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Case, Power Supply, Fan Reviews
  Product:     Acrylic Bay Reservoir  
  Price:     Reservoir $37 (CAN) / $25 (U.S) + UV Blue Dye $15 (CAN) / $10 (U.S)  
  Supplied By:     The Cutting Edge
  Author:     Hi-TEK
  Date:     February 5th, 2003
  Rating:     star star star star star star star star star star

Cutting Edge Acrylic Bay Reservoir
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Cutting Edge Acrylic Bay Reservoir
Click image for larger view
 
Once the Acrylic Bay Reservoir is positioned in the 5.25" drive cage all that is required is to secure two sets of screws on each side. I managed to find some small 6-32 mounting screws that fit perfectly for this application. The next step is to interconnect all the required vinyl tubing from the reservoir to the pump and flow meter.

Cutting Edge Acrylic Bay Reservoir
Click image for larger view
Cutting Edge Acrylic Bay Reservoir
Click image for larger view
 
To completely fill the system, I used a bottle of Turbo Power deionized water purchased from Canadian Tire. If you don't have access to deionized water as an alternative distilled water from a local supermarket can also be used. A plastic funnel was inserted into the fill hole and water was added to the system while the pump was running to completely fill them system.

Cutting Edge Acrylic Bay Reservoir
Click image for larger view
Cutting Edge Acrylic Bay Reservoir
Click image for larger view
 
To finish off this review, I added a few drops of the included blue UV reactant dye and placed a 12" UV cold cathode tube next to the vinyl tubing to see how well the dye worked with the deionized water. With the lights off the dye does a spectacular job in terms of illuminating the entire system and is perfect for case modders who have a side panel window installed in their modified case.
 
Conclusion:

The Cutting Edge Acrylic Bay Reservoir is the perfect solution for overclocking enthusiasts looking for a simple yet effective system to complete a DIY water cooling system. The overall construction of the unit is first rate thanks to the use of 1/4" cast acrylic. The use of 1/2" or 3/8" right angle barbs allows you to custom design and plan the type of flow rate you want circulating in your system. Consumers will appreciate the size dimensions of the unit which fit conveniently into one 5.25" drive bay. By far the best feature of the product is the easy to remove fill cap and hole which simplifies the process of effectively filling and bleeding a system in less than an hour. I strongly recommend combining the reservoir, UV dye product and 12" UV cold cathode lighting for the best results in terms of aesthetics and illumination inside a modified computer case. The only negative point that I have about the product is the non-inclusion of mounting screws which would have speed up the installation process during this review. It would also be nice to see this product mature and be offered in different colour selections for case modders who have themed and colour matched their computer case. Overall, I am rating this product a 9.5 out of 10. and would definately this product for anyone looking for a cheap and effective water cooling component. If you have any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the The Cutting Edge for more information or discuss them in our forums.

 
Thumbs Up! Pros:
  • Fits conveniently into one 5.25" drive bay
  • Adds great aesthetics to a dull looking case
  • Good construction and easy to install
  • Perfect for water systems using UV dyes
  • Outfitted with either 3/8" or 1/2" black nylon barbs
  • Price
Thumbs Down! Cons:
  • Advanced DIY type users will prefer to manufacture their own reservoir
  • Missing mounting screws
 
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