This page sells iron filter and water softener packages for private wells with both iron and hard water, and helps you choose one. Each package plumbs a Fleck 2510 AiQ air-injection iron filter with Katalox Light media first (rated to remove up to 30 ppm iron, 15 ppm manganese and 10 ppm hydrogen sulfide, no chemicals; works best near pH 8), then a Fleck 5600SXT metered water softener. A softener on its own handles only low levels of iron, and iron shortens the life of its resin, so the iron filter always goes first. Packages: 1.5 cu ft iron filter + 48,000 grain softener ($3,395, about 2 to 4 people with lower iron); 2.5 cu ft + 48,000 grain ($3,695, 3 or 4 people on water up to about 15 grains); 2.5 cu ft + 64,000 grain ($3,995, 5 or 6 people, or 3 or 4 on harder water); 3.5 cu ft + 80,000 grain ($4,695, 5 or 6 people at 16 to 30 grains, a well that gives 12 to 15 GPM to backwash). Each costs $695 to $1,095 less than the two systems bought separately. Low pH too: the 3-tank package with a 2.5 cu ft backwashing acid neutralizer ($6,285), or the 4-stage small home system for 1 or 2 people at pH 6.0 to 6.9 ($5,150). Iron above 30 ppm: The Iron Buster, two 2.5 iron filters in a row with a 64,000 grain softener ($6,995). Every tank ships empty; the Katalox Light and the softener resin come in separate bags or boxes and are loaded at install; no drain line, pipe adapters or salt are included. A licensed plumber is recommended; a plumber typically needs 3 to 4 hours for two tanks, about $700 to $1,000 in Aidan's estimate, and Aidan supports your plumber by phone. Free shipping to the lower 48 states. Co-owner Aidan (32 years in this business) sizes the package free from your well test. Call 800-460-5810 or text Aidan at 443-277-2204.
Matched iron filter + water softener packages for well water
By Aidan· 32-year water expert, Mid Atlantic Water ·
Iron staining and hard water are two different problems, and the fix is a matched 2-tank train: a Fleck 2510 AiQ air-injection iron filter FIRST (iron to 30 ppm, manganese to 15 ppm, rotten-egg sulfur smell to 10 ppm, no chemicals), then a Fleck 5600SXT demand-metered water softener running on water the iron can no longer foul. Packaged together, the pair costs $695 to $1,095 less than buying the two systems separately. Only have one of the two problems? Then you only need one system, and we will say so. Send Aidan your well test and he sizes the right package, or the right single tank, for free. Aidan explains it in a 4-minute video and a written guide.
Iron filter and softener, sized together
Iron filter first: resin protected
Fleck valves by Pentair
Bundle savings up to $1,095
Free shipping to the lower 48 states
Free sizing with Aidan
Do you need both? Only if your water test shows iron and hardness. A softener on its own handles only low levels of iron, and an iron filter does nothing for hardness. When you need both, the iron filter goes first, so the softener only sees water with the iron already out.
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2-Tank Iron Filter + Water Softener Packages
The canonical fix for wells with both iron and hard water: a Fleck 2510 AiQ Katalox Light air-injection iron filter plumbed FIRST, then a Fleck 5600SXT demand-metered water softener. The dedicated iron stage handles up to 30 ppm iron, 15 ppm manganese, and 10 ppm sulfur smell, so the softener resin never touches iron. Four matched sizes, each priced $695 to $1,095 below buying the two systems separately.
Acidic water too (blue-green stains, pinhole leaks in copper pipe)? The 3-tank package adds a 2.5 cu ft backwashing acid neutralizer to the 2.5 iron filter and the 48,000 grain softener. The 4-stage small home system adds a 20 inch sediment filter and a 1.5 cu ft neutralizer, for 1 or 2 people at pH 6.0 to 6.9. If your pH is low, an acid neutralizer goes in too, and Aidan sets its place from your test. Iron above 30 ppm, past one iron filter's rating? The Iron Buster puts two 2.5 iron filters in a row ahead of the softener. Send Aidan the full lab report first.
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He is the co-owner and the one in our videos.
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Side by side
A package, an all-in-one tank, or one system?
Four ways people try to fix iron plus hard water, and what each one does.
