For the lulz - anyone build a computer that's also an aquarium?

OfficeReefer · Oct 23, 2022

Token_Reefer said:
@OfficeReefer i have the same case. Built over covid I couldn't get my hands on any gpu. Had to enter a daily Newegg raffle for the "opportunity to buy" and finally won and bought a 3070ti...its all I need for now. The 40's gotta be crazy expensive

The Corsair one or the one that dude is using in the video?

I hear you on the RTX mess. I bought three of them, one as an Aorus Gaming Box for $1200 to play Microsoft Flight Sim 2020 on and two RTX 3080 ventus GPU before the driver hashing fiasco. It was a PITA to get them but I was able to make that money back.

TokenReefer · Oct 23, 2022

If you used lower end gpu and cpu your heat concerns would be less (I know you've got these already)... Passively cooled via radiators

TokenReefer · Oct 23, 2022

OfficeReefer said:
The Corsair one or the one that dude is using in the video?

I hear you on the RTX mess. I bought three of them, one as an Aorus Gaming Box for $1200 to play Microsoft Flight Sim 2020 on and two RTX 3080 ventus GPU before the driver hashing fiasco. It was a PITA to get them but I was able to make that money back.

The corsair. Nice. Yeah I then sold my 1060 on ebay for 80% of what I paid for the 3070.lol crazy times covid was

Lbrdsoxfan · Oct 23, 2022

Token_Reefer said:
Hey I'll take one of those 3080s
No but I've seen em make aquarium computers but they use mineral oil so it only looks cool... Nothing could live in it. If you do, definitely start a build thread!

This. I just want the 3080 for MSRP, lol.

Lbrdsoxfan · Oct 23, 2022

OfficeReefer said:
Here's the donor candidate

Drooling...

TokenReefer · Oct 23, 2022

Lbrdsoxfan said:
This. I just want the 3080 for MSRP, lol.

Oh man I definitely woulda back then lol. Now I spend all my money on reefing

OfficeReefer · Oct 23, 2022

Token_Reefer said:
If you used lower end gpu and cpu your heat concerns would be less (I know you've got these already)... Passively cooled via radiators

Maybe. I don't have many CPU that would fit the main board socket and be useful for much of anything. I do have an RX Vega GPU I could try this out on but I don't think it can be water cooled. I'll check into that since it's just sitting in an eGPU box at the moment anyways.

elysics · Oct 23, 2022

I think just the idea of salt water in the vicinity of the computer, much less inside of it, is going to kill it within a couple years. Even if it is entirely separated from the loop and you just use optical illusion to make it look like part of one system, the moist salty air that the tank will give of is like taking a misting bottle of hydrochloric acid and applying it to your mainboard

Also, algae, how do you deal with it?

OfficeReefer · Oct 23, 2022

Lbrdsoxfan said:
This. I just want the 3080 for MSRP, lol.

I think they are down to that now from what I read. TBH, it's a better GPU than I received in the beginning. I don't know what effect it would have on AI or ML model training if any other than memory size.

OfficeReefer · Oct 23, 2022

elysics said:
I think just the idea of salt water in the vicinity of the computer, much less inside of it, is going to kill it within a couple years. Even if it is entirely separated from the loop and you just use optical illusion to make it look like part of one system, the moist salty air that the tank will give of is like taking a misting bottle of hydrochloric acid and applying it to your mainboard

Also, algae, how do you deal with it?

@elysics Exactly! This is for the lulz. The same people who make Dude Perfect videos enjoy doing crazy stuff, why not have some fun here?

I think you are probably correct in the corrosive nature of saltwater. It would be hard to do with most CPU and GPU water blocks without some maintenance, just like the tank. You are correct in that one would not want the fan intake near the water. I presume it could be sustained for awhile in a semi-closed system, but I wonder how low that would push pH and alkalinity?

Algae, well for one - we could use it or we could eliminate it. If we use it, it would be likely something that would need to be exposed. I know it's been used as a biofuel source and hydro-electric source but I don't like the idea of external refugium to this. Sounds as bad as adding a prop to the cybertruck as a boat. It's possible to hold at bay with UV at high flow rates, might work here.

