Most tanks look identical. Gray, green, or blue fiberglass. Boring. But inside, the internals are wildly different.
A distributor tube runs right through the middle. It’s like a straw for water. If that tube breaks, your water flows right past the resin. Useless.
Some tanks come with built-in gravel layers. Gravel! It’s not for decoration. It keeps the resin from escaping down the drain. Think of it as a bead security guard.
When Should You Panic?
You don’t need to panic. But watch for signs. Is your water suddenly slippery again? That’s good, actually. But if it’s hard and your salt isn’t disappearing, the tank is crying for help.
Another clue: black specks in your water. That’s decomposed resin. It’s the beads committing bead suicide. Don’t drink those.
If your tank is over 15 years old, it’s a senior citizen. Treat it with respect, but prepare for retirement.
