Water softeners and RODI units

hermitage · 07/21/2009, 05:44 PM

So I have manganese in my water at home. Apparently it's higher than it should be. I have a 210 gal reef, I do 30-40gal water changes weekly with RODI water. My tank evaps about 4-5 gal per day.

I'm thinking about installing a water softener system in my home, but I'm not sure about the effects this will have on my reefing. I assume none, maybe some water pressure issues.

My main concern is with the salt needs of the water softener. Anyone else use a water softener with their RODI system? How much salt do you use for your water softener?

Any other issues that I'm missing?

Thanks for the help.

hermitage · 07/21/2009, 07:02 PM

Someone must be running a water softener?

fraggin · 07/21/2009, 07:35 PM

i tapped in after my acid tank and prefilter, before the brine tank. i have really bad iron.

Im14abeer · 07/21/2009, 08:11 PM

In the simplest sense, all a softener does is exchange Sodium (or Potassium) ions for "hard" ions, primarily Calcium. Your RO will reject the Sodium ions just as it rejects pretty much everything else. Your salt use will depend on how hard your water is and how much water you use. One consideration though, unless you wash clothes with your reject water from the RO, you may want to plumb the RO before the softener to keep from wasting softened water.

JCurry · 07/21/2009, 08:21 PM

I have my RO/DI after the Ion resin exchanger and the pH adjuster, there is also a 20 micron poly filter and a carbon filter and a UV before it hits the 5 micron prefilter of my booster pump. Yep my well water sucks. Anyone ever hear of using ozone to purify well water in the home? I know that some small towns use it.

hermitage · 07/22/2009, 06:53 AM

Thanks...was just looking for some real world experience. SInce my RODI produces 310 gal per month, I was curious how much softener salt I would have to use on top of the regular water use by my family.

Buckeye Hydro · 07/22/2009, 08:02 AM

Having an RODI AFTER a water softener is ideal for this hobby. Softeners are almost a required pretreatment for commercial RODI's.

Russ

serpentman · 07/22/2009, 08:48 AM

I run my RO/DI after the softener with no issues at all. My water is mud before the softener.

If you are on a well, you may need a booster pump though to increase efficiency.

mcrist · 07/22/2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuckeyeFS
Having an RODI AFTER a water softener is ideal for this hobby. Softeners are almost a required pretreatment for commercial RODI's.

Russ

Could you elaborate on this? What are the benefits of running a RO/DI unit after a water softener? I choose not to do this only because I make about 200 gallons of water a week and I didn’t want the added stress on my water softener but if the benefits out way that I might want to reconsider.

Buckeye Hydro · 07/22/2009, 09:31 AM

Softeners use a special type of DI resin to remove chemicals that for scale (primarily calcium and magnesium), just like you make see on your faucets. This scale can build up inside a membrane and ruin it.

hermitage · 07/22/2009, 10:39 AM

serpentman...my water is like mud before any filtration in my home too. Do you run the water softener without any sediment filter?

I just went ot Lowes and saw a "whole house water filter" from whirlpool. Says you will never have to change a filter catridge again, and therefor I will never have any water pressure issues. I'm now thinking of installing one of these in addition to the water softener.

07/21/2009, 05:44 PM	#1
hermitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 307	Water softeners and RODI units So I have manganese in my water at home. Apparently it's higher than it should be. I have a 210 gal reef, I do 30-40gal water changes weekly with RODI water. My tank evaps about 4-5 gal per day. I'm thinking about installing a water softener system in my home, but I'm not sure about the effects this will have on my reefing. I assume none, maybe some water pressure issues. My main concern is with the salt needs of the water softener. Anyone else use a water softener with their RODI system? How much salt do you use for your water softener? Any other issues that I'm missing? Thanks for the help.

07/21/2009, 08:11 PM	#4
Im14abeer BRILLIANT! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Posts: 406	In the simplest sense, all a softener does is exchange Sodium (or Potassium) ions for "hard" ions, primarily Calcium. Your RO will reject the Sodium ions just as it rejects pretty much everything else. Your salt use will depend on how hard your water is and how much water you use. One consideration though, unless you wash clothes with your reject water from the RO, you may want to plumb the RO before the softener to keep from wasting softened water. __________________ Veni, vidi, fishi Current Tank Info: Mixed 235 "reefin' in the corner." Reefbreeders 48 & 32. 2x Tunze 6255 on a 7096, Basement sump, Avast cs1, mag 18 return. Chaeto, kalk.

07/22/2009, 08:48 AM	#8
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	I run my RO/DI after the softener with no issues at all. My water is mud before the softener. If you are on a well, you may need a booster pump though to increase efficiency. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

07/21/2009, 07:02 PM	#2
hermitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 307	Someone must be running a water softener?

07/21/2009, 07:35 PM	#3
fraggin DVRC Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: elverson,PA Posts: 589	i tapped in after my acid tank and prefilter, before the brine tank. i have really bad iron.

07/21/2009, 08:21 PM	#5
JCurry Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Annapolis, Maryland, USA Posts: 378	I have my RO/DI after the Ion resin exchanger and the pH adjuster, there is also a 20 micron poly filter and a carbon filter and a UV before it hits the 5 micron prefilter of my booster pump. Yep my well water sucks. Anyone ever hear of using ozone to purify well water in the home? I know that some small towns use it.

07/22/2009, 06:53 AM	#6
hermitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 307	Thanks...was just looking for some real world experience. SInce my RODI produces 310 gal per month, I was curious how much softener salt I would have to use on top of the regular water use by my family.

07/22/2009, 08:02 AM	#7
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	Having an RODI AFTER a water softener is ideal for this hobby. Softeners are almost a required pretreatment for commercial RODI's. Russ

07/22/2009, 09:31 AM	#10
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	Softeners use a special type of DI resin to remove chemicals that for scale (primarily calcium and magnesium), just like you make see on your faucets. This scale can build up inside a membrane and ruin it.

07/22/2009, 10:39 AM	#11
hermitage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 307	serpentman...my water is like mud before any filtration in my home too. Do you run the water softener without any sediment filter? I just went ot Lowes and saw a "whole house water filter" from whirlpool. Says you will never have to change a filter catridge again, and therefor I will never have any water pressure issues. I'm now thinking of installing one of these in addition to the water softener.