When it fits
Iron
Hard water
Our price
Iron filter + softener (two tanks)
Iron and hard water on the same test
Up to 30 ppm, plus manganese and sulfur smell
Softened by the second tank, after the iron is out
$3,395 to $4,695
All-in-one tank
Aidan, in his video: "okay if you're, say, an elderly couple with minimal water usage"
The first chamber, in the same tank
The second chamber, in the same tank
We no longer sell one
Water softener alone
Hard water with little or no iron
Only low levels
Yes
48,000 grain: $1,995
Iron filter alone
Iron in soft water
Up to 30 ppm, plus manganese and sulfur smell
No
1.5 cu ft: $2,095
The detail that matters most is what happens to the softener resin. A single-tank combo asks one fine-mesh resin bed to soften water AND catch iron, and salt regeneration cannot fully strip captured iron back off the beads. An all-in-one tank splits the job between two media inside one tank instead. For a family of four to six, Aidan's advice in the same video is separate tanks. Every package here puts the iron filter first, so the softener behind it only sees water with the iron already out.
Only have ONE of the two problems? Do not buy a package. Iron with soft water: an iron filter alone. Hard water with no iron: a Fleck 5600SXT softener alone. Send us your well test and we will tell you which it is, including when the honest answer is the cheaper single system. Prices checked against our store on October 5, 2026.
Step 1: Find your problem
Do you need both? The signs of iron and of hard water
Wells with both iron and hardness show two kinds of signs: stains from the iron and scale from the hardness. Orange-red stains point to iron, black specks to manganese, a rotten-egg smell to hydrogen sulfide, and white scale with soap scum to calcium and magnesium. If you see signs from both lists, a package fits your water. A lab test puts numbers on all of it.
Orange or rust-colored stains in toilets, tubs, and laundry
Rusty orange staining is dissolved iron turning solid when it meets air. The EPA's secondary level for iron, set for staining and taste, is 0.3 ppm. A softener on its own handles only low levels of iron, so the iron filter in every package here takes it out first, up to 30 ppm.
→YESIron filter stage fixes this
Black specks or dark gray streaks on fixtures and laundry
Black-brown specks and streaks point to manganese, which often travels with iron in well water. The EPA's secondary level for manganese is 0.05 ppm, for black staining and a bitter, metallic taste. The same air-injection iron filter removes manganese up to 15 ppm.
→YESSame stage handles manganese
Rotten-egg smell, metallic taste, or cloudy first-draw water
A rotten-egg smell is hydrogen sulfide gas, and it often comes with iron. The iron filter's air pocket oxidizes the smell along with the iron. It is rated to remove up to 10 ppm of hydrogen sulfide.
→YESAir injection takes out sulfur
White scale on fixtures, soap scum, stiff laundry
Crusty white scale and soap that will not lather are calcium and magnesium hardness, a separate problem from iron that needs its own tank: a water softener. If you have the scale and any of the stains above, a package fits your water.
What size iron filter and water softener package do I need?
Size the two stages separately, then take the matched pair. The softener size comes from your hardness and how many people live in the home. The iron filter size comes from the household and how much water your well gives to backwash. Every iron filter size has the same rating. A bigger tank serves more people and more flow. It does not remove more iron. Most homes buy the 2.5.
Iron shortens the life of a softener's resin. In Aidan's words: "you wanna remove all the iron with an iron filter before the water softener, so the performance of the water softener is optimal." After the well pressure tank the order is: a sediment filter if you need one, the iron filter, then the softener, then the house. If your pH is low, an acid neutralizer goes in too, and Aidan sets its place from your test.
Sizing the iron filter
1.5 cu ft (10 x 54 tank): about 2 to 4 people with lower iron, 10 GPM service, about 5 GPM from the well to backwash. 2.5 cu ft (13 x 54): the size most homes buy, 17 GPM, about 10 GPM to backwash. 3.5 cu ft (14 x 65): large homes, up to 20 GPM, about 12 to 15 GPM to backwash. Every size removes up to 30 ppm iron, 15 ppm manganese and 10 ppm sulfur smell, and works best near pH 8. If yours is lower, send Aidan your test before you order.
Sizing the softener
48,000 grain (1.5 cu ft of resin, 12 GPM): about 1 to 4 people on water up to about 15 grains per gallon, or 1 or 2 people up to about 30. 64,000 grain (2.0 cu ft of resin, 13 GPM): 5 or 6 people up to about 15 grains, 3 people at about 16 to 30, or 4 people at about 16 to 20. 80,000 grain (15 GPM): 5 or 6 people at about 16 to 30 grains, or 4 people at about 21 to 30. Over 30 grains, or 7 or more people: text Aidan your test first.
