OK!) and IN IT GOES with the help of my girlfriend cable bashing for me!  What a laugh!  I didn't think that the thing would float; but hey, that's how boats work! LOL!

 

 

Once everything has equalized out after a day or two of "normal" use both the fish tank temps and the oil temps are at 27 degrees.  PERFECT!  And here's what it finally looks like after I bought one or two extra fake plants.

 

 

Conclusion:

 

It performs VERY well as an HTPC.  I'm going to connect the main media drive in the built in cupboard below soon so it doesn't have to talk through the network all the time for media.  But all in all I'm VERY happy with the result!

 

What I learned:

• Oil is messy.  It WILL invade everything, your fingers, your food, your hair, your house, even your nose!  Once all has settled though all of that goes away... until you have to change a stick of RAM!
• I would definitely redesign the case to have handles and to have the motherboard mounting board removable.  MANY times I found myself going "Oh S!@# I can't reach whatever" and ending up with a HUGE struggle that wasn't necessary.
• Plan MORE.  That "front panel" I made was suppose to fit directly into a hole on top of the fish tank that the original plastic came from.  Great idea in theory but the wires dangle in the water which is less than ideal so now it sits on top rather than neatly in place.  This actually resulted in a minor oil spill from the wires; lucky me, the fish survived.
• It seems as though my Mobo can't control the fans properly.  The board outputs either 12v or PWM for some control.  So they're both running at full blast now but they're not actually all that loud.  I'd buy different fans for anyone following.
• I probably should have made some sort of "lid" for the oil tank.  I'm finding that the bubbles popping and water condensation on the fish tank "roof" are causing water to build up on the top edges of the oil tank.  Weather this is getting INTO the oil or not (Or EVEN THE MOTHERBOARD) I don't know yet...
• If I costed this whole project before hand I probably wouldn't have done it.  But I don't regret a single moment of failure or Rand spent (My currency).
• I've learned a lot from this build and also gained a FULLY FUNCTIONAL HTPC that the smaller and cheaper alternatives just can't live up to.

All in all, I'm VERY happy.  I'm going to be posting a video some time soon given enough free time!

 

Throw me any questions you want.  Compliments and criticisms welcome (I can always learn more).

Edited February 8, 2016 by Angry Postman
Forgot about the PWM vs Voltage fan thing.

[Syntaxvgm]

FUCK YEA! 

Exactly what I want to see more people do, put it in an actual fish tank. 

Just be careful it doesn't leak, I mean it'll kill your fish. you probably know that. 

But I would have double layered it with a gap  for that reason and to prevent temp changes in the fish tank and contain leaks. But I don't know if that would look as seamless. 

[DrDray]

Fucking love it dude!

[givingtnt]

15 minutes ago, Angry Postman said:

I've been urged to put this here in my build log.  So let's see if I can figure this forum nonsense out...  Later I'll post a video, I'm better at video, it's actually my profession.

 

I can always learn more).

nice ! 

I had an idea for such a concept, but by scealing the components in a vaccume formed plastic mold (with some space for the oil to pass through)

never had the money tho

[AlTech]

Cooleo.

[soloforgp]

Very nice!

You may want to look at vegetal oil too, which is less toxic but has other drawbacks (more expensive, oxydation).

[Stefan1024]

I like it!

 

@LinusTech @Slick: He managed to get the "mineral oil PC and fish in the same tank" working!!

[Angry Postman]

A SMALL update to my little fish tank...

 

For those not following my help forum post, a stick of RAM died because it got some water bubbles on it which is very marginally affecting the graphical performance (Onboard GPU).  I'll get another replacement 4 gig DIMM when I feel the minor UI stutter in Kodi bothers me.  This water came from condensation of the "roof" of the fish tank so I've left that off (who cares, no one can see it).  My front panel is just chilling on top but works very well because of this needed lack of lid (Again, it functions; I even charge my remote control from it).

 

I've since done a water change or three, fed my fish plenty times, no one is dead, the temperatures are 100% what is needed for the fish I have, and it's looking very pretty with how I've arranged all the fake plants... I wonder if I should transition to real plants???

 

By the way, I count 14 fish in this next picture (Took me a while):

 

 

And here's a top view for the curious:

 

[NoobCase]

hahahahahaha so much epicness - great read all the way!

[BuckGup]

gud i lik it gud 2 go m8 

[Angry Postman]

Haha thanks guys!  It's still performing well

[azurha]

hello Angry Postman o/

 

After 4 years what is the condition of the components in the oil?

 

thanks you for sharing your project.