soft water

[KAJeff]

I've been using well water from the get go, about 7 months now, with much sucess, but can I use water that has passed through a water softener without ill effects on the reef inhabitants? seems like that water would have fewer impurities???
Anyone else tryed this?

[malofish]

Yep I nagree with joshua!! I did aquarium servicing for a year or so and I had to go outside to get water!!

[KAJeff]

I just figured, the resin tank with in the softener would only eliminate the impurities, such as, minerals, iron, etc, and give you a purer form of water.
Not RO/DI by any means, but better water as a base to start with???

[Richard]

Water softners are just ion exchange units. So they just take out carbonates and replace them with either sodium or potassium whichever your using. Best to bypass the water softner if you can. I use my well water sometimes since I have a good well with no sulfur, phosphate, silicates etc. only problem is the alkalinity is too high.

[GaryP]

The softerner is going to remove calcium and magnesium and replace it with sodium. To me, this is like throwing out the baby with the bath water. I would think you are better off using the water upstream of the softener or preferably adding an RO unit to your system.

Gary

[KAJeff]

thanks for the info guys..