Algae still winning the battle w/ PT Nuke

**Vice** · 07-25-2007, 04:15 PM

Very frustrating problem here, it seems my loop got a little sunlight from under my shade
(it isn't even in my comp yet, I was leak testing and cleaning through a filter)
and somehow managed to grow algae despite going through a filter, and having 2 drops of PT Nuke
in it.

Is there a way to, once and for all, stop algae growth? Some other additive maybe?

~Vice

**Polizei** · 07-25-2007, 04:45 PM

How are you sure that its algae and not flux from your radiator?

**Grinch** · 07-25-2007, 04:48 PM

or the actual break down of the tubing itself?

**Vice** · 07-25-2007, 04:51 PM

I doubt it.

It's green, slimy, and grew (or appeared) when my loop got exposed to sun, which leads me to believe its algae.

It was also in my blocks too.

**nealh** · 07-25-2007, 04:57 PM

I agree with 1 and 2...my tubes always cloud up....I am pretty sure I have never had algae
first 2 loops..Zerex + distilled water

3rd loop..distilled water and Petra coolant from last summer

**whoodiestyle** · 07-25-2007, 05:08 PM

im running %100 distilled and 3 drops of uv additive and yet to have had alage build up

**Petra** · 07-25-2007, 05:16 PM

As far as I can tell from your photos, that's not algae. That looks like the 'mysterious white film' that many of us have been battling with for aeons. Some attribute it to improper radiator cleaning, some to degradation of the tubing itself, and I've also seen people blame water absorption. That said, the only time that I've had said film show up was in a system that I didn't have time to clean the heater core before use (not a good decision, by the way).

What coolant are you using, by the way? Just distilled w/nuke? HydrX?

The trouble is that algae isn't going to spontaneously appear in your cooling loop--something has to already be contaminated. Now, there is at least one species of algae that's immune to Copper Sulphate but I doubt that's what's going on here. What's interesting is that the only time I was ever able to get anything to grow while testing PT Nuke was when I left the loop open, bucket reservoir-style (so that dust, dirt, dead insects, and other contaminants entered the system in an appreciable volume).

**Sparky** · 07-25-2007, 05:38 PM

I don't see how algae can ever be a problem. I'm not denying it happens, but if you use pure distilled water how does it even get in there in the first place?

**Vice** · 07-25-2007, 06:01 PM

It was definitely algae. It was green and stringy.

I flushed my rad w/ hot water. Ran my whole loop through a filter. Just plain distilled water w/ pt nuke.

My loop was fine and clear for about 2weeks, until I left the shade open one day, and there was sunlight shining on the exact spot where the "stuff" has grown.

I would like to try to flush the rad some more, how would I go about doing that?

I have a D5 pump, which isn't submersible.

**Patriote** · 07-25-2007, 08:35 PM

Had the same exact problem. even 4-5 drops of PT_Nuke and Zerex didn't helped the problem. I was still getting algea.

You guys probably seen my thread...

**MaxxxRacer** · 07-25-2007, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Vice

It was definitely algae. It was green and stringy.

I flushed my rad w/ hot water. Ran my whole loop through a filter. Just plain distilled water w/ pt nuke.

My loop was fine and clear for about 2weeks, until I left the shade open one day, and there was sunlight shining on the exact spot where the "stuff" has grown.

I would like to try to flush the rad some more, how would I go about doing that?

I have a D5 pump, which isn't submersible.

Interesting. Can you show us a pic. The pictures you posted show no algae. The area where you live may be highly prone to algae growth. You might need to try something stronger than PT_Nuke.

**ColonelCain** · 07-25-2007, 11:20 PM

Yeah, I don't see any algae. I see that white "stuff". Could you show us a pic of the inside of one of your blocks?

**Marci** · 07-26-2007, 04:06 AM

Two words... plasticizer leech.

Not flux. Not algae. Never has been. Everyone's obsessed with the slightest residue anywhere being algae. 99.9% of the time it isn't... it's just folks making an assumption that that's what it is. Plasticizer leech can only be avoided by using plasticizer free tubing, or non-migrating plasticizer.

**nealh** · 07-26-2007, 04:21 AM

Originally Posted by Marci

Two words... plasticizer leech.

