Just read up on it, softeners mainly remove calcium and magnesium ions.

When an ion exchanger is applied for water softening, it will replace the calcium and magnesium ions in the water with other ions, for instance sodium or potassium.

Slickfork: Haven't had any trouble blowing joints or anything. System has been running that high since before I took over and that was 15 years ago. My old waterers rusted out and have been replaced with large tire waterers the valves on them are heavy duty. The old ones were Ritchie's with the plastic valves no problems until the bowls rusted out. Bowl waterers in the horse stalls with floats no troubles. Plastic pipe no problem. Nipple waterers for the old pig barn never a problem.

HTH
Brad

Well I will have to find more info. So your only problem is that someone drinking it will not get enough minerals with their water?

Hope we are not getting to far of topic Slickfork.

After doing some more reading I found that the minerals lost in the water are compensated for in our food. It would take 25 ltrs of water to equal 1 banana.

However I did read that the number of people suffering from cardiovascular disease is much LOWER in areas with the largest mineral count in their water. So I am not sure what to think now. LOL

Here is a link to one article I found, it is one of many stating the same thing.

http://www.triangularwave.com/f10.htm

go to the trades
 

Hey, just jumping in on this. I've recommended this before, but when looking for this kind of technical information look out of the hobby and go to the trade applications. Go where the industry goes for info and training. Also, be very leery of commercial/store websites as a source - the water treatment industry is full of snake oil and used car salesmen mainly using fear as their sales tool. Here's a link to the Canadian Water Quality Association that is more or less the "governing body" and training source of the trade.

http://www.cwqa.com/watertreatment.php

And a good article debunking misinformation

http://www.cwqa.com/water_treatment/misinformation.php


Can't remember all the little things I cringed at in this thread - but the R/O is *always* fed with softened water if available. Membranes don't like hardness or iron. Also check the specs on your unit before jacking around with the pressure or buying a feed pump - there are low pressure membranes out on the market.

Jim

Good links, thanks.

Now I am more confused then ever. LOL

[quote=bassman;282282]After doing some more reading I found that the minerals lost in the water are compensated for in our food. It would take 25 ltrs of water to equal 1 banana.

Yea, I kind of thought thats the argument I read in another thread someplace, discussing the same thing. However, like others, its just what I have read. The best link I posted on running the sofener first was in the thread with Randy. Now thats a good source.

Good links Jim. Thanks