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| View Poll Results: Best water to use with an R.O.? | |||
| Hard Water |
   
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2 | 9.52% |
| Soft Water after Softner |
  
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19 | 90.48% |
| other |
  
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0 | 0% |
| Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 21. You may not vote on this poll | |||
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#1
04/16/2007, 03:11 PM
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Using R.O. system before or after Water Softner
Has anyone had any experience with water quality of using hard water or water processed through a water softener. My water is very hard in my area but I do have access to a water softener. Not sure if I should use the R.O. on the hard water or after the softener?
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#2
04/16/2007, 03:50 PM
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Honestly, I don't believe it'd be advantageous to put the water through a softener before running it through an RO unit. All water softeners do is exchange the calcium in the water for salt, the overall mineral content in the water is the same amount, simply different minerals. Someone please correct me if I am wrong here.
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#3
04/16/2007, 04:28 PM
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Thanks for the reply Myrphie! I guess my other question would be if it were a toss up between Hard and Soft water out of the calcium or the salt which one would have the least wear and tear on the R.O. membrane?
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If you are not living Life on the Edge than you are simply taking up to much space.......Life is simply a matter of Balance |
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#4
04/16/2007, 06:11 PM
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RO will perform better in soft water than hard.
__________________
"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." |
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#5
04/16/2007, 09:50 PM
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guess it would be the same..
Also if you use soft water, you'll waste lots of it.
__________________
2 ocelaris 1-1.5", 1 bandaii cardinal, 1 yellow watchman goby 1 pep. shrimp, 10 nas, 1 astrea , 1 cerrith snails Some softys PH 8.1, Alk 11, NH3/4, NO2, NO3 0, Temp 77-79F, SG 1.025 |
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#6
04/16/2007, 10:13 PM
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It is a trade off either way. Depends moslty on your hardness. In general, an RO system can remove salts easier then calcium from your water. So if you want less calcium in your water, use the softened water. the biggest wear factor on your RO is just on components like check valves and auto shut off valves when using hard water. Otherwise it does not matter much either way.
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#7
04/16/2007, 10:53 PM
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Calcium and magnesium precipitate on valves much easier than the salt ions and will wear them down. Ca and Mg ions are also harder on membranes.
__________________
"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." |
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#8
04/18/2007, 07:50 PM
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salt is a "soft element" it is more soluable than calcium and magnesium. if it wasnt those with water softeners would be scrubbing salt spray off there walls the same as scrubing lime off the shower walls. im assuming that the same would apply to the membrane. that it is easier to to expell the salt over lime.
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#9
04/18/2007, 10:27 PM
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RO membranes love softened water, always install them after a softener if you have one.
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