Cleaning the algae

This article provides step-by-step instructions on cleaning algae from a liquid cooling loop.

How to clean algae from liquid cooling products

Algae growth is an inevitable problem in almost every environment where water is present. The same goes for water cooling loops, but this issue is easily solvable, and the potential damage can quickly be prevented.

However, if the algae are not removed in a timely manner, there’s a risk of loop clogging, which can negatively influence the performance of your water cooling loop.

Instructions:

Follow these steps to remove the algae from your liquid cooling products properly:

Step 1: Preparation

Turn the PC off and unplug all the cables from it (just in case, as there might be some leaks during the loop draining process).

Step 2: Loop Drainage

Drain the liquid from the liquid-cooling loop.

Step 3:Disassembly

Disassemble the loop.

Step 4:Water Block and Pump Disassembly

Disassemble the water blocks (CPU and GPU blocks), and remove the pump from your reservoir/standalone pump unit.

Step 5:Cleaning

Use a toothbrush and soapy water to thoroughly clean the water blocks, the pump, fittings, and tubes. 

Step 6:Radiator Cleaning

Clean the radiator using vinegar (5-10% vinegar, 90-95% water).

Please Note: Vinegar is very effective for algae removal, but it should ONLY be used for the radiator and NOT for Plexi parts(like the pump, tubing, etc.) as it will damage the Plexi and cause it to lose transparency.

Step 7: Flushing

Flush the liquid cooling loop parts using distilled water only. Warm distilled water works best. 

Step 8:Water Block Reassembly

After all the parts have been thoroughly cleaned, reassemble the water blocks.

Step 9: Loop Reassembly

Reassemble the entire loop.

Step 10: Leak Test

Test the loop for leaks using a Leak Tester tool.

Step 10: Refilling the Loop

Refill the loop with a CryoFuel concentrate or premix coolant. To make the process easier, use a filling bottle. If you're using a concentrate, use the 1:8 mixing ratio (instead of 1:9) to get a stronger mixture and prevent the algae problem from reoccurring. 

Additional Resources

Here are some additional resources that can help you with the algae-cleaning process:  

Useful tips

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EKWB YouTube Channel

EKWB YouTube How-to videos