Water Softener for Well water

[jo552006]

So I've looked through several water softener threads, and it seems that there is a general consensus on going with middle of the road water softeners.  I have hard water, and very low PH, so I am going to need an acid neutralizer, and a softener.  As I'm on a dug well, I'm thinking about a UV light just on the safe side, but do not need it as my bacteria test came back negative. (after lots of scrubbing, and a good round of bleach)

My question: is there any disadvantage to setting up a water softening system from parts at home depot or lowes, vice using equipment from a plumbing/water softener supplier?  I have heard from multiple places (including but not limited to the plumbing supply house) that the cheaper softeners suck and either fail early, or just plain don't work.  Was hoping somebody here could speak to the differences in terms of cost and longevity.  I realize this is a frugal forum, but installing 2 cheap softening systems (if first one fails) would run more than one good one from the rough numbers.

As a side note, very seriously thinking about getting cheap system on craigslist, and putting in nice one in a year or so.

[jo552006]

Nobody can speak to the actual differences between high end and low end softener systems?  (I don't know how to raise the PH without buying a fairly high end system... like $1600 with no UV filter)  Any help would be appreciated.

[Cadman]

I can't recommend more highly the Water Boss. On our well water, we'd go spells with staining of the tub and the iron was hard on plumbing and fixtures (new construction). After DIY installation you'd think we were on city water. With programability, you can adjust hardness/softness as it relates to actual consumption.

Physical size of the small model is roughly that of a 2-drawer file cabinet and doesn't look like a piece of industrial equipment.

No maintenance other than dumping in a bag of salt when we notice the water is starting to 'taste funny', and only needing to lift the bag to waist height is nice as well.

[jo552006]

So for an update on this topic,

I've decided to go with a water system and install myself.  System will include a ph neutralizer and softener with separate brine tank.  (AKA, not the all in one kind)  I WOULD have entertained the all in one style (such as the waterboss mentioned earlier) but my water is very acidic, and I believed a dedicated ph neutralizer was in order.

Does anybody here know if after neutralization, a 1.5 cube water softener will be capable of removing 4.4 mg/L of manganese?  Getting satisfactory Manganese removal is my only concern at this point.

I ask because one softening company refused to quote regular softener as they were concerned the manganese would not be satisfactorily removed.  (I do not believe at all they were trying to upsell me, as what they spec'd was very similar in price, and they sell regular softeners so would be incentivized to quote the cheaper option that I requested to get the sale)  Three other companies in the area all spec'd a 1.5 cube standard* softener for the iron/manganese. (Iron is only 1.54, which I am confident WILL be removed by any softener)

*Standard being separate tank, control head, and brine tank, which is standard in the water filtration industry as most companies don't deal in all in one style units.