Yikes. That water is southwest territory-worthy. :bowdown: Okay, then two things to consider ..... replace with some soft water is you are able. Also watch the pH to ensure it doesn't spike to high which if it does would tend to add to the CH's ability to cause scale over time. With the 2006 kit, do you also have the magnetic speedstir? If not, you might consider getting one from TFTeskits.net. The speedstir has been known to actually show a slightly lower CH result due to its efficient mixing.