Not flux. Not algae. Never has been. Everyone's obsessed with the slightest residue anywhere being algae. 99.9% of the time it isn't... it's just folks making an assumption that that's what it is. Plasticizer leech can only be avoided by using plasticizer free tubing.

ok ..I am ignorant and will ask what is plasticizer leech?

**Marci** · 07-26-2007, 04:47 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticizer
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=+plasticizer+leech
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=+plasticizer+leaching
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=15401729

Hook a length of Tygon R3603 up to a vacuum pump and vac it right down and hold it there - watch what comes out...

**RX7boricua** · 07-26-2007, 04:51 AM

Yes Patriote, I still have trouble falling asleep at night.

Originally Posted by Patriote

Had the same exact problem. even 4-5 drops of PT_Nuke and Zerex didn't helped the problem. I was still getting algea.

You guys probably seen my thread...

**Grinch** · 07-26-2007, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by Marci

Two words... plasticizer leech.

Not flux. Not algae. Never has been. Everyone's obsessed with the slightest residue anywhere being algae. 99.9% of the time it isn't... it's just folks making an assumption that that's what it is. Plasticizer leech can only be avoided by using plasticizer free tubing, or non-migrating plasticizer.

I knew there was a technical name for it...I said it looked like the tubing might have been breaking down though...

**Senater_Cache** · 07-26-2007, 11:56 AM

so marci, since the topic came up again, and still seems unresolved is SG still standing behind the 2075 recommendation?
have you come across any non SG alternatives in your research?

**Vice** · 07-26-2007, 12:09 PM

I have to say, I'm a bit offended.

I understand that you, Petra, have a product to defend, and Marci represents a highly regarded company here, and your opinions are more than welcom, but I know algae when I see it.

After finishing AP Bio, and doing a whole chapter on this c*ap, if I may say so (algae gets in all the wrong places, doesn't it?), I decided to give this "stuff" a thorough inspection using a microscope.

After scraping some off the tube, I proceeded to place it on a slide, and give it a little looksi - It was definitely algae.

I can attest to the bad quality of the pictures, I agree, it is hard to really see what is going on. But still, it seems you're all pouncing on me for a, giving different solutions, etc.

But what I say is for real, algae was still growing in my loop.

Looking further into this problem, it seems there was also algae in my blocks, which could be where this problem started, and how it wound up spreading through my loop.

I have now cleaned out all my blocks though, so now I should be algae free. I replaced most of the tubing, flushed the rad with hot water, and treated the new water.

I'll post back when I get my loop back up.

**Bun-Bun** · 07-26-2007, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Marci

Two words... plasticizer leech.

Not flux. Not algae. Never has been. Everyone's obsessed with the slightest residue anywhere being algae. 99.9% of the time it isn't... it's just folks making an assumption that that's what it is. Plasticizer leech can only be avoided by using plasticizer free tubing, or non-migrating plasticizer.

So what is the recommended "non-plasticizer" tubing then?

Sorry if this being re-itererated...

**zhangmaster12** · 07-26-2007, 01:05 PM

3% bleach in coolant and all will be well

if u dont want bleach, try some car coolant or something high in ethelene glycol concentration

**Patriote** · 07-26-2007, 01:13 PM

Well, what is this ?

If thats algea, PT_Nuke and Zerex did not helped at all.

I had a sh*t load of that in my FuZion as well. And i was running 10% G11 and 2 drops of PT_Nuke if i remember right.

**teyber** · 07-26-2007, 01:21 PM

damn patriot that sucks teh d*ck! funny pic though.

i would imagine bleach would kill your tubing, vice... Try putting iodine in there as well as pt nuke

**Apollo4g** · 07-26-2007, 02:47 PM

Vice it might be both, algae growth and plasticizer leech as well.
No one is trying to offended you at all.
Guess people are looking at the pics and just ruleing out algae
just because of the color. It sure does look like plasticizer leech.
But who knows what came out of your loop, you know better than
anyone here because you've seen it.

So i say its a bit of both.

**Senater_Cache** · 07-26-2007, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Bun-Bun

So what is the recommended "non-plasticizer" tubing then?

Sorry if this being re-itererated...

Originally Posted by Senater_Cache

so marci, since the topic came up again, and still seems unresolved is SG still standing behind the 2075 recommendation?
have you come across any non SG alternatives in your research?

Tygon 2075 as far as I can remmeber...I have yet to see confirmation pictures sans cloudyness.

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/ty201id3odul1.html

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