Top basket needed?

New home owner here. After much research, I've placed an order for a 1.5 cuft softener system with a Fleck 7000 SXT control valve. I recently read, on another forum, advise from a plumber to make sure the valve has a top basket installed.

I contacted the online retailer I ordered the system from, and they stated the system will not have a top basket, as they only ship those on systems with fine mesh media (my order is for standard mesh).

So, do I need a topbasket? What is the advantage or disadvantage to having one?

Thanks,
-Steve

A top basket keeps resin from getting out of the tank during backwash which is rare but can happen with increased water pressure and colder water temperature changes. If you have iron or particles in the water, they can block up a top basket. So it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

So, there's no real water distribution help when the softener is in service? No real help against channeling?

-Steve

That's right. And correctly sized and regenerated residential softeners rarely if ever channel because of the 'bottom' basket and gravel under bedding.

That does bring me to another question I have. The softener I bought is quite a bit oversize for my initial needs (48k grain for 15 gpg water with 0.5 ppm iron, well is capable of 12 gal/min) since I will be the only person in the house. My sizing was based on a future family of four.

How often should I set the time override regen for? I've read widely varying numbers of between 5 and 14 days. Also, is there a minimum regen volume needed to keep the softener healthy? The softener I have coming has a Fleck 7000 SXT valve, so with variable brining, the regeneration cycles have the potential to be quite small.

Thanks!

-Steve

I'd suggest once every 8 days; that's what most resin manufacturers suggest also.

No minimum other than the control valve program will allow.