Best tubing and coolant for my rig?

**Pisklink** · 03-03-2010, 11:25 AM

Due to another thread I started I know I have to refresh coolant soon. I could state this question in that thread as well but the title would be misleading. Therefore I started a new one.

At this moment I use Tygon R-3603 7/16" ID and 10/16" OD with Fesser One Red coolant. Due to answers in my previous thread, other threads around this board and my own experience I started to doubt this setup.

Tubing
Actually I want to get rid of the Tygon because of clouding and want a good replacement. However I'm stuck with 7/16" ID because 3/8" ID is hard to fit on my MCP pump with 1/2" barbs. I also doubt if I want colored tubing because my system is hard to bleed and with colored tubing I can't see where air in the tubes is still located. Moreover I'm stuck with a few brands of 7/16" ID tubing my retail shop sells (Masterkleer, Tygon and XSPC). It's a pity Primochill doesn't sell 7/16" ID tubing.

Should I get XSPC tubing as a substitute for Tygon R-3603 with regard to clouding and bending?

Coolant
Furthermore I'm not sure if I'm happy with this premix coolant. I hear and read several horor stories about these premix coolants. At this moment my loop is still running and therefore I don't know if my components are also afected by gunk. I really like it when the tubes look colored. Unfortunately I think I can't use colored tubing due to my system that is hard to bleed.

I heard that it is best and cheapest to simply use distilled with PT Nuke. Although it's hard for me to imagine how it would look like, functionality is my priority. Therefore I have the following questions:

1) How much PT Nuke should be mixed with distilled?
2) Would XSPC tubing be affected by the mixture of distilled and PT Nuke? Or would it be least affected due to less additives in the coolant?

I want the tubing and coolant to be clear over time. Thanks for taking the time in answering my questions.

**Spikelo3** · 03-03-2010, 11:48 AM

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=24501

**Elpy** · 03-03-2010, 12:27 PM

I wish that tubing was sold in EU

Cant find that size from anywhere else than US damnit.

**shazza** · 03-03-2010, 02:03 PM

Most colored tubing - especially in the 7/16" x 5/8" size, is not totally opaque - this is the case for the blue, green, and red tubing I've tried (Feser and Primochill Pro LRT). Black and Silver are opaque. So, with the red, blue, or green, you can still see bubbles. This has been my experience, anyway - so I wouldn't totally rule out colored tubing because of your concern over the bleeding issue.

**Pisklink** · 03-03-2010, 02:37 PM

I can't buy Primochill 7/16" ID in the EU so I need a different substitute for that.

**mariop** · 03-03-2010, 03:00 PM

Pisklink, what about buying a custom top for your pump and put 3/8" barbs? Not the cheapest solution, but you may get nice results with it.

In the case of using 7/16"ID 5/8" OD tubing over 1/2" barbs, these koolance clamps would fit-on? http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25627 Or they would be small for it?

**Pisklink** · 03-03-2010, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by mariop

Pisklink, what about buying a custom top for your pump and put 3/8" barbs? Not the cheapest solution, but you may get nice results with it.

I like the pump as it is at the moment and I don't want to put to much money in it. But would 3/8" ID tubing fit on a 1/2" barb?

In the case of using 7/16"ID 5/8" OD tubing over 1/2" barbs, these koolance clamps would fit-on? http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25627 Or they would be small for it?

Getting the tube clamped on the 1/2" barbs isn't a problem either because I use wormclamps.

The problems I have are questions stated in my first post regarding tubing and cooling fluid.

**shazza** · 03-03-2010, 04:15 PM

But would 3/8" ID tubing fit on a 1/2" barb?

Yes - just dip the end of the tubing in some hot water first, then push it on. It will be a little more difficult on the pump stock top barbs, but will work.

**Pisklink** · 03-03-2010, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by shazza

Yes - just dip the end of the tubing in some hot water first, then push it on. It will be a little more difficult on the pump stock top barbs, but will work.

Ok thanks. So what brand would you suggest is to use best regarding clouds and bending? For 3/8" ID I can choose from this list en for 7/16" ID I can choose from this one.

I was looking for XSPC black or clear 7/16" ID tubing but I read on this forum that XSPC clear doesn't look really clear. And I was looking for the Primochill 3/8" tubing and was not sure what color to choose yet because I have several color schemes in mind (see below). Can PT Nuke harm tubing with Anti-Microbial inside like Primochill?.

- Black tube with di-ionized and PT Nuke
- Black tube with di-ionized and red fluid
- Red tube with di-ionized and PT Nuke
- Red tube with black or red fluid
- Clear tube with di-ionized and PT Nuke
- Clear tube with black or red fluid

Really don't know what should look best in my rig (see picture below).

