Is there any safe manganese/iron filter media?

[Drew__ster]

My town water department sent out a letter saying we’re at the limit just over for manganese. Side note the other side of town has brown water. I made a previous post of this brown sludge stuff I call it brown snow because after every water change it just materializes out of no where. Cleaned out my sump filter and it’s not beneficial bacteria etc. I believe it’s manganese and iron causing this seemingly chemical reaction, the discus are fine it’s just the tank looks dirty daily so I’m in this paradoxical situation where I gotta suck it up and replace it with the same water source. Online I see filter media for home well water (katalox lite for example). I wouldn’t want to put it in the tank system unless someone knows of any such media. Other idea is filter the water separately then add as long as that type of well water media is safe it’s manganese dioxide and removes both manganese and iron. That’s likely what’s causing brown water on the other side of town. I’ll post a picture of my brown snow but only other option I can think of is get an R/O system. Hoping to hear some thoughts! Thank you

 

[fishdance]

Dissolved iron is precipitating out when dissolved oxygen levels rise. Very common issue with some ground water /bore water supplies.

The simplest fix is to have a water storage tank to let the precipitate settle out before using it. Don't fill the tank right up, you want water surface area to let the water oxygenate. The bigger the water storage, the more settlement & longer between storage tank cleans

 

[Stingray Biogenetics]

My tanks are on a drip system. To filter my well water from iron/manganese/sediment, I use one of these filters with 1.5cu.ft. Of Katalox Lite media. It’s supposed to filter down to 3 microns. So yes, Katalox is safe.. but I don’t know it’s safety if placed directly in the aquarium/sump. Hope this helps!

 

[Drew__ster]

Dissolved iron is precipitating out when dissolved oxygen levels rise. Very common issue with some ground water /bore water supplies.

The simplest fix is to have a water storage tank to let the precipitate settle out before using it. Don't fill the tank right up, you want water surface area to let the water oxygenate. The bigger the water storage, the more settlement & longer between storage tank cleans

so basically what your saying would be have say for instance a large plastic garbage bin or something to let the water from the tap to sit in for a few days? Sounds like adding an air stone would add the dissolved oxygen as well.Does that sound right?

 

[Drew__ster]

My tanks are on a drip system. To filter my well water from iron/manganese/sediment, I use one of these filters with 1.5cu.ft. Of Katalox Lite media. It’s supposed to filter down to 3 microns. So yes, Katalox is safe.. but I don’t know it’s safety if placed directly in the aquarium/sump. Hope this helps!
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good to know it can be filtered out with that stuff. I was looking around pricing that cubic foot and it’s about the same cost as an R/O system I’ve seen. My thought would be to use a holding container of some sort and use that kana stuff in a hang on back filter and make do with what’s luring around. That or go the R/O route. Appreciate the answer!

 

[Stingray Biogenetics]

good to know it can be filtered out with that stuff. I was looking around pricing that cubic foot and it’s about the same cost as an R/O system I’ve seen. My thought would be to use a holding container of some sort and use that kana stuff in a hang on back filter and make do with what’s luring around. That or go the R/O route. Appreciate the answer!

Katalox Lite is not meant to be used like that, it requires a low flow rate and needs to be backwashed every 1-3 days. That filter unit I have is set where it backwashes the Katalox Lite media everyday and injects air into the unit (Air Induction Oxidation). The air injection is what helps oxidize the iron in the water.

Everyone will have their own personal opinion on R.O. water, I personally wouldn’t use it due to instability, low ph, low kH etc. Basically a crash waiting to happen with monster fish, but that’s my opinion.. I also keep stingrays who like things as stable as possible