Am I the only one?

[BestMomEver]

I change the filter sock on my 60 cube every 2-3 days. In order to do that, I have to turn off the return pump and, in turn, the skimmer. After everything is turned on again, I plug the skimmer in. Immediately it goes crazy, spewing water out the top, and I have to quickly turn it down. Then it takes hours to get it right again. Am I the only person that has this trouble? What do you guys do when you restart a skimmer? There’s got to be an easier way!

Elizabeth

 

[User]

Turn it on 5-10 mins after the return pump. Let the water in the skimmer chamber stabilise before switching it on.

No, not the only one

 

[BestMomEver]

Turn it on 5-10 mins after the return pump. Let the water in the skimmer chamber stabilise before switching it on.

No, not the only one

Do you have to turn yours all the way back before you turn it back on? I leave it off for a bit while I change the filter sock and target feed corals but it hates me....

 

[User]

No- I never touch the dial. Turn it off before the return pump, and back on again 5 minutes after the pump goes on (doesn’t have to be 5, long enough that the skimmer chamber water level has stabilized to normal depth). You really shouldn’t have to adjust the skimmer after the initial trial and error part, or after you clean it.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Nope, very common. Residue from bleaching them causes a water tension. Rinse your socks in RO/DI prior to use and it shouldn't be as bad.

 

[ca1ore]

Seems like a good reason to have your tank go barefoot.

 

[User]

Or skip the socks altogether

 

[Flippers4pups]

Or skip the socks altogether

It's like a addiction, I've even tried to kick the sock habit and still go back to them from time to time. Lol

 

[User]

Yeah- I can see adding them for a few days to clear some specific problem, but then remove them.

All my tanks have had detritus settling chambers though, so never really run them full time.

Hope you are taking it easy there bud!

 

[BestMomEver]

Nope, very common. Residue from bleaching them causes a water tension. Rinse your socks in RO/DI prior to use and it shouldn't be as bad.

I don’t bleach them. I wash them off in the sink then toss them in the washer then soak them in the sink again after to get any residue off them.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I don’t bleach them. I wash them off in the sink then toss them in the washer then soak them in the sink again after to get any residue off them.

No detergent, right?

 

[Ted_C]

It's the laundry washer step that's messing you up. Detergents / Fabric Softeners and such are "stuck" inside the washing machine somewhere. That's getting transferred to your socks - which causes your skimmer to go nuts.

I run two socks in two tanks and change them out every 2-3 days as well. I do not have to adjust my skimmer ever.

My method is:
They soak in a 5 gallon bucket of bleachwater for ~6 days or so (when I fill the bucket - I wash the socks). I remove the socks from the bleach bucket and let them drain slightly and put them into the washing machine. Next is: inside out bleach (one cup) wasshing cycle . Turn them right side out and a wash with Oxyclean (dry - no dyes, no perfumes). I wash them one more time (plain - just water). I let them air dry on my porch for a day or two.

I do not ever use fabric softeners and I only have ever used Dry Tide detergent or Arm and Hammer OxyClean Odor Busting detergent (and then - I only use 1/2 of a portion) in my washing machine for non-filter socks washing (i.e. normal laundry).

Unless you can find the spot where the old detergent or fabric softener might be hanging around in your washer - your going to continue to have this issue. Using the self-dispensers (like the cup in the middle of the washer or the place to slow -release softener / detergent) probably has accumulated and is slowly releasing the detergents / softeners. From my experience - most are unable to ever "fix" this. Everyone I know has moved onto a separate washer for their filter socks who've had this issue.

 

[mta_morrow]

I have switched to nylon mesh socks from filter socks.

Rinse and rub, dry and done. No more skimmer issues vs socks and a washer.

However, I do run my socks when I blow off my rocks or clean the sand bed.

I then take them outside and do a heavy blasting with the garden hose. Dry, done and ready again with no skimmer issues.

 

[BestMomEver]

It's the laundry washer step that's messing you up. Detergents / Fabric Softeners and such are "stuck" inside the washing machine somewhere. That's getting transferred to your socks - which causes your skimmer to go nuts.

I run two socks in two tanks and change them out every 2-3 days as well. I do not have to adjust my skimmer ever.

My method is:
They soak in a 5 gallon bucket of bleachwater for ~6 days or so (when I fill the bucket - I wash the socks). I remove the socks from the bleach bucket and let them drain slightly and put them into the washing machine. Next is: inside out bleach (one cup) wasshing cycle . Turn them right side out and a wash with Oxyclean (dry - no dyes, no perfumes). I wash them one more time (plain - just water). I let them air dry on my porch for a day or two.

I do not ever use fabric softeners and I only have ever used Dry Tide detergent or Arm and Hammer OxyClean Odor Busting detergent (and then - I only use 1/2 of a portion) in my washing machine for non-filter socks washing (i.e. normal laundry).

Unless you can find the spot where the old detergent or fabric softener might be hanging around in your washer - your going to continue to have this issue. Using the self-dispensers (like the cup in the middle of the washer or the place to slow -release softener / detergent) probably has accumulated and is slowly releasing the detergents / softeners. From my experience - most are unable to ever "fix" this. Everyone I know has moved onto a separate washer for their filter socks who've had this issue.

I don’t use fabric softener. I use Tide Free... about 1/3 typical quantity. I wash them inside out. Prior and after washing machine I give them a scrub and soak in the sink. No soap. You may be right about washer build up. I guess I need to check that out!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I let all systems run as normal when I change socks as the change should be under 20 seconds each and I wash in warm water with WATER ONLY and let them air dry.

 

[OneReef]

I have switched to nylon mesh socks from filter socks.

Rinse and rub, dry and done. No more skimmer issues vs socks and a washer.

However, I do run my socks when I blow off my rocks or clean the sand bed.

I then take them outside and do a heavy blasting with the garden hose. Dry, done and ready again with no skimmer issues.

Same here, the mesh filter socks are much easier to clean than the felt ones..

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I don’t use fabric softener. I use Tide Free... about 1/3 typical quantity. I wash them inside out. Prior and after washing machine I give them a scrub and soak in the sink. No soap. You may be right about washer build up. I guess I need to check that out!

I don't wash mine with any detergent. I put mine in my washer on hot and they come out clean as the day they were new. And they're filthy when they go in. Try washing them with no detergent and see how that goes. It's probably reside from the soap.

Also, I used to have problems with my skimmer overflowing in general, until I tuned it to skim more dry. Now it never overflows. Might be something to consider.

 

[AB_Reefer]

I change the filter sock on my 60 cube every 2-3 days. In order to do that, I have to turn off the return pump and, in turn, the skimmer. After everything is turned on again, I plug the skimmer in. Immediately it goes crazy, spewing water out the top, and I have to quickly turn it down. Then it takes hours to get it right again. Am I the only person that has this trouble? What do you guys do when you restart a skimmer? There’s got to be an easier way!

Elizabeth

Rinse the sock with hot water for few minutes before putting it back in and you will be fine..

 

[Ponraj A]

I leave my return on while changing my socks.
I had the same issue with the skimmer when ever there is an voltage drop and the system shuts down and restarts again. Skimmer goes crazy. So i have a made an separate plug box which is connected to a delay timer, ie skimmer will get power only after 10mins when the system is shut down. May be this helps. Its called as delay timer an small device.

 

[Oliver d]

I had that proplem as well ,my solution was to only was my filter socks by hand and let them dry out on the veranda of my house.