Re: Tap water from a water softener

[George Slusarczuk <yurko at warwick_net>]

Hello Jeff,

As a rule, a water softener exchanges polyvalent cations for sodium
ions. Thus it REMOVES calcium/magnesium ions and ADDS sodium ions to the
water.

You would probably be better off (speaking in terms of aquarium water)
if you used the raw tapwater in your RO unit -- no excess sodium, which
RO does not remove efficiently.

Best,

George


> 
> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 17:46:16 -0700
> From: Jeff Coart <rapdfire at pacbell_net>
> Subject: Tap water from a water softener
> 
> My tap water is conditioned through a water softener that uses salt to
> remove the dissolved solids from the source water. Because of this I
> have been running it through a R/O unit before reconstituting and adding
> to my tank. The softened water tastes salty but maybe it would be okay
> to use straight from the tap. Does this type of softener actually
> increase the level of sodium in the water? Would it be okay to use in a
> planted tank?
> 
> ------------------------------