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How to use a radiator in a fish tank.

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mackindale   07-08-2009 at 12:08:03 AM

I'm making a mineral oil cooled PC, and to keep the oil cool I'll need a radiator. What brands or products should I use to keep a tank of oil cool?

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mackindale   07-08-2009 at 02:27:23 AM
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Well, obviously I read that, but how would I actually install it? I've never used a radiator and hooking it up to a tank seems difficult.

Message quoted 1 times
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beehew   07-08-2009 at 07:02:34 PM
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That, and the article also states that the radiator they used is no longer manufactured.

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rubix_1011   07-08-2009 at 07:18:01 PM
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What's up with all the oil cooled questions lately? Seriously...

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daft   07-08-2009 at 11:09:15 PM
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doesn't mean that you cant get another radiator.

as for hooking it up. just glue one side of the hose near the top of the tank, and the other end to the bottom, opposite sides for best results.

warm (oil, water air, ect) rises, while cold drops.

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Bronze Overclocking badge Conumdrum   07-09-2009 at 07:49:10 AM
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Don't oil cool. It's way silly. It's a oddity hobby thing.

Your stuff.

See what happens when peeps post silly ideas? Others read it and think it's the bomb untill they read the whole thread and get smart and read at more sites and finally go OMG, what was I thinking?

It's been done, but not the best way for best temps. Think of the mess etc.

You noobs crack me up, glad I read a LOT and knew what was silly and what wasn't. Common sense.

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daft   07-09-2009 at 08:11:03 AM
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well, its accually a fair idea if you get a couple of TEC's over 200watt. put them in water loops, and get them to cool the oil down through radiator/s within the oil and fans pushing the oil through the radiator.

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Bronze Overclocking badge Conumdrum   07-09-2009 at 08:13:13 AM
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Sure. read up what a TEC needs to run. Read up on making a custom $$$ block to make it work. It's been discussed, tried, done by advanced world class overclockers.

Gaahhh!

Reply to Conumdrum
daft   07-09-2009 at 08:14:55 AM
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and your point. im willing to do so, if i had the cash...... you have to remember that the oil pc is more of a fancy do conversation starter than anything else

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jitpublisher   07-09-2009 at 03:03:34 PM
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Oil cooling.....I gotta go with one of the stupidest things I ever seen.
Sure, it's a conversation starter alright. I can hear my wife now..."you stupid dumbass ********* how in the hell did you get oil all over the carpet?"
Or "why does it smell like greasy fast food restaurant in here"
Or how about "sorry dear, we are out of astroglide, I'll just dip my pecker in this tub of crisco here......."

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by jitpublisher on 07-09-2009 at 03:04:08 PM
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rubix_1011   07-09-2009 at 03:08:51 PM
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Why is it that people that have never done any watercooling are the ones who believe that their off-the-wall idea is the greatest hidden gem of design never before realized. They then will go on and on about how we all know nothing about it, and will bag our criticism over and over, even though they have yet to complete the project and continue to ask for advice...only to return with more criticism.

It is better to keep ones mouth shut and have others question your stupidity, than to open it and remove all doubt.

Reply to rubix_1011
jitpublisher   07-09-2009 at 07:13:39 PM
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Really, to the OP don't think to badly of us.
Oil cooling really can turn into mess though.
It is just not worth it. I have never done it myself, but I DO know someone who did.
(Because he thought it would be so cool........)
It lasted about 6 weeks before he finally tore it all down, dumped the entire thing into the trash. What a waste, and what a mess.

Reply to jitpublisher
505090   07-09-2009 at 07:28:31 PM
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jitpublisher wrote :

Oil cooling.....I gotta go with one of the stupidest things I ever seen.
Sure, it's a conversation starter alright. I can hear my wife now..."you stupid dumbass ********* how in the hell did you get oil all over the carpet?"
Or "why does it smell like greasy fast food restaurant in here"
Or how about "sorry dear, we are out of astroglide, I'll just dip my pecker in this tub of crisco here......."



best description of oil cooling yet

Seriously though it's been done and the results were not that good. It's only true application is to be able to say "look what I did".

