Brown Water? Let Us Look at a Test First.Brown water could be tannins OR iron, and the treatment is completely different. Aidan will review your water test results and tell you exactly what is causing the color. If tannins are the culprit, this is the right system. If iron is the problem, he will point you to the Iron + Softener package instead. No pressure, no upsell.
All tanks and valves made in the USA. 5-year valve warranty, 10-year tank warranty on all systems.
Call before you install. With a tannin system, the treatment order matters. Aidan walks customers through the layout over the phone -- call 800-460-5810 with your basement or utility room dimensions.
Installation Order (From Well to House)
Pressure tank (your existing tank)
Sediment filter (Big Blue housing, wall-mounted)
Tannin filter (requires 120V outlet + drain line + salt)
Water softener (requires 120V outlet + drain line + salt)
Carbon filter (no power, no drain)
Electrical Requirements
Two systems need power: the tannin filter and the water softener. You will need 2 available 120V outlets in your utility area. The carbon filter and sediment filter are fully passive.
Drain Requirements
The tannin filter and water softener both need drain lines for backwash and regeneration. Route 1/2" tubing to a floor drain, utility sink, or outside (max 20 feet each).
Salt for Both Systems
Both the tannin filter and the water softener regenerate with standard water softener salt. You will have two brine tanks to keep filled. Most homes use about 150-200 lbs of salt per year total across both systems.
Space Planning
Plan for roughly 5-6 linear feet of wall space. The tannin filter and softener each have a 10" diameter tank plus a brine tank. The carbon filter has a 13" diameter tank. The Big Blue housing is compact and mounts vertically on the wall.
Time Estimate
Most homeowners complete the full install in 4-6 hours. If you hire a plumber, they can call Aidan at 800-460-5810 for help with the Fleck valve programming.
Sediment Filter Every 3-6 months
Replace the 5-micron cartridge when flow drops or it looks dirty. Unscrew the housing with the included wrench, swap the cartridge, and reinstall.
Tannin Filter Monthly salt check
The Fleck 2510SXT backwashes and regenerates automatically based on your water usage. Keep the tannin filter's brine tank at least 1/4 full with standard water softener salt. Most homes go through a 40 lb bag every 2-3 months for the tannin system. The anion exchange resin lasts 5-8+ years under normal conditions.
Water Softener Monthly salt check
Keep the softener's brine tank at least 1/4 full with salt. Most homes use a 40 lb bag every 4-8 weeks. The Fleck 5600SXT regenerates automatically based on usage. The 10% crosslink resin lasts 10-15+ years.
Carbon Filter Every 3-5 years
Non-backwashing carbon eventually exhausts. When taste or odor returns, replace the activated carbon media (pour out old, pour in new through the fillport).
Questions about maintenance? Call or text 800-460-5810, available 7 days a week.
You save $485.00 when purchased as a complete system
Video Guides
Watch our well water treatment guides has 32 years of industry experience.
Complete Guide to Well Water Filtration Systems
Best Sediment Filter for Well Water
Best Water Softener for Well Water
Best Whole House Carbon Filter
Why Choose a Tannin Well Water System?
The Right Fix for Brown Water Caused by Tannins
Brown or tea-colored water? That is likely tannins. Tannins are organic compounds that leach into well water from decaying vegetation in the soil above your aquifer. They are not harmful, but they stain everything they touch, make your water taste earthy, and standard carbon filters will not remove them.
This 4-stage system is built specifically for wells with tannin problems plus hardness. Sediment is trapped first by the Big Blue pre-filter. The tannin filter uses specialized anion exchange resin to pull the organic color out of your water. The water softener removes hardness minerals so scale stops building up on your pipes and appliances. And the carbon filter polishes taste, odor, and any remaining chemical contaminants.
Important: brown water can be caused by tannins OR iron, and the treatment is completely different. If your water test shows iron, you need the Iron + Softener package instead. Call Aidan at 800-460-5810 with your test results and he will tell you which system is right.
✔4-Stage System
✔Removes Brown / Tea Color
✔All Media Included
✔Free Shipping
✔5 to 10 Year Warranties
✔7-Day Expert Support
✔Made in USA
Feature
Our System
Others
Tannin Removal Method
✔
1.5 CF Anion Exchange Resin
Carbon Filter (Does Not Remove Tannins)
Regeneration Control
✔
Demand-Metered Fleck 2510SXT
Timer or Manual Regeneration
Water Softener
✔
48,000 Grain Fleck 5600SXT
Sold Separately or Undersized
Carbon Filtration
✔
2.5 CF Whole-House Non-Backwashing
Small Cartridge or None
Sediment Pre-Filter
✔
Big Blue 5-Micron Included
Extra Cost Add-On
Expert Tannin Support
✔
7-Day Phone + Text + Email
Limited or None
Warranty
✔
5-Year Valves + 10-Year Tanks
1-Year Limited
Tannin Removal Method
✅ Us1.5 CF Anion Exchange Resin
❌ ThemCarbon Filter (Does Not Remove Tannins)
Regeneration Control
✅ UsDemand-Metered Fleck 2510SXT
❌ ThemTimer or Manual Regeneration
Water Softener
✅ Us48,000 Grain Fleck 5600SXT
❌ ThemSold Separately or Undersized
Carbon Filtration
✅ Us2.5 CF Whole-House Non-Backwashing
❌ ThemSmall Cartridge or None
Sediment Pre-Filter
✅ UsBig Blue 5-Micron Included
❌ ThemExtra Cost Add-On
Expert Tannin Support
✅ Us7-Day Phone + Text + Email
❌ ThemLimited or None
Warranty
✅ Us5-Year Valves + 10-Year Tanks
❌ Them1-Year Limited
✔ Got a Question About Your System?
