Anyone using water softened tapwater in their reef?

[Beverly]

We're moving in a couple of weeks to a brand new house and are installing a water softener. We've used Prime-treated tapwater in our 25g since setting it up and intend to use only Prime-treated softened water for it after moving.

We aren't planning to use RO or RO/Di on the tank except for top-up, but are unsure about using Prime-treated softened water. Will softened water be better than using normal tapwater?

Any comments on this issue will be greatly appreicated.

TIA

[Proteus]

What's the point of RO if your topping up with tap water

[Beverly]

I am topping off with RO.

Any comments about the water softener?

[Ross]

Water softeners are typically only on hot water lines.
Use cold water and you'll be ok

[Proteus]

Sorry I read it backwards

I talk to ken from blue world about this a while ago and he ensured me it was safe.

[warriorcookie]

This may be safe, but what about nutrient issues with tap water? How do you know what's going into the system every time you do a water change?

My LFS sells RO/DI for 50cents/gal. Your water changes would cost $1.25...

If you have an RO system already for top off why not use it for water change as well?

[Proteus]

Ecspesially now when you TDS is 200 ppm. For that size of tank its cheap to use ro.

It's not absolutely necessary but if the options there I'd choose ro

[Beverly]

Have been in the hobby for years and know the benefits of RO. Absolutely don't want to get into the great debate about RO vs. tap. Sorry guys

Ross, we're hooking the water softener up to both hot and cold after doing serious research on the benefits to dishwashers, clothes washers, hot-water-on-demand hot water heaters and plumbing systems in general, so using only cold water will not help in my situation.

What about folks who live on acreages that use a water softener? Any comments from you?

Again, TIA

[gobytron]

Doesn't a water softener simply exchange calcium and magnesium for sodium through ion exchange?

As long as you're not using a chemical softener like borax or something, you should be fine.

[Gizmoh]

I used softened water for a while in my reef with no ill effects!