Clear soft tubing staying clear for 24 hours, then turns milky

[EvilVir]

Hi guys,

 

So I'm still building my first custom water loop, other problems aside, I wonder if it's normal for clear soft tubing to go milky after a little while? What's your experience?

 

I've bough already four different brands of 10/16 tubing: EKWB DuraClear, Tygon E3603, Mayhems Ultra Clear, XSPC FLX.

 

After soaking in distilled water ALL of them started to change colour from clear to milky white. Process starts after about 12h. After 36h they turned semi-opaque and I have few scraps of EKWB and Mayhems that are soaking now for two weeks and these turned full-white.

 

 

I know that this is not hard tubing and some degree of discolouration will occur but c'mon! Not after like two days I hoped. Though it will last like a year or so before need to replace with new ones.

 

Do you guys have similar issues? I'm from Europe so maybe there is some difference in chemical composition of these tubes? Or IDK maybe I'm doing something wrong? Is there any procedure, like with radiators, to clean up tubing before installing, so they don't turn looking as shitty as on this picture?

[Mick Naughty]

Do it with an actual pc fluid. It be never had the issue with distilled water but I’ve only used two brands of tube and it only happened after half a year maybe. 

[-rascal-]

8 hours ago, EvilVir said:

Hi guys,

 

So I'm still building my first custom water loop, other problems aside, I wonder if it's normal for clear soft tubing to go milky after a little while? What's your experience?

 

I've bough already four different brands of 10/16 tubing: EKWB DuraClear, Tygon E3603, Mayhems Ultra Clear, XSPC FLX.

 

After soaking in distilled water ALL of them started to change colour from clear to milky white. Process starts after about 12h. After 36h they turned semi-opaque and I have few scraps of EKWB and Mayhems that are soaking now for two weeks and these turned full-white.

 

I know that this is not hard tubing and some degree of discolouration will occur but c'mon! Not after like two days I hoped. Though it will last like a year or so before need to replace with new ones.

 

Do you guys have similar issues? I'm from Europe so maybe there is some difference in chemical composition of these tubes? Or IDK maybe I'm doing something wrong? Is there any procedure, like with radiators, to clean up tubing before installing, so they don't turn looking as shitty as on this picture?

 

I use EKwb's DuraClear tubing as well, and didn't run into issues with it turning milky white color.

When did you order the tubing?

Is the tubing kind of old?

How old is your distilled water?

Container of distilled water previously opened?

 

My recent order, with a pack of DuraClear tubing, shipped all the way out from Slovenia, so I don't think destination matters...

 

[EvilVir]

16 hours ago, -rascal- said:

 

I use EKwb's DuraClear tubing as well, and didn't run into issues with it turning milky white color.

When did you order the tubing?

Is the tubing kind of old?

How old is your distilled water?

Container of distilled water previously opened?

 

My recent order, with a pack of DuraClear tubing, shipped all the way out from Slovenia, so I don't think destination matters...

 

 

Hi, I've ordered my EKWB tubing twice already - once from local shop in Poland, once straight from Slovenia as you did.

 

Water is new, never opened and same thing happens also with EKWB's CryoFuel Clear (both bottles ordered directly from the EKWB shop in Slovenia).

 

Can you please post a picture of your tubing installed? Maybe I just expect too much of them? I just filled the loop again, will give it another 12h and see how it goes this time. My previous attempt ended up looking like this:

 

 

Since then I ordered new box of EKWB DuraClear as well as all other different brands.

[W-L]

10 hours ago, EvilVir said:

 

Hi, I've ordered my EKWB tubing twice already - once from local shop in Poland, once straight from Slovenia as you did.

 

Water is new, never opened and same thing happens also with EKWB's CryoFuel Clear (both bottles ordered directly from the EKWB shop in Slovenia).

 

Can you please post a picture of your tubing installed? Maybe I just expect too much of them? I just filled the loop again, will give it another 12h and see how it goes this time. My previous attempt ended up looking like this:

Since then I ordered new box of EKWB DuraClear as well as all other different brands.

What distilled water are you using can you post a photo? 

 

Most tubing will go opaque after use but usually after around 6-12 months, I've used Mayhem's Ultra clear without much issue.

[For Science!]

Same, requesting photo of distilled water used (the bottle, the brand, any information). It almost looks like it was soaked in distilled white vinegar or something

[Enochian]

Man you ordered so much stuff already, maybe try just hard tubes and be done with it?

