This is a frequently recommended product among water cooling enthusiasts. It is claimed to prevent organic fouling in water cooling system.
We are tempted to call it SCAMIUM X-2000 (
Edited ref: a marketing hoax/test some year ago in Norway). For Authors defense must however be said that they believe in the efficacy of silver, so they are not scamming people off consciously.
The story behind is that in the old Roman Empire, in the Wild West and in many other cultures were silver coins used to control the fouling of algae and bacteria in drinking water. It is so far correct, but silver is more focused on bacteria (eg E. coli and Legionella) than algae. Towards the algae, which is what you want to fight, copper is preferable (cf kobberhud and copper fabric on boats) and it will often be copper in a water cooling system (but nothing to prevent organic growth).
A crucial difference between the cowboy's drinking water and the water you use in water cooling system is purity. Silver does not dissolve in water. The distilled water you use will certainly not be clean so long, among other things, it will take up CO2 as soon as it comes in contact with air and become slightly acidic. Some silver will be dissolved as ions, but in very low concentrations and most likely not enough to have any effect at all.
Is there evidence that the silver is preventing organic fouling in the water cooling system? No, absolutely nothing. On forums around you will find users who claim to have good experiences with the silver, and you will find users that claim that it does not have any effect at all, it grows anyway.
A prerequisite for organic fouling is the presence of micro-organisms. Are you using new, unused components and only distilled water you can get a water cooling system free from organic fouling. Feel free to choose to use silver as well, but the absence of fouling should be attributed to the absence of micro-organisms and the presence of silver.
What about galvanic corrosion, the silver represent a danger in this respect? Fans of silver would argue that there is no risk and refer to the primary index. It is wrong. The primary index is metal that is in touch with each other and are not relevant. For the two metals immersed in electrolyte (coolant) must be risk assessed based on Standard Electrode Potential. On the table is, unfortunately, silver is a good distance away from other metals such as aluminum, chromium, nickel and copper.
Will you make it extra difficult for yourself so follow the advice given to U.S. online stores. "It (IandH Dead-Water Copper Sulfate) can be used alone, or as extra insurance against growth in conjunction with silver killcoils in Pure-silver or other pre-mixed coolants." First, you are thus making the liquid conductive with copper sulphate, then add a piece of pure silver in the coolant. Then you can just sit down and wait until the destruction is a fact.
"Jozef Stefan" Institute in Slovenia received for analysis a water block that was damaged by the use of distilled water and Silver KillCoil. The recommendation was "Corrosion can be avoided by the use of a low-conducting, anti-corrosion liquid (which, in principle, is also distilled or deionized water).....The introduction of additional metals into the system (silver, etc.) or the use of ionic algaecides (copper sulfate, etc.) even in minor concentrations can trigger the corrosion processes."
Why does sell TechBay this? The answer is that we do not want to sell IandH Silver KillCoil. We want to help you away from a wrong choice the right choice. Do yourself a favor and buy Aqua Computer Double Protect, Ekoolant or a similar premix instead. These provide effective protection against both organic fouling and corrosion.
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Originally Posted by ying
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