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Mini Aquarium Mod

Z

Z(+)DIAC

2[H]4U
Joined
Dec 12, 2004
Messages
3,231
I know this probably isn't really considered a mod, but I would love to do something with this usb mini aquarium:
usb-aquarium.jpg


From my understanding it works off of a usb. It moves the fish by way of a type of filter, as is the case you must also put in roughly one glass of water. I am thinking about putting it inside of my case (Antec Lanboy). However I am afraid of two things. One...how should I go about running the USB cable from the aquarium to its connector? Also I am a bit afraid that my case will be bumped or interferred with some way in which the water may spill out onto the motherboard and other electrical parts...causing a complete mess.

Anyone have any ideas that may help me if I go about doing this? Also has anyone else have this same aquarium? I am a bit worried whether I would have to open my case to turn it on and off (as well as the LED) everytime I wished to use it. I wonder how much heat it would add to my system (I think it runs off of 5 volts roughly).

Thanks
 
Z(+)DIAC said:
One...how should I go about running the USB cable from the aquarium to its connector?
Click to expand...

Either drill a hole through an unused PCI cover then drag the wire out of the case, or mod the USB cable connected to it and connect it to the front USB header on the MoBo.

Z(+)DIAC said:
Also I am a bit afraid that my case will be bumped or interferred with some way in which the water may spill out onto the motherboard and other electrical parts...causing a complete mess.
Click to expand...

First, I'd fill it with Deionized water (same thing water coolers use, it's much less electrically conductive), then I'd seal the crap out of it with electrical tape, duct tape, silicone caulk, etc.
 
Hey thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking about modding one of my many unused PCI slots. So that sounds like a plan.

Where can I get that water coolant type water at? Microcenter perhaps? Thanks again for the advice.

Anymore suggestions?
 
JB weld the top on...

if you wanted the simple way out...get USB card with a header on the inside (i sold mine awhile ago:() otherwise do the above ^^

as for on/off....pull out the switch..extend the wires then put the switch back on, maybe cut out a hole in a PCI slot and mount it there

the watercooler type water (deionized water) can be found at any grocery store
its actually called distilled water (if my memory is not crapping out on me) and can be bought in the same gallon jugs tha milk/spring water comes in
 
4b5eN+EE said:
...snip
its actually called distilled water (if my memory is not crapping out on me)
Click to expand...

No, your memory isn't crapping out on you... the Guinness is getting to my brain. Distilled water, that's what it's called! Just go to the grocery store with a dollar in your hand. Look for the isle with the bottled water. Look at the bottom shelf for gallon sized jugs. Grab one then head for the register (after stopping in the beer isle).
 
Ah distilled water, I am quite familiar with that term. I mean I don't expect my system to be shaked and rocked violently, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Thanks alot for the suggestions, again this is a great forum and all of you make it that much better.

The only thing I am still unsure is how much heat it will give off. I'm not too worried, just because my pc is pretty well vented, it's just that if he does give off enough heat to put my temps up there, I would find it a pretty unecessary mod and decoration.

Anyone think this is an idiotic idea?
 
After reading the forums around here I don't think ANYTHING is rediculous anymore.

In a full tower case I wouldn't worry about the amount of heat it's going to put off. I've seen those things and they barely have a Christmas tree light inside them. In a Lanboy though it might create some minor problems. Again, I woudn't worry to much about it but you might want to watch the temps for a few hours just to be sure you're okay.
 
well ive never read anything about them...or how they work...but i beleive if it doesn't actually help temps by absorbing heat ( the water absorbing it i mean) then i HIGHLY doubt it would raise the temp even 1*C
 
that would be an awesome water cooling res type thing.

edit: you could wire it up to a molex very easy.
 
Not shooting holes in anyone's ideas here but:

What's the temperature in a watercooling loop? I mean, most watercoolers are reporting CPU temps of about 40 degrees celsius... that's 104 degrees fahrenheit. I can only assume (since my watercooling loop does not have a water temp probe currently) that the water is somewhere around the same range. What kind of effect would that kind of temperature have on the plastic "aquarium" sides with constant exposure... and more importantly how would the "fish" react to that.

