You can use tanks 8"x48" (0.7 cuft per)tanks, or could go to the larger size of 10"x54" (1.5cuft). Is your plumbing 3/4" at the softener? Have you considered a carbon prefilter?

I'm in the UK so not familiar with US school terminology, so forgive me using the English equivalent, lol! DS (27 last month) was educated at a private (fee-paying) school from age 4. At 16 whilst in the upper school, he began dating a girl he had been in the same group of friends with since she joined the school at age 12. Soon after entering the school's sixth form they slept together at a party held at our house - they were both 16 and it was the first time for both of them. He told us about it next day. We were initially rather shocked, especially as he hadn't had a 'proper' girlfriend to go on dates with before, but had just hung around in a crowd of boys/girls. They were very responsible - in fact even at that young age they were incredibly mature - and ensured she went in the pill. Rather than discouraging them and thus leading them to take risks having sex in unsavoury places - I had friends at that age who had sex under the pier - we gave permission, as did her mum and step-dad - for them to sleep in his room at our house when she stayed over. They were both very academic - but her even more so - and their quite prestigious school had high expectations of them. One concern was that this relationship may have a detrimental effect on DS's educational prospects, but in fact the opposite was true. His GF encouraged him to work harder - he was initially only going to take 3 A levels, but with her encouragement he studied for a 4th - they were in a class of just three pupils for that subject! Throughout the two years of sixth form they stayed together and ultimately came away with AAAA (her) and AAAB (him). We were incredibly proud. At 18 she was offered a place at Oxford university (reading English) whilst he went to Sussex (reading philosophy), but none of us believed their relationship would last the three years of separation. However, most weekends he would drive up to her or she got the train down to him. They graduated in 2010 and bought a flat in London. Now, almost eleven years on they are still together. They haven't married and have no plans to. They have no kids either - just a cute pooch, lol! They have great careers and now live on the south coast of England in Brighton. We couldn't be more proud of them both and are so pleased we didn't discourage their youthful relationship :)

i just purchased this home and would like to make the exterior look sharp and up to date, any suggestions?

Do you have any photos or styles from your idea book that you can add? It would help if you can narrow down what style or look you are going for in order to give you some better recommendations. We just recently moved to our home and had a similar 1980's family room with a vaulted wood panel ceiling with beams. It also had a ceiling fan and carpet. We updated for a more transitional look so we painted the wood ceiling paneling and walls white, (except the beams which we kept the original wood color), painted the fireplace white, replaced the mantle shelf with a rustic wood mantel shelf, removed the carpet and added hardwood flooring, and replaced the fan with a round iron chandelier lighting. I know white walls are not for everyone and some may consider it boring. For your room I would suggest something similar. Possibly remove the carpet and add hardwood flooring, paint your fireplace, replace the fireplace mantel, paint your built in's a different color and you can add an accent color or even wallpaper to the back shelves, paint the trim on your window. Don't paint your beams or fireplace until after you paint your walls. You may find that your existing beam color or fireplace brick may be perfect with the new wall color your pick. Below are some pictures I used for inspiration.