Anyone using water softened tapwater in their reef?

[paddyob]

I believe your drinking water supply is not soft water.


My folks have it, worst shower water ever, and if you drink it, it tastes horrible.

Their kitchen sink is hard water.

[Madmak]

I used untreated well water with the cheapest salt 20 years ago and things lived and died.

Today I use a whole home Kinetico de-chlorinator and softener, a Vertex RO/DI, and high end salt and things still live and die.

IMO the most important thing is to know what you're working with.

[bignose]

Compare the cost of the RO(DI?) to store bought. It's probably cheaper to run RO and you can keep the dirty water for whatever. I live in Edmonton and I've never compared the price and I don't keep my dirty RO/DI water lol. But it's worth thinking about.

[Megalodon]

Originally Posted by bignose

Compare the cost of the RO(DI?) to store bought. It's probably cheaper to run RO and you can keep the dirty water for whatever.

It is, for sure! Don't buy the expensive hobby-brand either (sans DI), as you can get an RO unit for drinking water for relatively cheap, then just add on the DI cartridge.