Poorly optioned water tanks can block the washing machine filters as well as wash your clothes with the tank's worst quality water. Most tanks are poorly optioned and mistakes include...
Having the pump draw valve fitted close too close to the bottom of the tank. This results in the pump drawing water and sediment from the anaerobic zone.
Having the top meshed inlet fitted directly above the pump draw outlet. This causes sediment resuspension when it rains and is a primary reason for dirty tank water being supplied to toilet cisterns.
There are no filters in the tank. The secret is to deliver clean water to the tank, not filter dirty water in the tank.
If the tank is correctly optioned and is fitted with a pre tank filtering system, the water will be clean, you will use less laundry detergent and the washing will be softer.
Wow thanks for that info! Is the pre tank filtering system something that can be bought after the tank has been installed? I'll check with our builder and make sure it is something they do anyway.
Can the tank be disconnected from the washing machine down the track, or once it's connected that's it?