[Xkillerpn]

Distiled water and mayhams Blitz kit and when all clean distiled water + Mayhams Biocide.

 

Never had an issue with this.

[-rascal-]

On 8/16/2020 at 6:17 AM, EvilVir said:

 

Hi, I've ordered my EKWB tubing twice already - once from local shop in Poland, once straight from Slovenia as you did.

 

Water is new, never opened and same thing happens also with EKWB's CryoFuel Clear (both bottles ordered directly from the EKWB shop in Slovenia).

 

Can you please post a picture of your tubing installed? Maybe I just expect too much of them? I just filled the loop again, will give it another 12h and see how it goes this time. My previous attempt ended up looking like this:

 

 

Since then I ordered new box of EKWB DuraClear as well as all other different brands.

 

This is about after ~2 weeks after the loop was out together, using just distilled water. I've added some red dye into the water since, but the tubing is still very clear; I'll update with a more close-up photo later today.

[Lipe123]

Is there a chance you have a UV light source near/in the computer?

 

My flex tubes will over time take in the colour of the coolant but if you are just using water and bio inhibitors that's bizarre.

[-rascal-]

5 hours ago, Lipe123 said:

Is there a chance you have a UV light source near/in the computer?

 

My flex tubes will over time take in the colour of the coolant but if you are just using water and bio inhibitors that's bizarre.

 

OP is saying the tubes will turn opaque just but having them sit in distilled water while NOT in a loop.

Like...just sitting in a container of distilled water...

Curious WHAT kind of distilled water OP is using...

[Lipe123]

8 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

 

OP is saying the tubes will turn opaque just but having them sit in distilled water while NOT in a loop.

Like...just sitting in a container of distilled water...

Curious WHAT kind of distilled water OP is using...

Yeah idk man, grasping at straws here.

 

Maybe the OP bought biodegradable eco friendly non gmo tubing? 

[EvilVir]

Hi guys,

 

Sorry for going out for a while, been building this damn loop. Ok so for the questions:

 

I've used standard distiled water that you can buy on any gas station in Poland. Don't think that photo of a bottle would help you guys much but here you go:

 

 

And there is another thing: that photo I've attached above? One with milky tubes inside the computer itself? Well that is not distilled water, that is EKWB's Clear CryoFuel sitting inside EKWB's CrystalClear tubing! These tubes never touched anything else than EK's coolant

 

@-rascal- thank you for the photo, can you please do another one, this time with computer off, so the tubes would be visible in natural light as they are? Sorry to be so picky but mine, when highlighted from behind by RGBs also looks more clear than they are in normal light.

Question about UV light source seams valid, I'll try to do another test with piece of tube in non-translucent container and see how that will go. Maybe that's the catch, who knows? I have all sorts of problems and dissapointments with that loop, so I'm willing to try anything lol

 

@Enochian well you see that's the whole point: I've put so much money already into that thing, that I'm really not looking forward to throwing half of that away and spending another pile of cash on different tubes, cutters, and fittings  If nothing helps then I'd either stay with this milky thing (and later replace it with like black ZMT tubes) ot throw that EKWB garbage entirelly and go back to AIOs (especially that I don't get any better temps than with cheap Celsius 36 AIO lol :)

[-rascal-]

@EvilVir

If Polish have some similarities with English...that is demineralized water.

There is differences between demineralized water and distilled water.

Distilled water has organic materials / bacteria / inorganic materials / minerals removed.

Demineralized water has the...minerals filtered / removed, but all the other things *CAN* still be in there.

 

Sure, I can upload another picture for you...

[EvilVir]

@-rascal- ah you might be right with the water, but same happens with EK's premixed coolant so I think that's not important which kind of water was used. Anyway I still have some coolant left so to be sure I'll do next test with it only.

[bowrilla]

16 hours ago, EvilVir said:

I've used standard distiled water that you can buy on any gas station in Poland. Don't think that photo of a bottle would help you guys much but here you go:

 

 

And there is another thing: that photo I've attached above? One with milky tubes inside the computer itself? Well that is not distilled water, that is EKWB's Clear CryoFuel sitting inside EKWB's CrystalClear tubing! These tubes never touched anything else than EK's coolant

 

@-rascal- thank you for the photo, can you please do another one, this time with computer off, so the tubes would be visible in natural light as they are? Sorry to be so picky but mine, when highlighted from behind by RGBs also looks more clear than they are in normal light.

