Bacteria in a Tig cooler????

[wierdscience]

New one on me,I went to Tig a few stainless parts the other day and quickly noticed my water cooled Tig torch getting hot in my hand. Unplugged the coolant lines and tried blowing air through them,but no luck. So I gave it a shot of compressed air and a string of slime about 2 feet long came out the other end and then it started flowing.I hooked everything back up and had no more problems.
I've had bacteria get hold in cool mist reservoirs and seen it in diesel tanks and coolant sumps,but never a Tig cooler.It's a closed system and I run actual coolant made for the purpose, so I am kinda wondering where the stuff came from.

Anybody else have this issue and if so, what did you do about it?

[oxford]

No real help but how old was the coolant? I know the Miller branded stuff has a change interval, which I believe I am way over due on.

Whats the cooler you are running and do you have any filters on it?

[wierdscience]

No real help but how old was the coolant? I know the Miller branded stuff has a change interval, which I believe I am way over due on.

Whats the cooler you are running and do you have any filters on it?

It's basically this one, but a different color-

https://www.amazon.com/PowerCool-WRC-300A-Welder-Cooling-Cooler/dp/B07KPYMBTB/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=tig%2Bcooler&qid=1648999612&sr=8-2&th=1

Coolant is only about a year old,but no filter. The odd part is,I can open the cap and look down into the tank and it's crystal clear and the tank is clean. Unless it's not a bacteria problem and it's something making the coolant coagulate? But then only in the hose?

[Tobias-B]

Maybe it's anaerobic, and the lack of oxygen in the tubing promotes growth?

Around here, green snot grows in anything that's not bleach...

t

[mickeyf]

Is the hose one designed and supplied for the purpose? If not, perhaps the hose itself is degrading. Just a thought.

[old mart]

Perhaps a small UV led suspended in the tank woulf prevent the growth.
Or use deionised water to give less food for the slime to grow on.

[wmgeorge]

If it is mold/algae add a little bleach to the fluid, that's what I use with my water cooled laser.

[reggie_obe]

If you're not using the TIG daily, maybe dump the coolant/water mix and leave the cooler and lines dry. Fill it with straight water from the tap as needed. drain after use.

[psomero]

I have a similar issue with my PC watercooler loop. I'm not sure if it's microbial growth or the coolant separating, but I have to purge and clean the system every so often. I use a purpose-specific coolant from the heatsink manufacturer but still get a buildup of slimy gunk in the heatsinks that needs to get scrubbed out.



In fact, I think that I'm due for a cleaning...

[polaraligned]

Probably the plastic hose lines are feeding the growth if there is nothing in the sump.

[wierdscience]

Maybe it's anaerobic, and the lack of oxygen in the tubing promotes growth?

Around here, green snot grows in anything that's not bleach...

t

It's got some mixing since there is head space in the reservoir and the return shots out into the to the top.It also has a Copper heat exchanger, so I thought that would possibly limit any growth, but who knows.

[wierdscience]

Is the hose one designed and supplied for the purpose? If not, perhaps the hose itself is degrading. Just a thought.

Both hoses appear to be Silicone which I think would be okay.

[I make chips]

I have seen the slime buildup in industrial coolers that run straight water. After a good cleanout usually a little bit of antifreeze in new water seems to prevent it. It lubes the pump too.

[JoeLee]

It sounds pretty gross. There has to be some antimicrobial / bacteria solution that you can add to the water to prevent it.

JL.....

[JRouche]

nON CONNECTED, jr

i DONT HAVE BACTIERIAL ISSUES WITH MY HoME MADE COOLANT IS BECAUSE, i RUN GOOD WATER THROUGH MINE, cHIT YOU NT.JR

I am sorry . I gt cap locked.. JR