Questions on vortex in reservoir

[Vizhous]

Hello guys!

I just finished my first water cooling build and I'm doing the leak test right now for about 17 hours already.

My only concern right now is that I have a little bit of an vortex issue.

I have the ek xtop d5 vario and everything runs fine until setting 4. If I let it run on 5 my reservoir starts sucking in some air sometimes. That's probably because I use the bottom ports as inlet and outlet. I already read that that could lead to some kind of vortex issues but I couldnt use the other ports with what I had here.

video of reservoir sucking air in:

[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e0fQb_O9GM&feature=youtu.be"][/video]


So I have 2 questions, first of all, is it really needed to run the pump on 5 instead of 4? As far as I know pump speed is not that important for the temperature and it will only be around 2 degrees max., won't it? Is it a viable option to just not using the 5. speed?

There was also a foam included with the reservoir exactly for this problem, do you think it would solve it? I thought about putting it in prior to filling it, since I already knew that I use the 2 bottom ports but I wanted to try it without first, since I thought that the foam could also be quite the resistance.

So what do you think? I hope you can see it on the video I uploaded and as far as I know I can't let it run on 5 since sucking in air isn't really that good, is it?

That means I have 2 options, foam or just using fourth setting, what would you recommend?

EDIT:

I also would like to know if this is a normal place for bubbles to get caught:

http://i.imgur.com/LhmEr46.jpg


I really appreciate every comment and help!

 

[rubix_1011]

You need a vortex eliminating intake for your pump. These are pretty cheap and don't impede flow as they have holes that equal the same diameter opening as a normal, unobstructed port. Something like this:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/alphacool-bubble-down-g1-4-deep-black.html

This threads into your pump inlet port of your reservoir in the 'inside the res' side.

Just be careful with foam inserts...the foam can break down or become dislodged and then obstruct your pump or impeller causing failure. I'd recommend something like the fitting above over using a cheap piece of foam.

 

[Vizhous]

You need a vortex eliminating intake for your pump. These are pretty cheap and don't impede flow as they have holes that equal the same diameter opening as a normal, unobstructed port. Something like this:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/alphacool-bubble-down-g1-4-deep-black.html

This threads into your pump inlet port of your reservoir in the 'inside the res' side.

Just be careful with foam inserts...the foam can break down or become dislodged and then obstruct your pump or impeller causing failure. I'd recommend something like the fitting above over using a cheap piece of foam.

That looks really good as I really don't want the foam to obstruct something in the future.

I didn't really understand where to mount it though. Inside the reservoir at the port that leads to the tube which goes to the pump?
I don't know where to thread it there because the fittings use the threads, don't they?

Anyway, until I get something like that I should be fine with running the pump at 4 instead of 5, shouldn't I ?

Even if I get this piece, I don't know how to install it without draining the loop, I could've put the foam into the reservoir from the top but this thread needs to be installed by hand and not just put in. So I would need to drain the loop or atleast the res etc and I never did that before 😀


EDIT: Another question: Couldn't I just fill up the res completely? Without air in it I couldnt get air sucked in, atleast If I fill it up everytime some new air gets to the top of the res.

 

[rubix_1011]

Yes, you'd at least need to drain the res, no need to drain the entire loop, but it does need to be installed on the inside of the reservoir on the pump inlet port. Most of these res's have enough threads to allow fittings on both sides.

You could also fill the reservoir to the top, or nearly the top and this would also help solve some of the issue, but possibly not all as you still might have a bit of vortex, hopefully not as badly. You have plenty of empty space, so give that a shot first.

 

[Vizhous]

Ok thanks then I know where to install it!

I will fill up the res and see what it looks like then. If it's still sucking in air I will think about getting that piece.

If it doesnt change anything do you know the differences between running the pump at 4/5 ? I would think that 4 might be enough but I don't really know.

 

[rubix_1011]

Not a lot of difference. I have the same pump (not currently running it) and I ran it for several years on 5 without any issues. If you get the D5 without the speed control, it's estimated to be about the same as running the D5 w/ speed control on 4.

 

[Vizhous]

Ah okay thats nice to know!

I just filled the res completely and it fixed it

No air bubbles getting sucked in etc. . I already had filled the res more than in the video I uploaded. So I thought 1/2cm more wouldn't fix it but they did!

Thank you very much!

One question I still have:
Them getting trapped here is normal, isn't it? 😀
http://i.imgur.com/LhmEr46.jpg

 

[rubix_1011]

That happens, they will work their way out eventually over the course of several stop/start cycles and usage.

 

[Vizhous]

Ok, thank you very much for your fast answers!

 

[EK Luc]

Rubix answered you well here.

The only thing I would add is that a D5 is a powerful pump and you could even run it at 2 and it would do it's magic and would be inaudible for the majority of peoples.