Custom water softener setup questions

[Hatsuwr]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of going with a custom water softener setup rather than one of the ready to go units.

I'm thinking:

Twin tank setup, but with both tanks generally in operation at the same time. Regeneration would be offset so soft water would always be available.

• 2x 10"x54" Vortech Tanks
• 2x Fleck 5800 LXT or SXT Control Valves
• Purolite Shallow Shell Resin - 1.5 cubic feet per tank.

Anyone have thoughts or advice about this route? I'd like to get the SSTPPC8000E resin, but I only see SST-60 for sale online.

Thanks!

 

[TomFOhio]

What is the hardness # and the iron # ????

 

[Hatsuwr]

Iron is ~10 ppm, hardness ~10 gpg.

 

[speedbump]

You don't need a Softener nearly as bad as you do an Iron Filter.

 

[Hatsuwr]

You don't need a Softener nearly as bad as you do an Iron Filter.

I agree! This is part of a larger plan here: http://www.plumbingforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=97412

The softener was just a component I had a few more specific questions about.

 

[speedbump]

I read your link. That's a lot of overkill and really most of it isn't necessary. I would recommend staying away from the big box stores for your equipment.

 

[TomFOhio]

I agree with speedbump that the iron is more of a concern than 10 grains hard. Where I live the hardness is 8 and I've never considered a water softener. If you do get one just get something that will take care of the hardness that you have. Most softeners will take out some iron but not a lot. You can buy a bag of red out and put in with your salt to help with the iron or have someone like Culligan look at it and see if you only need a iron filter.

PS. If your wife says you need a softener then get one. LOL!!!!!!

 

[speedbump]

I can tell you from experience that getting rid of 10 ppm of iron is going to be a big deal. The one thing I can recommend is using a head that draws air instead of pulling potassium permangenate or having a chlorinator in front of it. This will make for far less problems. Fleck and Clack both make heads that have an air draw feature.
TomFOhio's advice on doing what "she who must be obeyed" says is very good advice.

 

[Hatsuwr]

Ya, the hope is that the aerator and the Katalox Light filters will take care of most or all of the iron before the water gets to the softeners! We'll see how that works out though.