Watercooling: first custom CPU/GPU loop

[Vectorized]

Hi guys,
I have decided to make my first custom loop to liquid cool down my CPU and my GPU.
My case is a Corsair Carbide 500R.

I know how the main things work but I have some uncertainties that I will tell you little by little, while I'm telling you about components to buy. I want to do a mix composition between XSPC and EK pieces.

Let's start:

- CPU Waterblock: I have thought about a XSPC Raystorm, cause of its quality/price ratio and why not, also because of its aesthetic side. Its blue leds are nice matched with my PC's general blue light. The alternative would be the EK Supremacy EVO, but I'm pretty sure about the Raystorm.

- GPU Waterblock: I will pick the next full-cover waterblock from EK, for the forthcoming GTX 980 Ti.

- Pump + Reservoir: I would like to buy the pump and the reservoir in one only piece, a combo, to save space and also because the pump itself is a bit bad to see . There is no contraindication having the pump and the reservoir as a combo, is this right?
Anyway, I have thought about the XSPC Photon 170 Combo D5. The D5 pump should be enough to handle a loop with more radiatiors, and even for (eventually) a future SLI. Do you confirm this?

- Radiators: I will surely pick a 240 mm radiator (that I will place on the top of the case), specifically I will buy an EK Coolstream PE 240.
My doubts are about the second radiator (the one before the GPU): which size (mm) should I buy? Is a 120 mm radiator adequate or should I buy another 240 mm?

- Tubes: I really don't know what to buy. What tube section (mm) have I to pick?

- Fittings: I'm a little confused about them. I don't know what to buy. What fittings I need?

- Cooling liquid: Which one do you suggest to me? I have found something from EK or XSPC but they seems all similar to me and I didn't understand if I have to mix them with some distilled water or not.

- Method: And lastly, but for this not the most useless, the plan. I thought about something classical: the pump+reservoir placed near the right side of the motherboard (at a medium height), a tube to the second radiator, then to the GPU, to the first (top, 240 mm) radiator and the return to the pump+reservoir. Is this right or should I modify something?


Hope that I have forgotten anything.

As you can see, I really need a bit of help on some of this components.
Hope you can help me!

Thanks in advance, guys

 

[rubix_1011]

Have you read through the watercooling sticky? Most of your questions are covered there.