Water Softeners?

[New2dareef]

So I'm very new to salt water. Been in the process of putting together a 180 gallon tank. I live in So. Calif, the Santa Clarita valley and we have very hard water.
My tank is still in the build stage and I read and research on R2R daily. I've purchased a BSR 6 stage RODI system and I'm currently working on a water changing system.
So my question. With our hard water in this area, if I were to get a water softener for my home, would this effect my water for my aquarium after it goes through the RODI system?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Plumb the water softener before the RO/DI so it gets softened water.

That may make the DI deplete a little faster, but the RO membrane will foul a lot more slowly and so will last longer.

 

[New2dareef]

Am I correct to assume that the water softener will help out my water quality once it passes through the RODI unit?

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

Once the water passes through your RODI, the quality will be just fine. The softener removes hardness, which can cause the premature demise of your RO membrane. Hard water results in the deposition of scale - on your faucets, shower doors, and INSIDE an RO membrane.

Russ

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Am I correct to assume that the water softener will help out my water quality once it passes through the RODI unit?

No, it will not. As mentioned, it only helps the membrane last longer. Softeners do not remove ions overall, they just swap in sodium for calcium and magnesium. Unfortunately, sodium is a tad harder for an RO membrane to remove than are calcium and magnesium, so very slightly more ions get through the RO membrane, depleting the DI resin faster. But most people would trade off that for a longer lasting RO membrane.