First, get a water test—not a strip from the dollar store, but a real lab test. You need to know exactly how much iron (ferrous vs. ferric) and manganese you’re dealing with. Ferrous iron is clear when fresh but turns rusty on contact with air—like a shy vampire. Ferric iron is already solid and makes water look like a mud puddle.
For low levels (under 3 ppm total), a simple catalytic carbon filter might work—they’re cheap and don’t need chemicals. For medium levels (3–10 ppm), go with the air injection or greensand filter. For crazy levels (over 10 ppm, or if you taste actual pennies), you’ll need a chemical injection system with chlorine or peroxide—like a chemistry set you’d trust your kids with (don’t).
Pentair Pelican Iron & Manganese Well Filter Review
