koroem
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I'm using plain old distilled water. No additives, no colors, nothing. Same as I always have for years. Today I started up my pc and looked inside at my EKWB Vector FTW3 Nickle plated block and noticed copper showing through the nickle plating in the water channels. On one side it kinda looks like a smear or a streaking, on the other side it looks like an entire chunk came off near a corner. Did I get a bad block, is this the issue they kept delaying the blocks for? Is anyone else seeing this problem emerging? EDIT I swapped over to EK Cryofuel Clear. My old build never had an issue with straight distilled water but I guess these new parts don't play nicely. I tore apart the system, opened up the blocks, and the copper staining was indeed coming from the radiators and was able to clean it off without issue. Both blocks (cpu/gpu) are fine. Rinsed out the radiators and refilled with the EK coolant. End result here: https://forums.evga.com/FindPost/3228960
post edited by koroem - 2021/02/25 09:38:30
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mech9t5
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/11 07:22:27
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koroem
I'm using plain old distilled water. No additives, no colors, nothing. Same as I always have for years. Today I started up my pc and looked inside at my EKWB Vector FTW3 Nickle plated block and noticed copper showing through the nickle plating in the water channels. On one side it kinda looks like a smear or a streaking, on the other side it looks like an entire chunk came off near a corner. Did I get a bad block, is this the issue they kept delaying the blocks for? Is anyone else seeing this problem emerging?
Why not send a message to the customer service at EK, since it's their product? It's probably bad QC problem on EK's part.
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the_Scarlet_one
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/11 08:07:41
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I have not looked at my blocks since they were installed, but I will take a look when I get home today. Is your block vertically mounted? I ask because I am wondering if that was why you saw it, not because it would have anything to do with the nickel plating.
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koroem
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/11 10:54:33
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the_Scarlet_one
I have not looked at my blocks since they were installed, but I will take a look when I get home today. Is your block vertically mounted? I ask because I am wondering if that was why you saw it, not because it would have anything to do with the nickel plating.
It is yes.
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koroem
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/11 10:59:16
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mech9t5
koroem
I'm using plain old distilled water. No additives, no colors, nothing. Same as I always have for years. Today I started up my pc and looked inside at my EKWB Vector FTW3 Nickle plated block and noticed copper showing through the nickle plating in the water channels. On one side it kinda looks like a smear or a streaking, on the other side it looks like an entire chunk came off near a corner. Did I get a bad block, is this the issue they kept delaying the blocks for? Is anyone else seeing this problem emerging?
Why not send a message to the customer service at EK, since it's their product? It's probably bad QC problem on EK's part.
Because before I do so I want to find out if it is an issue on my end, or a more widespread one.
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B0baganoosh
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/11 13:14:38
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Did you use any fittings that were different/new to you? Sorry if this is something you already know, but if you use dissimilar metals, you can have migration issues and corrosion. I forget what brand it was, but I saw a video online of someone having trouble with a new set of fittings where there was a quality control issue with the plating on the fittings and it caused all sorts of corrosion in their loop.
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TechJessica87
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/11 13:22:07
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Hubby does electroplating and it is possible that the process didn't adher properly. It usually flakes off like you mentioned on the corner as the hint.
I would attempt for a replacement and see what happens!
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koroem
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/11 14:50:43
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Nike_7688
Did you use any fittings that were different/new to you? Sorry if this is something you already know, but if you use dissimilar metals, you can have migration issues and corrosion. I forget what brand it was, but I saw a video online of someone having trouble with a new set of fittings where there was a quality control issue with the plating on the fittings and it caused all sorts of corrosion in their loop.
All fittings are brand new EKWB brand. It was an entirely new case, rad/pump/water/tubes/block setup. Everything water cooling is EKWB.
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koroem
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/12 15:18:32
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Just checked today, more spots forming and now there is clearly a chunk that has circulated the system and got caught over the jet plate of the block. Will take a picture and upload soon. No one else having this issue? 
post edited by koroem - 2021/02/12 16:35:42
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NowWhat123
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/12 23:23:13
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Nickel is losing electrons to another patch of exposed copper and the process will accelerate as more copper is exposed. If you have other nickel plated parts, that's up next. This is how galvanic corrosion works.
It can be kickstarted by your water being slightly too acidic due to dissolved CO2 or having too much dissolved oxygen when you refilled the loop.
If you want to stop it at this point, add a corrosion inhibitor like Mayhems Inhibitor+ that will block further corrosion due to the exposed copper.
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Turbo-12R
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/13 05:16:07
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Not my own words, but here is your answer basically:
"Despite its benefits, distilled water is particularly corrosive. With no minerals to give the water pH balance, distilled water acts like a magnet, absorbing chemicals (phthalates and bisphenols) from plastics, nickel from stainless steel, aluminum from aluminum containers, and carbon dioxide from the air."
I'd say this is going to probably vary some from brand to brand as to how bad that acidity level is. That's probably why it's best to use a quality brand coolant that's specifically designed for the product you have.
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ty_ger07
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/13 05:35:30
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You should have used a proper coolant designed for water cooling. Distilled water is not sufficient.
EK recommends its own coolant, of course, but there are many good options available.
Swap out the coolant for proper coolant ASAP, otherwise it will get a lot worse a lot faster.
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the_Scarlet_one
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/13 05:52:42
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I use the EK Cryofuel Clear so that I can maintain clear fluid but still have a corrosion inhibitor.
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kelkel1
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/13 06:16:45
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Never used EK, but have read about issues with their plating.
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Shimano
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/23 17:16:42
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Don't use distilled water use proper coolant
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koroem
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Re: EKWB 3090 Nickle blocks, anyone starting to see copper? Nickle wearing through?
2021/02/25 08:31:20
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Shimano
Don't use distilled water use proper coolant
Yes I swapped over to EK Cryofuel Clear. My old build never had an issue with straight distilled water but I guess these new parts don't play nicely. I tore apart the system, opened up the blocks, and the copper staining was indeed coming from the radiators and was able to clean it off without issue. Both blocks (cpu/gpu) are fine. Rinsed out the radiators and refilled with the EK coolant. End result here: https://forums.evga.com/FindPost/3228960
post edited by koroem - 2021/02/25 09:34:41
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