Iron and manganese filters

Orange, red or black staining usually involves iron or manganese — but the form it takes decides the equipment, and only a test tells you the form.

Why form matters

• Dissolved (clear-water) iron — water runs clear, stains appear later. Needs oxidation (air, ozone or media like greensand) before filtering.
• Particulate (red-water) iron — visible particles; staged sediment filtration can handle it.
• Bacterial iron — slimy deposits in tanks and toilets; media filters alone won't fix it, and disinfection of the well is part of the answer.
• Manganese — black staining; treatable with similar media but at different pH and dosing, so it must be measured, not assumed.

What it does not do

• An iron filter is not a softener and not a disinfection barrier
• Buying media before a lab test regularly ends in the wrong equipment — this is the single most mis-sold category we cover