Building a bong cooler....what additives?

[dderidex]

Usual drill, I'm using plain water and trying to prevent:
* Corrosion
* Critter growth

What would be the ideal stuff to mix with the water, given it's an open-air system that will be evaporating (IE., nothing that would be toxic to humans/pets)?

Corrosion is a goal, but not a HUGE concern, I'm more worried about critter growth (again, being an open-air system).

 

[Dunno]

What I would do is get a water purifier; one of those for drinking water that also remove salts.
Build the float chamber and valve from an old carburator into the tank. (Works like a mini toilet cistern/valve.
Join the Purifier and Carb.with a thin piece of hose. This way your water level will stay constant with the best supply of non corrosive, scale buildup free, bacteria free,readily available water.

Fishtank suppliers sell something that releases silver ions for that airborne bacteria that gets into the water. Or a UV bacteria killer from them. (ads a bit of heat)

Use Koolance Waterblocks; They are coated with 24 carat gold: the most uncorrodable metal. Or have your block gold plated at a jeweler.

You can also look at feeding the cooled air into your box to cool the other components.

 

[Unoid]

why waste your time and money on a bong POS cooler?

just go rad + fan, pump res/T and blocks.

save time and EVERYTHING

 

[rogue_jedi]

why rain on his parade? bong coolers can give you subambient temps.

anyway, the hardest part about picking an additive is finding one that is harmless if inhaled (completely and totally) because this being an evaporative setup, you will be breathing it (unless it is outside, and then you have to worry about everyone else, or sealed, and not as effective) the common additives do not meet this requirement. use distilled H2O to start with and make sure you keep it topped up. (again, its evaporative) other than that, i'd say use a water filter as Dunno suggested (a chemical one would prevent growth) and use all one metal (as in all copper or all aluminum; i don't think that steel/gold/silver/zinc/etc. will cause corrosion... steel might. check with someone else on that) to prevent corrosion.

good luck.

 

[dderidex]

why waste your time and money on a bong POS cooler?

just go rad + fan, pump res/T and blocks.

save time and EVERYTHING

1) More expensive (well, going to sell my current parts, anyway)
2) MUCH less efficient. Right now, my water is roughly 20C over ambient. With very low humidity (live in the desert), I expect the phase-change effect to take the water temp to at least 5C *below* ambient. 25C temperature difference worth the effort on its own!
3) Quieter. Running 3x80mm and a 120mm fans to keep air moving through my radiators is an irritating noise. Bong cooler has nice running water sound. Much quiter, and less irritating.
4) Who says it will save time? I'll have this thing built in a day. Do you KNOW what kind of complicated tubing is required to run 3 radiators?!

 

[Yogi]

Look for the anti-algae stuff made to be put in humidifiers. I'm not completely sure what it's called, but anywhere that sells humidifiers should have it.

 

[whitewale]

Listerine makes a great anti-critter agent. The alcohol evaporates fast, leaving the disinfectants behind. And the smell isn't THAT bad.

 

[dderidex]

Two great suggestions, thanks! I think I'll look for the humidifier additive, where would I find that? Drug store?

 

[Da Fan Man]

Hardware store such as Home Depot or Lowes should have the Humidifier additive. Good suggestion, Im debating between standard Water Cooling and a bong setup myself, only thing holding me back is how often I go to LAN parties, Pain to move a bong setup hehe.