We ship both tanks. Your plumber sets them in series.
Call 800-460-5810 during the install and Aidan supports your plumber by phone. We recommend a licensed plumber. What ships: both mineral tanks, empty; the two control valves, each with a stainless steel bypass valve; the brine tank with its safety float; and a fill funnel. The Katalox Light and the softener resin come in separate bags or boxes and are loaded into the tanks at install. No drain line ships, and pipe adapters, fittings and salt are not included. The one rule that cannot bend is the order: iron filter first.
3 to 4 hrs
Plumber time for the two tanks, in Aidan's estimate. He puts the cost at about $700 to $1,000.
120V
Two standard outlets. Each valve plugs in through its own power adapter.
Free
Phone support. Aidan talks your plumber through the setup.
What to have ready
Shut-offs on the main lineInlet and outlet on the main line after the well pressure tank. Each valve comes with a bypass, so either tank can be taken out of service. Your plumber supplies the pipe adapters.
A drain within reachBoth tanks rinse to a drain: a floor drain, utility sink or standpipe. No drain line ships. Your plumber sizes the iron filter's drain line for its backwash and the length of the run. It ends above the drain with an air gap.
Two standard outletsThe Fleck 2510 AiQ and the Fleck 5600SXT each plug into an outlet. Keep the equipment where it cannot freeze.
A well that covers the backwashThe 1.5 iron filter needs about 5 gallons a minute from the well to backwash, the 2.5 about 10, the 3.5 about 12 to 15. Tell Aidan your well's output and he confirms the match before you order.
Floor space for three tanksRoom for the iron filter, the softener and the brine tank side by side on a solid, level floor. The tank sizes for each package are in the sizing chart above.
What your plumber does
Set the tanks after the well pressure tank and before any branch plumbing, in this order: iron filter first, softener second, then the house.
Level the mineral tanks and set the brine tank beside the softener.
Load the media through the fill funnel: cover the top of the center tube first, then pour in the Katalox Light and the softener resin.
Plumb the inlet and outlet through the iron filter's bypass, then on into the softener's bypass. The inlet and outlet are marked with arrows.
Run each tank's drain line to the drain with an air gap, and connect the brine line between the brine tank and the softener valve.
Plug in both valves. The iron filter's valve comes preset from the manufacturer: set its date and time, and set your hardness on the softener, so the two do not regenerate at the same time. Aidan goes over both with you by phone if you like.
Open the water slowly and check every connection for leaks.
Add water softener salt to the brine tank.
Show your plumber what's going in. The system builder draws your systems in installation order, from the well to the house. Send it to your plumber before install day.
Reviews are collected by Stamped.io, a third-party review service that emails customers after their order. Stamped does not let us edit a review’s words or star rating.
★★★★★
Amazing System
This system has been a game changer. We have 14ppm iron and this system has brought it down to almost zero. Highly recommend! Also, the service at Mid Atlantic Water is exceptional! Very helpful throughout the entire installation process. Glad we went with them.
AH
Amy H., United States
Verified Buyer
2.5 iron filter + 64,000 grain softener package · April 2023
★★★★★
Awesome results
Gave the values of water test, type and size of the well. Recommendation was accepted. Units were installed and run thru their cycles. Almost immediately water quality improved. MUCH better. Questions were answer during the installation process (internet) fairly quickly.
WW
Westley Wood, United States
Verified Buyer
1.5 iron filter + 48,000 grain softener package · March 2020
★★★★★
Great Customer Service
The tech was very patient and answered all my questions in a timely manner. He was very helpful with selecting the correct product for my home and also very helpful with the installation and setup process.
KW
Kyle Wakefield, United States
Verified Buyer
2.5 iron filter + 48,000 grain softener package · April 2024
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
If your test shows both iron and hardness, yes. A softener on its own handles only low levels of iron, and iron shortens the life of its resin. The iron filter goes FIRST in line. It removes iron up to 30 ppm, plus manganese and sulfur smell. The softener behind it only sees water with the iron already out. Your water test decides; send it to Aidan and he will tell you if one system is enough.
Only at low levels. In Aidan's words: "low levels, say one to three parts per million, a softener can remove iron from the water." Above that, or with manganese or a rotten-egg smell, put an air-injection iron filter ahead of the softener. That is what every 2-tank package on this page is.
