So you don't have anything like this occur with a mere 3 months of use. Last time I used distilled H2O and a guestimated amount of Zerex, probably around 2% solution.

I now have new tubing, cleaned parts, with 90% distilled H2O and 10% Zerex and am waiting for an opportunity to grab some algaecide.

My cooling performance was hampered about 4-5C because of this crap in my loop. It really became aparent to me this past week, as the lines turned green.

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With the proper anti-freeze mixture it will not grow!

Why can`t we put small amount of bleach?

Quote: Originally Posted by jofultner Why can`t we put small amount of bleach?

Bleach will eat away at the tube if Im not mistaken, or the metal I think it was.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nerdz Bleach will eat away at the tube if Im not mistaken, or the metal I think it was.

I have heard of people using a drop or 2 of bleach to stop algae buildup.

I don't know that antifreeze alone, in the mixtures we typically use (5-10%) is an effective algaecide. I mixed a gallon batch of distilled and 5% Zerex and there was growth in it after 6 months. Your #1 defense should be keeping the loop out of sunlight in a cool place. A couple of drops of fish-tank algaecide also helps (I've had the same 5% mixture as above with 2 drops of algaecide sitting on my kitchen counter since the beginning of the semester before last and have no growth at all so far but miniscule amounts of precipitation.)

Bleach is corrosive....and 2 drops will not lead to any significant change in pH.

Getting that crap out of your rad is going to be the biggest chore. Once it's there, it's almost impossible to get it out nonmechanically. Suggest boiling water followed by cleaner flush.

Quote: Originally Posted by jofultner Why can`t we put small amount of bleach?

If you use too much bleach, you will create a elctrolytic reacting, which will eat the metal parts of your system. It is also very hard on the plastic tubing.

Does a 50/50 mix of Distilled water / Prestone Car Radiator Antifreeze prohitbit Algae growth?

Uh oh, I hope so

:::EDIT:::
Forgot to mention that liquid temps are below freezing.

I'm using automive antifreeze, mixed like my car for -20F I shutdown when I'm not on the pc
and my res. in the beer fridge gets to 10F once I startup everything evens out at around 35-40F
so it basically shocks whatever is growing. (if anything can in auto antifreez)
before I started adding antifreeze my water was turning pink. (clear sign of buildup)
I don't think any bacteria or algea can grow with the green car antifreeze.
I might be wrong.
I do know the water evaporates and eventually I will have a high mineral content and have to change and flush everything.

Been there. Done that. Got the T-Shirt.


When you are constantly chaning WC parts due to reviews it is easy to forget that the last time you refilled, you forgot to put anythng in to stop the growth. Getting the crud out of the blocks was easy, take them apart and clean them. The tubes, toss 'em. The radiator, as mentioned before, is the tricky part.


I took the rad outside and started with a nice flush. Put the garden hose on full blast and pointed the nozzle in one barb and watched the water come flying out the other. Next up was some Prestone Flush n Fill. I poured it in, let it sit for about 5 minutes. Flushed with hose. Did that about 4 times. Then I poured a few ounces of a 50-50 bleach/distilled water mix in, swriled it around good and flushed it again with the hose. The final flush was with the pump and distilled water.


You can use bleach for this since it will only be in there a short time and it will no touch any plastic and one tyle of metal.