Clean Water, but nothing lives

[Terran]

What sort of salt is the water softener system using for recharge? Some have additives to prevent channeling and such, and some of those additives can be problems for fish keepers.

I'm using Morton Salt Pellets for the softener.

 

[CoralolisEffect]

In florida softener won't cut it with di. My rip off Over priced softener cuts solids down in half but still. Get 189 tds passed through. Really need the ro membrane to cut the solids down and di to finish it down to 0tds. The softener has given me longer life on the Rodi consumables system.

 

[billsreef]

I'm using Morton Salt Pellets for the softener.

Additives
Morton^® System Saver^® II Pellets contain a patented, water-soluble resin cleaning additive.

That patented resin cleaning additive could be a problem. My personal recommendation to people using water from water softner systems is to use plain old Solar Salt without any additives. It also tends to be a good bit cheaper than the salt with additives.

 

[disc1]

Can I just get this stand alone DI unit, since I have the filter and water softener already in place?

You can, and it may work but it won't last very long at all, especially if you have a water softener.

Get a RODI. They're only $150 - $200 bucks. They'll save you a lot more than they cost.

It's an aquarium, why would you even think about cheaping out on the water? The water is the main part of an aquarium.

 

[Terran]

Additives
Morton^® System Saver^® II Pellets contain a patented, water-soluble resin cleaning additive.

That patented resin cleaning additive could be a problem. My personal recommendation to people using water from water softner systems is to use plain old Solar Salt without any additives. It also tends to be a good bit cheaper than the salt with additives.

Thanks, is a 100% water change necessary?

 

[Buzz1329]

0.25ppm ammonia is not enough to kill anything in 6 hours.

No idea whether 0.25ppm of ammonia would be enough to kill within 6 hours but why on earth would you take a chance? See http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-02/rhf/index.php

 

[d2mini]

I have a whole house water softener too. Still wouldn't go without a ro/DI. Tds is still much too high.

 

[Tickle]

If you have a whole home water softener how is it plumbed afterwards? Pex pipe or copper? Highly recommend the RODI system. You can get a cheap inline tds meter that measures line in and line out for less than 20 bux.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

 

[iced98lx]

You've only lost what, $50 worth of livestock so far?

I'd take everyone here's suggestion and 100% re-fill after you get an RO/DI unit. You will LOVE it later knowing that everything is OK starting point wise.

It's one of the smaller purchases in the hobby and if your LFS is smart they'll agree it's the best way to keep things alive (ask what they're using, I bet it's not tap water that's been through a softner)

Don't be discouraged by the set back, getting the right kind of equipment now will save you major headaches down the road, and an RO/DI unit is dang near a requirement for those in water treated areas.

 

[chrisd1009]

IME, stand alone DI unit can't do enough of what most of us need. They do fine for some, but I really think you need an RO/DI system.