Whether you need help with installation order, plumbing layout, valve programming, salt schedules, or troubleshooting any of the 4 stages, Aidan is available 7 days a week. Real answers from someone who has been doing this for 29+ years.
📞 Call Us800-460-5810
✉️ Email Supportsupport@midatlanticwater.net
🕒 Live Hours7 days a week, 8am-5pm Eastern
Frequently Asked Questions
Tannins are organic compounds that leach into well water from decaying leaves, roots, and other vegetation in the soil above your aquifer. They turn your water brown or tea-colored, stain laundry and fixtures, and give the water a musty taste. A water test will confirm whether tannins are present. Call Aidan at 800-460-5810 with your test results and he will tell you exactly what you are dealing with.
No. This system is designed specifically for tannins, which cause brown water through organic color, not iron. If your water test shows iron above 0.3 ppm, you likely need the Iron + Softener package instead. Brown water can be caused by tannins OR iron, and the treatment is completely different. Call us at 800-460-5810 before ordering if you are not sure which one you have.
Yes, most of our customers do. Aidan walks people through the full installation over the phone, 7 days a week. The key is getting the systems in the right order (sediment first, carbon last) and making sure plumbing connections are tight. Plan 4-6 hours. If you hire a plumber, they can call Aidan directly for help with the Fleck valve programming.
Both the tannin filter and the water softener need salt for regeneration. Between the two systems, most homes use about 150-200 lbs of salt per year total. That is roughly a 40 lb bag every 5-6 weeks across both brine tanks. Just use standard water softener salt from any hardware store.
Salt checks on both brine tanks (monthly), sediment cartridge replacement (every 3-6 months), and carbon media replacement (every 3-5 years). The tannin resin and softener resin both last many years before needing replacement. None of these tasks are complicated. We have guides for each one and you can always call us.
Most wells with tannin problems also have hard water. Hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) cause scale buildup on pipes, appliances, and fixtures. If you only install a tannin filter, you solve the color problem but your water heater, dishwasher, and plumbing still take a beating from scale. The softener handles hardness so you get clear, soft water throughout the house.
Tannin Whole House Wel...$5,995.00
Why a 4-Stage Tannin System Costs More
Professional Components vs. Budget Alternatives
What You Get With Budget Systems
Budget tannin filter bundles cut corners where it counts: undersized resin beds that cannot handle real household flow, timer-based regeneration that wastes salt and does not adapt to your actual water usage, and cheap resin that loses capacity within a few years.
Worse, most online retailers sell a tannin filter as a standalone unit and tell you to figure out hardness and taste on your own. When you call for help with installation or programming, you are on your own.
The Real Cost Comparison
Budget Tannin Filter
$1,500-3,000
❌Lifespan: Fails in 3-4 years
❌Result: Frequent repairs, poor water quality, leaks
❌Support: None
$0.80-1.20/day (shorter resin life, no softener, no support)
Best Long-Term Value
Our Tannin System
$5,995
✅Lifespan: Lasts 15+ years
✅Result: Done right the first time, peace of mind
✅Support: Lifetime USA Support
$0.82/day over a 20-year system life
When you factor in the professional-grade valves, full resin fills, matched softener, and unlimited expert support, this system delivers better long-term value than piecing together components from different sellers. The 10% crosslink softener resin alone lasts 20-30% longer than the standard 8% resin used in budget packages.
What You Get With Our System
This package uses the same professional-grade components we have been selling for 29+ years: a Fleck 2510SXT demand-metered tannin valve, a Fleck 5600SXT water softener, a Clack C1190 non-backwashing carbon filter, and tannin-selective anion exchange resin sized for whole-house flow rates. All media is included and all tanks are built for decades of service.
You also get Aidan on the phone 7 days a week. Before the purchase, during installation, and for the life of your system. Tannin problems are tricky to diagnose remotely, and having someone who has seen thousands of wells makes the difference.
Contact Us
800-460-5810
We're here to help.
1-Year Risk-Free Guarantee
The Complete Tannin Solution for Well Water
If this 4-stage system fails to solve your tannin and hardness problems within 30 days of installation, contact us and we will work with you to resolve the issue. Whether that means troubleshooting your setup, adjusting valve programming, replacing a component, or issuing a full refund. No shipping 300+ pounds of equipment back. No restocking fees. No runaround.
10,000+Systems Installed
455+Verified Reviews
29+Success Rate
After 29+ years of selling and supporting water treatment systems, we know what works for tannin problems. This package pairs a properly-sized tannin filter with a matched softener and carbon polisher because that combination delivers clear, soft water from every tap. We do not sell one-size-fits-all bundles, and we do not disappear after the sale.
The Industry "Return Policy" Trap
+
Most online retailers offer a return policy that requires you to ship everything back at your expense. For a 4-stage system, that is 300+ pounds of wet equipment on a pallet. After paying $300+ in return freight, you often find a 15-25% restocking fee on top. It is designed to make returns impractical.
How Our Real Guarantee Works
1
The System Doesn't Clear Your Water
If your water is still brown or staining after installation, that is on us. Every stage should be performing.
2
You Call Us, We Fix It
We troubleshoot with you: water test results, installation order, valve settings, flow rates. Most tannin issues are resolved with a simple programming adjustment.
Full Refund, No Hassle
If we cannot resolve the issue, you get a full refund. We handle the logistics. You do not ship anything back. That is the difference between a real guarantee and a return policy.
Tannin problems are tricky because brown water can look exactly the same whether it is caused by tannins or iron, and the treatment is completely different. I always ask to see a water test before recommending this system. If you call me at 800-460-5810, I will look at your results and tell you whether this is the right package or if you need something else entirely. No pressure, no upsell.