A softener can remove low levels of iron, and single-tank combos are sold to do both jobs. Above low levels, iron shortens the life of the resin, so we pair two tanks: an iron filter first, then the softener. That is what every 2-tank package here is, priced $695 to $1,095 below the two bought separately.
An air-injection iron filter: air and a catalytic media do the work, with no chemicals. The Fleck 2510 AiQ valve keeps a pocket of air at the top of the tank. Dissolved iron turns solid as the water passes through it, and the Katalox Light bed below catches the particles and backwashes them to the drain. Each tank is rated to 30 ppm iron, 15 ppm manganese and 10 ppm hydrogen sulfide, with no chlorine to add. Above 30 ppm, Aidan puts two iron filters in a row. If the well also runs hard, a softener goes behind it: that is the package.
It depends on the iron level, so test first. With low levels and hard water, a softener alone may be enough. Above that, start with a standalone air-injection iron filter: the 1.5 cu ft is $2,095 and the 2.5 is $2,495. If you need iron removal and softening, a package costs $695 to $1,095 less than the same two systems bought separately.
The iron filter, always. In Aidan's words: "your pressure tank's gonna go first, then possibly a sediment filter, then your iron filter, and the water softener always goes last." Iron shortens the life of a softener's resin, so the softener goes after the iron filter, where it only sees water with the iron already out. If your pH is low, an acid neutralizer goes in too, and Aidan sets its place from your test. If a previous installer plumbed yours backwards, call or text Aidan.
An all-in-one tank puts the iron media and the softener resin in one tank, in two chambers. In his video Aidan says that is "okay if you're, say, an elderly couple with minimal water usage," and "if you're a family of four to six, you want separate tanks." Separate tanks let each one do one job: the iron filter is rated to 30 ppm iron and takes manganese and sulfur smell with it, and the softener behind it only sees water with the iron already out. We no longer sell a single-tank all-in-one.
Size each stage, then take the matched pair. For 3 or 4 people on water up to about 15 grains, the 2.5 iron filter with the 48,000 grain softener. For 5 or 6 people, or 3 or 4 on harder water, the 2.5 with the 64,000 grain softener. For 2 to 4 people with lower iron, the 1.5 with the 48,000. For a large home on very hard water with a well that gives 12 to 15 gallons a minute to backwash, the 3.5 with the 80,000. Over 30 grains, or 7 or more people: text Aidan your test and household size, and he confirms the size free before you order.
No. Every size uses the same Katalox Light media and has the same rating: up to 30 ppm iron, 15 ppm manganese and 10 ppm hydrogen sulfide. A bigger tank serves more people and more flow (10, 17 or up to 20 gallons a minute) and needs more water from the well to backwash. Above 30 ppm, Aidan puts two 2.5 iron filters in a row rather than one bigger tank: that is The Iron Buster. With iron near the top of that range, send him the full lab report before you order.
Then the package needs a third tank: an acid neutralizer. Acidic water eats copper pipe; blue-green stains are the sign. The iron filter works best near pH 8. If yours is lower, send Aidan your test before you order. If your pH is low, an acid neutralizer goes in too, and Aidan sets its place from your test. The 3-tank package ($6,285) adds a 2.5 cu ft backwashing neutralizer to the 2.5 iron filter and the 48,000 grain softener; for 1 or 2 people at pH 6.0 to 6.9, the 4-stage small home system ($5,150) adds a 20 inch sediment filter and a 1.5 cu ft neutralizer.
Against our own standalone prices today: the 1.5 cu ft iron filter ($2,095) plus the 48,000 grain softener ($1,995) is $4,090 bought separately; the package is $3,395, a $695 saving. The 2.5 iron filter ($2,495) plus the 48,000 grain softener is $4,490 against $3,695, saving $795. The 2.5 plus the 64,000 grain softener ($2,195) is $4,690 against $3,995, saving $695. The 3.5 ($3,295) plus the 80,000 grain softener ($2,495) is $5,790 against $4,695, saving $1,095. Both tanks in every package are the same units we sell on their own.
The softener needs salt in the brine tank; in Aidan's words, "you have to add salt to it every one month to every three months." The iron filter needs nothing added: it backwashes the iron to the drain on its own schedule and draws in fresh air each time. The Katalox Light lasts about 6 to 8 years before it is replaced, and the iron filter in front keeps iron off the softener resin.
Paste your well test below. Aidan replies with the right package (which iron filter size, which softener size), whether you need both tanks, and install notes for your layout.
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Aidan
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