@daft
thats been looping this forum for a while if you or anyone else thinks they can make it work do it, test it, and show the results. Regards of the results it will be a very popular thread.

------------------------------ E8400 : GA-EP35-DS3L : mushkin 4GB DDR2 800 : HD 2600PRO : 450W ATX12V : Windows 7
 Reply to 505090
knotknut   07-09-2009 at 08:15:25 PM
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Go to your local (automotive) radiator shop and purchase a heater core. They will also be able to solder any fitting(s).


Message edited by knotknut on 07-09-2009 at 08:23:49 PM
Reply to knotknut
stuart72   07-09-2009 at 08:45:23 PM
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Got to admit my first though here was "won't that cook the fish?".

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knotknut   07-09-2009 at 09:23:47 PM
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mackindale wrote :

Well, obviously I read that, but how would I actually install it? I've never used a radiator and hooking it up to a tank seems difficult.



Usually people take on projects such as PC in a Fish Tank have some working knowlege of plumbing, fittings, pumps, radiators.

Maybe this is not the right project for you....no insult meant.

Reply to knotknut
boulard83   07-09-2009 at 09:49:14 PM
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My personal HTPC is going to be an OIL submersion system. All parts at home, working. Im waiting my oil ( 2x5gal ) from a local shop ( farm food shop have mineral oil ).

Ill use a COOLIT pure LC to cool the oil. Il took it all in pieces, the pump is going to be into the oil on the left side of te aquarium, pumping the oil into the 120mm radiator(with 120mm fan), and finally go back into the oil on the righ of the aquarium.

Ill have everything submerged ( not the DVD and HDD ) and ive doen some testing on an old PSU that ran for 1 month into BABY OIL ! ( its basically 100% mineral oil with parfum... ) so i know that mineral oil REALLY work ...

Im not afraid of this project since ive read ALOT and this is not going to be a GAMING pc since i already have my Gaming rig. Its going to be a nice looking HTPC to play some DVD/internet/light game/and some other apps.

If your goal is to build a gaming rig ... be ready and have more than only a 120mm radiator cause heat can become an issue.

GOOGLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND !

have fun !

------------------------------ __________________________Le Québécois_________________________
WCed Q9550 EO + P5Q @ 3.825ghz / HTPC - E5200 + P5Q @ 3.3ghz
BFG GTX285 OC2 + PC P&C 750w . / HIS HD4850 with Sharp 42" 1080p
 Reply to boulard83
rubix_1011   07-09-2009 at 10:22:14 PM
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Quote :

Usually people take on projects such as PC in a Fish Tank have some working knowlege of plumbing, fittings, pumps, radiators.

Maybe this is not the right project for you....no insult meant.



^Yes...exactly what needed to be said.


Message edited by rubix_1011 on 07-09-2009 at 10:22:45 PM
Reply to rubix_1011
mackindale   07-15-2009 at 12:50:51 AM
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The PC that's going in the oil is rather old. 8 MB RAM and 75MHz CPU. It's no big loss if it fails and it's unlikely to heat up

Reply to mackindale
boulard83   07-15-2009 at 12:58:36 AM
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just ordered my OIL from a local FARM food shop. :D

2x5gal ( i got a 10gal aquarium ... )

------------------------------ __________________________Le Québécois_________________________
WCed Q9550 EO + P5Q @ 3.825ghz / HTPC - E5200 + P5Q @ 3.3ghz
BFG GTX285 OC2 + PC P&C 750w . / HIS HD4850 with Sharp 42" 1080p
 Reply to boulard83
xtc28   07-15-2009 at 02:59:20 AM
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Oil it up and lube me down!! LOL Sounds like a mean Idea! try it out. post your results.. I would probably do it! Thats is, if I didnt have better things to do.

------------------------------ AMD, INTEL, ATI, NVIDIA. IT DONT MATTER. THEY ARE ALL GOOD JUST GET MORE.
 Reply to xtc28
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