Lbrdsoxfan · Oct 23, 2022

OfficeReefer said:
I think they are down to that now from what I read. TBH, it's a better GPU than I received in the beginning. I don't know what effect it would have on AI or ML model training if any other than memory size.

Just built a mid range setup, still 20-30% over MSRP via new egg. Ended up with a Radeon for now...

Edit: My last desktop build was rockin a 4GB GTX 970 and a 5th gen I7 processor and that system lasted 6+ years with no upgrades. I only upgraded due to win 11 and my mobo not natively supporting tpm 2.0 (one generation short of it). I could still game and do solid works/autocad with no heartburn.

TokenReefer · Oct 23, 2022

Just for s's n g's and a fun experiment. Yeah just be smart about it. Long term is doubtful but could be a fun try nonetheless

Lbrdsoxfan · Oct 23, 2022

Token_Reefer said:
Just for s's n g's and a fun experiment. Yeah just be smart about it. Long term is doubtful but could be a fun try nonetheless

I'd be curious to see. I'm still leery of liquid cooling (or water anything in a desktop) after trying it in it's infancy 10+- years ago with crap results.

OfficeReefer · Oct 23, 2022

Lbrdsoxfan said:
Just built a mid range setup, still 20-30% over MSRP via new egg. Ended up with a Radeon for now...

Edit: My last desktop build was rockin a 4GB GTX 970 and a 5th gen I7 processor and that system lasted 6+ years with no upgrades. I only upgraded due to win 11 and my mobo not natively supporting tpm 2.0 (one generation short of it). I could still game and do solid works/autocad with no heartburn.

@Lbrdsoxfan that sounds like a pretty solid setup some time ago, I had a friend with one that was similar. I had a Mac Mini with Intel graphics that worked well with an eGPU until Apple killed that off.

In hindsight, we shall leave the option for an external sump.

UGASealDawg · Oct 23, 2022

OfficeReefer said:
For the record, this post is not meant to be serious, but is for the lulz or for fun.

I have some leftover Corsair water cooling components, extra Core i9-10850K and some RTX 3080's that are part of an interesting Star Wars TIE fighter build I did with the kids over last spring. I'm thinking of maybe making the reservoir open into an aquarium that is also the tank. My guess is this is too much of a heater as is, since it would "boil the ocean" at idle in current state; but with a larger volume of water, I'm thinking this might make a cool cube for those in cooler climates and might serve a purpose than empty heaters in current designs.

Anyone done this?

Welcome laughs too!

It’s a cool idea but my immediate concern is non-aqua rated electronics near, gasp, water. Even rated electronics have their issues. If you could keep the electronic components dry and dehumidified it would be really cool. My guess from past experience is this would be an ongoing fight of component failure.

I tried an Arduino micro-controller for a salinity module and non-rated electronics really do not like H2O, lol.

ScubaFish802 · Oct 23, 2022

OfficeReefer said:
@ScubaFish802 looks like one guy did it a few years ago. It's the video in this thread but much less than I would have hoped for. https://lifeoffish.com/fish-tank-computer-a-crazy-invention/

I love this, GPU like the sunken treasure at the bottom and everything.
Saw this with video & outline going through google since you’ve peaked my interest lol

(sadly mineral oil as well though)

Aquarium Computer

This is a mineral oil submerged computer. Mineral oil is a liquid that looks and behaves like water but does not conduct electricity, hence why it is safe to run electronics inside it. The mineral oil also aids to control the temperature of the entire system, by soaking up and removing heat away fro

eleccelerator.com

OfficeReefer · Oct 23, 2022

UGASealDawg said:
It’s a cool idea but my immediate concern is non-aqua rated electronics near, gasp, water. Even rated electronics have their issues. If you could keep the electronic components dry and dehumidified it would be really cool. My guess from past experience is this would be an ongoing fight of component failure.

I tried an Arduino micro-controller for a salinity module and non-rated electronics really do not like H2O, lol.

For real. I have a ReefPi-like setup of my own that really disliked the salt creep alone. I'm sure @Ranjib has had similar experiences. Would welcome your feedback on RPi and keeping your components dry!