If anyone is able to provide advice on this issue, I would truly appreciate it. Thanks!

I won't make a sizing recommendation but here are some things for you to consider...

Don't forget to add 1 days hardness removal capacity for reserve in your arithmetic.

A 12" diameter resin tank is right at the design limit of the 5600 series control valve. Consider a Fleck 7000SXT and it will come with its own Noryl bypass keeping you from making a mistake there.

If you're smart you will install a three ball valve bypass to the plumbing in addition to the bypass on the control valve. That way, if the valve bypass ever requires service you will still have water to the house while waiting on parts or repair.

ALWAYS get a top basket and gravel underbed REGARDLESS of what the seller tells you. They are there to make a profit not to sell you what is best for you.

Percentage of resin crosslink won't matter cause you are not on a chlorinated water system HOWEVER the quality of the resin matters a lot. Stay away from no name or anonymous resin and get a brand name resin like Purolite or Sybron or Dow. NSF approval is not an indication of quality.

Invest in a small (350va or so) computer UPS (NOT a surge-spike protector) for the softener. It will protect the control valve from power spikes and brown-outs and maintain power for a limited time during an outage.

With your modest 7 GPM SFR requirement I'd consider a Fleck 9100SXT softener with twin resin tanks. As your family grows it will simply regenerate more often and there's no reserve to bother with. Set up to run with an efficient salt dose that would work nicely.

Lastly, living on a well be prepared to have your water tested at least annually cause well water conditions change and bacteria and nitrates can come and go. Success living on a well is to make the water nice and make the water safe.

This post was edited by justalurker on Thu, Apr 24, 14 at 9:52

Thank you for the thoughtful post justalurker! I do plan on installing a 3 valve bypass. Will request top basket and gravel bed as well, along with Purolite resin. The area where the softener will be going is a little "tight", and would be difficult to facilitate a twin resin tank. Therefore, will likely go with the Fleck 7000SXT and likely get the 12x48" tank (2 cuft), which would be able to accomodate an extra family member. If my family grows beyond a total of 4 several years down the road (unlikely but who knows?) will live with more frequent regenerations (every ~5-6 days instead of 7) until the softener dies, then will upsize with the next one. With the 7000 SXT with 1" connections on the noryl bypass, will plan on getting Falcon 3/4"x 1" hoses to make the transition from my existing 3/4" copper plumbing.

Thanks again for the input! Once I get the valve I will post the settings, along with the BLFC sticker information, to see if you guys would help me fine tune it.

Thanks again!

I would try real hard to make the twin fit. Far superior in your circumstances but if a 2 cube single is your choice... let us know how it works out.

I will measure the area out tonight to see if I can squeeze it in. With programming the twin tank system, would I have the ability to use/regen 1 tank only for the time being (to be more efficient), and then add in the use of the 2nd tank in the future when our increased water demands would require it? That way I would not be using extra salt over the next couple years until our family grows.

The point of a twin is that there is soft water 24/7 and it regenerates immediately on demand and switches to the other resin tank so, no.

You would short salt the softener as if it were smaller and when water when water demands increase you reprogram the 9100SXT.

Don't worry about wasting water cause each twin resin tank would be (should be if you size it right) smaller than the 2 cube tank you think is the correct size in a single tank softener.

This post was edited by justalurker on Thu, Apr 24, 14 at 18:39

Measured the area where the softener will go (in between the well pressure tank and the hot water heater) and have about 39" of width available to work with, which unfortunately won't be able to accommodate the twin. Next best option appears to be the 2 cube 7000. Thanks for all of the suggestions justalurker, I appreciate it! WIll let you guys know when I get the unit to see if you would help me optimize the settings.

Thanks again!

Received the unit today. BLFC sticker on back says 0.125 GPM

Enter Master Programming Mode

2. DF=Gal

3. VT = St2b

4. CT=Fd

5. NT=1

6. C=48

7. H=24

8. RS=SF

9. SF=15

10. RC=0 (You are using a % reserve rather than a fixed reserve)

11. CR=0

12. DO=10

13. RT=2:00 (or another convenient time when you won’t be using water for a couple of hours)

14. Regeneration cycle step times
    BW1=12
    BD=75
    BW2=7
    RR=10
    BF=43

15. Ensure all days are set to ON, unless you have a specific day of the week when you do not want the softener to regen.

16. CD doesn’t matter unless you set a day to OFF in step 14.

17. FM You shouldn’t have to change this

18. doesn’t matter

Exit Master Programming Mode.

Pour 7 gallons of water into the brine tank. Add salt - enough to cover the water is fine. Check your salt level weekly an add as needed.

Reset your clock to actual time.

At this point it’s a good idea to force the softener to step through the regen steps. There is no need to allow each step to complete. Just leave it in each step long enough to verify that the valve has changed position then move on to the next until you are back in service mode.

Enjoy your soft water.