If all goes well, you should end up with something like this. A little bit of air creates a bubble which will dance and ripple to the flow of water. If you add UV dye, it should make for quite the cool effect. Be cafeful not to let that bubble fall into the main stream of water however, or else you risk needing to bleed your system all over again, not fun.
The green colour in this case comes from Swiftech’s “HydrX” coolant, which I bought from Compuvision. I’ve tried both using the nub directly on the waterplant, and using a barb with an extra lead of tubing. Unless you are really really short on space, or really hate the extra bit dangling out, then I suggest you go with the second method shown. It doesn’t have to be open, a closed loop watercooling system is also possible, again thanks to the extra barb. As an added note, I’ve tested the Waterplant in a watercooling setup for 7 days strait, under varying temperatures and it remains perfect. There were no leaks at all, which is something of utmost importance when buying a reservoir.
Okay, I think you’ve noticed by now that the Waterplant isn’t exactly a technological marvel. In fact, it’s entirely possible for those adept in DIY to construct a like item, should they be so inclined. I see two pieces of acrylic with a bunch of holes in them slapped onto an acrylic tube. Simple works however, and the Waterplant, despite it’s low-tech construction, is still the most versatile reservoir I have ever seen on the market. The fact that it’s built simple also reduces the cost, and you’ll find the Criticool Waterplant attractively priced at $30CDN ($20USD) for the 4” by 2 ½” version, and $35CDN ($25USD) for the longer 6” by 2 ½” version. The quoted prices are direct from Criticool.com, and may be a bit higher from other places.
So what can I say for this reservoir? It’s inexpensive, versatile, and the fact that it’s clear certainly earns it points in the aesthetics department. I would have liked to see some included Velcro strips to fasten the Waterplant in place, as well as instructions (Criticool has them pending), but it is otherwise an excellent reservoir, provided you have the space to fit it where you want. Criticool Waterplant : Recommended.
