MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Reviews - The Cutting Edge Acrylic Bay Reservoir Review

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The rear portion of the Acrylic Bay Reservoir has been outfitted with two 1/2" NPT right angle black nylon hose barbs. Depending on the type of water cooling system to be installed, consumers have a choice between 1/2" or 3/8" barbs when they place an order on the Cutting Edge website. The edges of the plastic barbs have been sealed with water proof silicone to prevent any possible leaks. On the left and right hand sides of the reservoir are two pre-drilled mounting holes to secure the unit with standard screws, once installed into a 5.25" drive bay. I did note during my inspection that no mounting screws were included in the package and as a result I had to find suitable replacements through trial and error.

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The top portion of the Acrylic Bay Reservoir features a convenient screw-in plug which is used to seal the fill hole. The fill hole has been tapped with a 1/4" NPT thread which allows you to easily undo the screw-in cap in order to fill the system or use standard hose barb if needed. One of the great benefits of the Acrylic Bay Reservoir design is that it acts as an all-in-one fill and bleed system. By positioning the reservoir horizontally in the drive cage air released from the water coolant rises to the top of the unit eliminating air trapped in the hoses, waterblock and pump.

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To test out the Acrylic Bay Reservoir I assembled a few items to simulate a small water cooling system setup. I will be using a standard desktop steel case frame, 1/2" ID soft vinyl tubing, McMaster & Carr 1/2" NPT flow meter with blue rotor and an Eheim 1250 pump. The Eheim 1250 pump is widely regarded as one of the best pumps on the market for water cooling. The 1250 model is capable of pushing 317 gallons per hour and measures approximately 7.1" (L) x 3.8" (W) x 4.7" (H). To start the installation process the Acrylic Bay Reservoir needs to be installed into any free 5.25" drive bay. I recommend using the top bay since it makes the unit more accessible if maintenance is required.