Cheapest liquid solution?

[Watashi]

I'm fairly new to the watercooling game comparatively. I've switched liquid on 3 different occasions, each because I rearranged my set-up. I used EKWB's 100ml concentrate https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-cryofuel-clear-concentrate-100-ml, and 900ml of distilled water. This does seem to be like a pretty cheap and effective solution asides from the fact that EK charges me a lot of money for shipping, creating room for other solutions to be cheaper. Would you guys suggest buying some of your own biocides and other things of the like and mixing your own liquid? Or are there some other, cheaper yet effective solutions that are commonly used? 

[Crunchy Dragon]

You could probably distill water yourself

[Watashi]

Just now, Crunchy Dragon said:

You could probably distill water yourself

Do you mean distill the water? or pre-mix the fluid?

[LienusLateTips]

Just go straight distilled water (that's fine, right? idk about liquid cooling), sells 2L for C$2 at my local grocery store

[Crunchy Dragon]

1 minute ago, Doomerson said:

Do you mean distill the water? or pre-mix the fluid?

Distill the water.

 

Just now, JDE said:

Just go straight distilled water (that's fine, right? idk about liquid cooling), sells 2L for C$2 at my local grocery store

Yeah distilled water on its own is good for liquid cooling, most people like to add a coloring to it so it's more aesthetically pleasing.

[Watashi]

20 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Distill the water.

 

Yeah distilled water on its own is good for liquid cooling, most people like to add a coloring to it so it's more aesthetically pleasing.

I don't think doing just straight distilled water is a good idea, biocides and other things found in concentrates do serve a purpose. 

[Crunchy Dragon]

1 minute ago, Doomerson said:

I don't think doing just straight distilled water is a good idea, biocides and other things found in concentrates do serve a purpose. 

Sure, but it isn't necessarily bad on its own, it's not as good as with a concentrate.

[suchamoneypit]

4 minutes ago, Doomerson said:

I don't think doing just straight distilled water is a good idea, biocides and other things found in concentrates do serve a purpose. 

 

26 minutes ago, JDE said:

Just go straight distilled water (that's fine, right? idk about liquid cooling), sells 2L for C$2 at my local grocery store

if you don't add an anti-corrosive you will have issues over time.

[Watashi]

33 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Sure, but it isn't necessarily bad on its own, it's not as good as with a concentrate.

In reference to it's cooling capacity of course. But I wouldn't want to have to worry about corrosion or algae forming inside of my loop, that's worth paying the couple extra bucks for I think./ 

[For Science!]

I just buy  concentrate in excess. usually for 2 loop volumes worth for the next year' maintwnance. Don't buy too many though impinge it doesn't last forever on the shelf either.

 

 

[Watashi]

2 hours ago, For Science! said:

I just buy  concentrate in excess. usually for 2 loop volumes worth for the next year' maintwnance. Don't buy too many though impinge it doesn't last forever on the shelf either.

 

 

That's a great idea, I honestly didn't even think of that  I'll have to check shelf life and such!

[Dark]

21 hours ago, suchamoneypit said:

 

if you don't add an anti-corrosive you will have issues over time.

Depends on the metals in your loop.  There's little to worry about with nickel plated blocks and copper radiators.

20 hours ago, Doomerson said:

In reference to it's cooling capacity of course. But I wouldn't want to have to worry about corrosion or algae forming inside of my loop, that's worth paying the couple extra bucks for I think./ 

distilled water + pt nuke (biocide) is the best performing fluid you can use.