Plus you're also dealing with the fact that noone uses straight water in a water cooling loop... there's always some kind of anti-freeze, water-wetter, etc added. Most of those are petroleum based (read solvent). The "fish" in those things is not really meant for that kind of exposure. What do you do when they melt, a chunk of them rides the hose, gets clogged in the waterblock...

I think it would be a cool decorative mod... I just don't think I'd use it as a res.
 
coat the inside and fish with clear solid resin...problem solved (check out crimsonskys AVP resevoir he just made....sculpted it out of plastic...then covered it in clear resin to seal it and protect it)
 
4b5eN+EE said:
coat the inside and fish with clear solid resin...problem solved (check out crimsonskys AVP resevoir he just made....sculpted it out of plastic...then covered it in clear resin to seal it and protect it)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I saw that mod... almost made me mess my pants. The difference is that his alien is attached to the base of the res, not floating around inside of it looking like an animated fishy. Unless you're looking to have an aquarium of little fishies floating on the bottom of the tank I'm not sure how that will work.

I can just see it now... "Mommy! That man killed Nemo!"
 
BellaCroix said:
Not shooting holes in anyone's ideas here but:

What's the temperature in a watercooling loop? I mean, most watercoolers are reporting CPU temps of about 40 degrees celsius... that's 104 degrees fahrenheit. I can only assume (since my watercooling loop does not have a water temp probe currently) that the water is somewhere around the same range. What kind of effect would that kind of temperature have on the plastic "aquarium" sides with constant exposure... and more importantly how would the "fish" react to that.

Plus you're also dealing with the fact that noone uses straight water in a water cooling loop... there's always some kind of anti-freeze, water-wetter, etc added. Most of those are petroleum based (read solvent). The "fish" in those things is not really meant for that kind of exposure. What do you do when they melt, a chunk of them rides the hose, gets clogged in the waterblock...

I think it would be a cool decorative mod... I just don't think I'd use it as a res.
Click to expand...


I was thinkin' that it would go through a rad first before hitting the res.
 
Now here's one I don't actually have any experience with (having never used inline temp probes on a watercooling loop). I thought I read somewhere though that the difference in temperature between the exit of the waterblock and the exit of the radiator was only a few degrees.

Don't really know though... you're planning something that's not been tried before as far as I know. Innevitably when you do that you're either going to get "Wow, that's really cool, I never thought of that before" from everyone or you post the horror story about the time a plastic fish burned your processor.

I never thought of doing the loop that way. It's usually from the radiator straight to CPU waterblock. The theory is that way you'll lose any heat added from the pump and the res will act as an airtrap to stop air before it even hits the pump (air in the pump is loud).

I say go for it! If it works it'll be a really cool looking res without needing to add UV dye.
 
Haha I appreciate the support from you guys, again this is one reason I love this forum. However I don't want to burst any of your bubbles, but I began this with the idea of just putting the aquarium into m Lanboy, seeing as I had some extra space, wanted something different, and didn't want to resort to a boring CCFL or another blue Fan.

Thanks again, I really love all your suggestions and comments. By the way, can I pick up that Resin at a hardware store or something similar?
 
Z(+)DIAC said:
Haha I appreciate the support from you guys, again this is one reason I love this forum. However I don't want to burst any of your bubbles, but I began this with the idea of just putting the aquarium into m Lanboy, seeing as I had some extra space, wanted something different, and didn't want to resort to a boring CCFL or another blue Fan.

Thanks again, I really love all your suggestions and comments. By the way, can I pick up that Resin at a hardware store or something similar?
Click to expand...

yulp. Behr makes it. you can also buy it in small quantities at a craft store like Michael's..
 
It might not be too bad if you put a piece of mesh in the reservoir to keep the fish from being sucked into the intake barb[and thus blocking it].
 
put that shizzit in the front of a case or imbedded on the top of case. mad hot fish theme goin on
 
Hinokagutsuchi said:
It might not be too bad if you put a piece of mesh in the reservoir to keep the fish from being sucked into the intake barb[and thus blocking it].
Click to expand...
and if you do do the WCing thing

bend the mes so its like a cylindrical cap...sticing out from the outlet of the res...so that the fish doesnt just get sucked up aganst the flat mesh..and thus..still blocking theflow...instead..it will get caught on the front OR sieds..and not both....which will still allow some flow...
 
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