ro/di water softeners?

cjilge · 04/21/2008, 09:34 PM

We have picked out a commercial whole house water softener from Cano Labs, since I am a distributer ie, I get it at cost and it would run a small town. We have extremely hard water a farely high TDS. We are tired of replacing faucits. We are on well water also. Do I still need a RO filter? I figured I would at least need a DI upgrade some where in the system for the aquarium. ANy Idea's?

Thanks,
Chris

bertoni · 04/21/2008, 10:11 PM

The water softeners might help a bit, but they won't reduce alkalinity (I think) and might not remove all the copper or zinc that might come down the line. I don't think they remove phosphate or nitrate, either. I would still use an RO/DI. The water softener will help the RO membrane last longer, which is nice.

cjilge · 04/22/2008, 06:18 AM

Thanks I wasn't sure but figured it would be a good idea to have both. If anyone else has any info it would be appriecated.

Thanks again,
Chris

Chago09 · 04/22/2008, 06:32 AM

ya a softner will actually raise your TDS. I am in the water business to so I know about this stuff. Softners actually tank certain minerals and metals and convert into a calcium bicarbonate. This softens the water. My TDS after my softner is over 500 TDS. Doesn't mean my water is no good, its just extremely hard. Its mostly minerals and not heavy metals. So run a RO/DI after your softner. Your softner though will be a huge favour to your RO membrane since the without the softner, if you have hard water it will scale up your membrane sooo fast.

They will work together in a nice tag team

Playa-1 · 04/22/2008, 06:38 AM

I would suggest using RO/DI after the softener.

cjilge · 04/22/2008, 07:14 AM

Thank you all for the input, I will be ordering everything this week.

Thanks
Chris

bstone · 04/22/2008, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chago09
ya a softner will actually raise your TDS. I am in the water business to so I know about this stuff. Softners actually tank certain minerals and metals and convert into a calcium bicarbonate. This softens the water. My TDS after my softner is over 500 TDS. Doesn't mean my water is no good, its just extremely hard. Its mostly minerals and not heavy metals. So run a RO/DI after your softner. Your softner though will be a huge favour to your RO membrane since the without the softner, if you have hard water it will scale up your membrane sooo fast.

They will work together in a nice tag team

Sorry, I am not following, are you saying softeners take certain minerals and metals and convert into a calcium bicarbonate. This softens the water/ or how a softener works?

I thought it was ion exchange - calcium, magnesium and some metals (iron) are exchanged for sodium. Sometimes the exchange is 2 for one (1 calcium for 2 sodiums) this is why the TDS increases after a softener.

bertoni · 04/22/2008, 11:32 AM

Water softeners usually work by ionic exchange. They replace the calcium and magnesium in the water with sodium from salt. That's why they use the salt.

bstone · 04/22/2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
Water softeners usually work by ionic exchange. They replace the calcium and magnesium in the water with sodium from salt. That's why they use the salt.

Ya I know, I was just calling out Chago09 to explain his post... Thanks!

04/21/2008, 09:34 PM	#1
cjilge Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nicoma Park, OK Posts: 2,008	ro/di water softeners? We have picked out a commercial whole house water softener from Cano Labs, since I am a distributer ie, I get it at cost and it would run a small town. We have extremely hard water a farely high TDS. We are tired of replacing faucits. We are on well water also. Do I still need a RO filter? I figured I would at least need a DI upgrade some where in the system for the aquarium. ANy Idea's? Thanks, Chris

04/21/2008, 10:11 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The water softeners might help a bit, but they won't reduce alkalinity (I think) and might not remove all the copper or zinc that might come down the line. I don't think they remove phosphate or nitrate, either. I would still use an RO/DI. The water softener will help the RO membrane last longer, which is nice. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/22/2008, 06:32 AM	#4
Chago09 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgetown Posts: 1,132	ya a softner will actually raise your TDS. I am in the water business to so I know about this stuff. Softners actually tank certain minerals and metals and convert into a calcium bicarbonate. This softens the water. My TDS after my softner is over 500 TDS. Doesn't mean my water is no good, its just extremely hard. Its mostly minerals and not heavy metals. So run a RO/DI after your softner. Your softner though will be a huge favour to your RO membrane since the without the softner, if you have hard water it will scale up your membrane sooo fast. They will work together in a nice tag team __________________ Currently no tank!

04/22/2008, 11:32 AM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Water softeners usually work by ionic exchange. They replace the calcium and magnesium in the water with sodium from salt. That's why they use the salt. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/22/2008, 06:18 AM	#3
cjilge Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nicoma Park, OK Posts: 2,008	Thanks I wasn't sure but figured it would be a good idea to have both. If anyone else has any info it would be appriecated. Thanks again, Chris

04/22/2008, 06:38 AM	#5
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I would suggest using RO/DI after the softener.

04/22/2008, 07:14 AM	#6
cjilge Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nicoma Park, OK Posts: 2,008	Thank you all for the input, I will be ordering everything this week. Thanks Chris