Green Fusion Combination Whole House Filter & Water Softener

How can I learn more about Ultima Water Products? 

Ultima Water Products,  is the brand name created by Franklin Water Treatment, used on their entire line of water treatment products, such as the Ultima Green Fusion, the Ultima WS1 softener, and the Ultima Green Reverse Osmosis System.  Franklin Water Treatment opened in Mesa, AZ, in 1986 as B&R Industries.  As the company grew their product line and had much success with their high-quality, low cost products, they teamed up with a larger water treatment manufacturer and formed Franklin Water Treatment Group.  Their goal is to produce specific water treatment systems built around our local water quality, using the highest-quality parts, while keeping the price much lower than competitors.”

You can learn more about Franklin Water Treatment and their Ultima product line at their websites here:  https://www.franklinwatertreatment.com/  and https://ultimawater.net/

Will the Green Fusion need to be serviced?  

No maintenance is required, except for the replenishment of salt or potassium (both work the same as potassium is just a salt substitute) in the brine tank.  This usually needs replenishment every 2-3 months.  

How much salt do I add?  

Salt and potassium come in 40-pound bags from most hardware stores.  One bag at a time is all that’s needed. 

How often will I need to add salt?  

Generally, a family of 4 people will go through a 40-pound bag of salt every two months. 

How often will the system regenerate/backwash?  

This is based on water use and the size unit you get. Typically, it backwashes once every two weeks. 

What are the dimensions of the Green Fusion?

1.0 cubic foot system is 9-inches wide by 55-inches tall.  

1.5 cubic foot system is 11-inches wide by 61-inches tall. 

The brine tanks come in different sizes, based on space and how much salt storage you’d like to have.  Brine tanks come in 11”X11”X 33”, 14”X14”X33, 15”X17”X33, and 18” round x 33”. 

What is the gallon per minute flow rate? 

1.0 Cubic foot system is 12gpm. The 1.5 cubic foot system is 15gpm. 

Are there any performance differences between the potassium and salt?  

No. However, some homeowners reported that salt produces a more slippery feel in the water versus potassium. 

Is the resin crosslinked type? 

All resin is crosslinked. Crosslinked refers to the strength of the bead and how well it resists chlorine damage. The higher the percentage, the better the resin. The Green Fusion uses 10% crosslinked resin.

Is the carbon catalytic media? 

The carbon in the green fusion is coconut shell granular activated carbon.  Coconut shell carbon is known to remove more volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) than other types of carbon. In addition to carbon, the Green Fusion uses KDF media which improves the performance of the carbon. There is a process to catalyze carbon for removal of iron, but that carbon is considerably more expensive, and usually not necessary for the city of Tucson water supply. 

Is the frequency of regeneration based on water hardness programmed?  

Yes, frequency is based on the water hardness programmed, the size of the unit, and the varying amount of water used day to day. The Green Fusion learns about the water use pattern and seeks out the most efficient regeneration schedule.

Can I see the specs sheet?  

Yes, click here to access it.

Is the gallons used for regeneration the same, regardless of hardness setting? 

The water amount used for regeneration does vary with the size of the unit but not the hardness of the water. 

What is the order of the filtration cycle? 

Filtering with carbon and KDF media then onto softener.  By removing chlorine first, you can extend the life of the softener resin bed by as much as 100%.  

Are there health impacts from showering or drinking the water? 

Not unless you have dietary restrictions. For example, water softened from 20 grains hardness will have about 60mg of sodium per gallon.  This is similar to a couple slices of white bread. People who are trying to limit sodium or potassium intake, should consider a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink for drinking water.  As for showering impacts, the sodium and potassium molecule in the water is too large to be absorbed through the skin.  

Do we know the precise amount of salt that is left in the water after softening?  

About 25mg per liter when softened from 20 grains. 

What is the unit doing during its regeneration/backwash cycle?  

The backwash starts by reversing the flow through the softener and lifts the resin beads to have better contact with the brine. The unit then does a brine draw/slow rinse, which is the stage where the brine performs the ion exchange of sodium onto the bead.  The hardness is then washed down the drain while rinsing the brine. The unit will then do a second backwash to fluff the resin beads followed by a rapid settle rinse. In the last step, the system will put the exact amount of water back in the brine tank to prepare a solution for the next regeneration. 

What is the decibel level during regeneration? 

The volume is similar to a washing machine during the spin cycle. 

Are settings retained in a power outage? 

Yes, settings are stored and will stay locked indefinitely. The time of day will need to be reset after a power outage. 

Will the salt from the softener be bad for my plants? 

Not in every case. It depends on the plant. If you have a water loop, you wouldn’t need to worry about salt on your plants.  If you don’t have a water loop, you can consider installing one, or you could use potassium, which is known to be less abrasive on plants. 

Is the Green Fusion an upflow or downflow softener? 

It’s normally made as a downflow system, but they do have an upflow option. We don’t see any performance differences between the two, so downflow build is the standard. 

Is the Green Fusion Certified?  

All of the parts that make up the Green Fusion are NSF and WQA certified.