wrote in message
...
water softeners put sodium (Na+) ions into the water. and it can be
significantly
high enough to cause real problems with GF, so I imagine it can with koi.

The relationship between salt (NaCl) and high blood pressure is complex
and just
lowering sodium chloride intake may have no effect at all, or actually
worsen blood
pressure. The suggestion is that the balance of total salts is important
and
unbalanced (high sodium to potassium, etc.) intake is what can cause
problems.

It is the chloride ion that tastes "salty". To increase the saltiness of
foods, add
lemon or vinegar. To decrease the saltiness add a pinch of baking soda
(which is how
to cut the acid in tomato sauces as well). Ingrid

I think that may be your problem. A water softer that uses salt puts
enough
sodium in the water that those with high blood pressure are told not to
drink the water from such.

Ingrid...I went looking for some information on this because my first
thought was that it was BS. I was shocked to find that what you are saying
is basically true. Water softeners use salt to "soften" the water. The water
passes through the salt mixture which leaches magnesium and potassium (hard)
out of the water, replacing it with Sodium chloride (salt) molecules which
are "softer". Here is a great article describing, in brief, the amounts of
salt that can be transferred...

http://www.extension.umn.edu/water/sodium.html