Question about UV light source seams valid, I'll try to do another test with piece of tube in non-translucent container and see how that will go. Maybe that's the catch, who knows? I have all sorts of problems and dissapointments with that loop, so I'm willing to try anything lol

 

@Enochian well you see that's the whole point: I've put so much money already into that thing, that I'm really not looking forward to throwing half of that away and spending another pile of cash on different tubes, cutters, and fittings  If nothing helps then I'd either stay with this milky thing (and later replace it with like black ZMT tubes) ot throw that EKWB garbage entirelly and go back to AIOs (especially that I don't get any better temps than with cheap Celsius 36 AIO lol :)

That is not distilled water. Demineralized water (also known as deionized water). The process does remove all mineral ions (like sodium, calcium, iron, copper, chloride and sulfates) but it does not remove uncharged organic particles/molecules nor any form of biological particles.

 

Demineralized/deionized water is not sterile and is not 100% pure H2O. You need distilled water to be on the safe side. Potentially (!) demineralized water with a good dose of biocide might (!) work as well.

 

It is possible that you got a bad batch of tubes. 

 

How did you prep you system? Did you thoroughly clean all components to remove all production residues? Did you flush it beforehand with lots of water and distilled water at the end?

 

P.S.: some coolants are quicker at turning tubing cloudy. All coolants will at some point make them turn cloudy. Ideally this should only be the case after like 6 months and more. Full white opaque? That screams for some incompatibility. Maybe you got a bad batch of collant? 

[For Science!]

The clear cryofuel does have a cloudy appearance initially but it does get better with time. 

 

Distilled water only (testing only)

 

CryoFuel Day 0 (has a bit cloudy feel to it, its also UV reactive)

 

 

Day today (sorry for the dust)

 

[EvilVir]

@bowrilla I'm using this water only for testing, in the system I used Cryofuel premixed, so that's not the case. Also I thought I got bad batch but same thing happened with second EKWB tube I ordered, as well as Tygon, Myhems and XSPC. I tested four brands, one twice. Same results  Also coolant was changed, so I tested two different bottles (not same batch for sure - checked the production date on the bottle, they are like 3 months apart).

 

I'm now testing this UV light idea - yesterday I put a piece of EKWB in the black container, covered it with pure premixed Cryofuel (so no demineralized water at all) and I'm keeping it in dark drawer. Will see tomorrow if it is changing color as it normally takes around 24-48h.

 

@For Science! Beautiful rig you have! But these are hard tubes, right?

[For Science!]

Just now, EvilVir said:

 

 

@For Science! Beautiful rig you have! But these are hard tubes, right?

Yes, I'm just commenting on the fact that cryofuel looked cloudy initially, but then cleared up over time.

[EvilVir]

You make me want to strip all this soft tubing out, get my credit card out and go for hard tubes lol

[SolarNova]

2 minutes ago, EvilVir said:

You make me want to strip all this soft tubing out, get my credit card out and go for hard tubes lol

If u can afford it, going with glass tubing removes any issue of clouding entirely.

 

Acrylic and PETG hard tubing can still cloud over time. Ofc Plastic hard tubing can be bent, Glass cannot so its more expensive due to the extra fittings u need.

[EvilVir]

Oh, nice to know, thanks! Money isn't an big issue, just want to get something worth it lol  For now I'm also fighting with poor performance of that loop, so don't want to spend extra before I make sure it even stays in the PC, but maybe once that's solved I will think about going for glass ones.

[Mick Naughty]

Could just get matte tube and never worry about color again. 

[bowrilla]

59 minutes ago, SolarNova said:

Ofc Plastic hard tubing can be bent, Glass cannot

Glass tubing can very much be bent - it's glass and glass can get formed when heated. You won't get far with a heat gun though. People do build loops with bended glass tubes. You can also get them pre-bent.

[bowrilla]

1 hour ago, EvilVir said:

 I'm using this water only for testing, in the system I used Cryofuel premixed, so that's not the case.

Cryofuel premixed or the concentrate you need to dilute? My experience with Cryofuel Solid Concentrate isn't particularly great. The shelf life is only 1 year after bottling and after a few months the particles settle and the tubes get very milky. I would not go with it again and I will certainly strip it all once my GPU block comes.