Using just distilled water in loop?

[BlackCoffee]

So I have one of EK's aluminum custom loop kits and ive run out of their special additive. Has anyone just used plain distilled water without any additives and did you have any issues with it? how long were you able to go without growth, etc?

[SolarNova]

3 hours ago, BlackCoffee said:

So I have one of EK's aluminum custom loop kits and ive run out of their special additive. Has anyone just used plain distilled water without any additives and did you have any issues with it? how long were you able to go without growth, etc?

I have. (well i used biocide)

 

The below images are after 5 years of just distilled and some biocide prior to cleaning, after cleaning pritty much everything u see thats blue/green was bare copper underneath.

Its my old since replaced 780 Classifed card and block.

 

My CPU block was also in a similar condition, i still use it however and all is fine.

 

Spoiler

 

The main takeaway, use a corrosion inhibitor.

I never had an issue with biological buildup as i used a biocide, nor did i have any other buildup or gunk beyond the usual white residue from long term soft tube use mainly on the inside of the tubing itself. It also performed just fine the entire time, this was only torn apart as i was upgrading.

 

So u can use just distilled , but i would highly recommend u add corrosion inhibitor and biocide when u get the chance.

 

Mayhems do both, its what i use.

 

My loop currently runs distilled + Mayhems inhibitor + biocide.

[Mick Naughty]

I’d try not to be so cheap and just order something to add to the water. Only 13 bucks normally to treat an 89 cent gallon of distilled. More then enough for the system. 

[W-L]

12 hours ago, BlackCoffee said:

So I have one of EK's aluminum custom loop kits and ive run out of their special additive. Has anyone just used plain distilled water without any additives and did you have any issues with it? how long were you able to go without growth, etc?

With aluminum it will very easily have build up, you need corrosion inhibitors and biocides found in dedicated fluids. 

[Tristerin]

I use Antifreeze - natural biocide, corrosive inhibitor (specifically use Prestone 50/50 with their patented Cor-Guard) and stupidly cheap.  Ive filled 3 loops and have about 5 more to go before the bottle is empty....$10 bucks so basically $1 something to fill a loop with 3 radiators.