**Captain_Harlock** · 03-03-2010, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by mariop

Pisklink
In the case of using 7/16"ID 5/8" OD tubing over 1/2" barbs, these koolance clamps would fit-on? http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25627 Or they would be small for it?

No, they wont work (as I found out the hard way some time ago)

. They are meant for 3/8" ID and 5/8" OD. The 1/2" or 7/16" ID variants are to thick for them to fit over a barb. I tried with several 1/2" barbs but it was just a few haris to small.

**Waterlogged** · 03-03-2010, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by mariop

In the case of using 7/16"ID 5/8" OD tubing over 1/2" barbs, these koolance clamps would fit-on? http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25627 Or they would be small for it?

Originally Posted by Captain_Harlock

No, they wont work (as I found out the hard way some time ago)

. They are meant for 3/8" ID and 5/8" OD. The 1/2" or 7/16" ID variants are to thick for them to fit over a barb. I tried with several 1/2" barbs but it was just a few haris to small.

Those will only work on 3/8" x 5/8" on 3/8" barbs, 7/16" x 5/8" on a 7/16" barbs or 1/2" x 5/8" on 1/2" barbs. Using mismatched fittings and barbs will create a large enough size difference on the O.D. so those clamps won't fit.

**Boulard83** · 03-03-2010, 11:03 PM

im using Distilled with Black primochill. + PTnuke. 100% fine for years now. (flush/refill ~6month)

**Pisklink** · 03-04-2010, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by Boulard83

im using Distilled with Black primochill. + PTnuke. 100% fine for years now. (flush/refill ~6month)

Thanks this is very helpfull. Can you tell me if you use Primochill 3/8" ID or 7/16" ID?

Is distilled water the same as demineralized water?

**Boulard83** · 03-04-2010, 06:09 AM

1/2 ID - 3/4 OD

Bits power 1/2 chromed fittings all around.

**Conquistador SW** · 03-04-2010, 06:51 AM

I was struggling with the same question regarding tubing. Roughly we have to choice between XSPC, Masterkleer and Tygon R3606 in the Netherlands for 7/16 tubing. However, I can’t find any reviews or good information on the XSPC tubing. I know Tygon is more flexible than Masterkleer, but it is also ridiculous more expensive and I haven’t found any real good info on clouding differences between the two. At the moment I am using XSPC tubing, but as I never used another type of tubing it is hard for me to comment on this tubing.

Is there someone that knows how good or bad XSPC tubing is in comparison to Tygon and Masterkleer regarding clouding and kinking?

Pisklink: you could also order one of those silver coils instead of PT nuke. I don’t know where you order your stuff, but I found this shop in Belgium (10 euro shipping to NL) http://www.it-service.be/webshop/. Not that expensive and a lot of choice (they also sells these silver coils).

To answer the question of the difference between distilled water and demineralized: I don’t think there are major differences between the two except for the way it is produced. Filtering vs boiling and condensing.

**Pisklink** · 03-05-2010, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by Boulard83

1/2 ID - 3/4 OD

Bits power 1/2 chromed fittings all around.

These are too large for my setup. I have to stick with 5/8" OD because larger won't fit on my Fuzion V1 together with wormclamps. The fittings are to close to each other in order to fit.

Originally Posted by Conquistador SW

At the moment I am using XSPC tubing, but as I never used another type of tubing it is hard for me to comment on this tubing.

Could you post a picture of your setup? Are you using 7/16" ID tubing?

Is there someone that knows how good or bad XSPC tubing is in comparison to Tygon and Masterkleer regarding clouding and kinking?

It seems that there is no one yet who can make some hard statements about characteristics between all this tubing. This I can hardly believe since there is lots of knowledge and experience here on this forum.

Pisklink: you could also order one of those silver coils instead of PT nuke. I don’t know where you order your stuff, but I found this shop in Belgium (10 euro shipping to NL) http://www.it-service.be/webshop/. Not that expensive and a lot of choice (they also sells these silver coils).

I will choose for silver coils when I decide to use distilled coolant. I think it will affect clouding the least. I know that shop and ordered some stuuf in the past. Indeed not to expensive, lots of choice and very good service!!!! Just for your information I also look at Highflow.nl and Freezing Hardware. Both shops also have great service.

To answer the question of the difference between distilled water and demineralized: I don’t think there are major differences between the two except for the way it is produced. Filtering vs boiling and condensing.

Where can I buy distilled in the Netherlands?

**wez** · 03-05-2010, 07:07 AM