Could filter socks be bringing unwanted nutrients into our tanks?

[Neo Jeo]

I would also like to know what’s best. I’m starting up a tank and about to drop some $ on extra shocks. The instructions on my eshopps says replace with new one every few days and toss the old one out! Are they crazy.. that would cost a ton

 

[paphater]

Definitely don't throw them out after one use. I try and change my socks out every 2-3 days and most of mine are over 6 months old.

 

[n21benson]

I change out my filter socks twice a week. Sunday and Wednesday. And I wash the socks right away, and let them air dry before reusing them.

Same for me!

 

[jduong916]

Remove the acrylic under the return pipe and extend the pipe lower. Should stop the splashing.

 

[MnFish1]

What I used to do was use the hose outside. It has one of those pressure nozzles on the end to give it some kick. Only problem is I live in wisconsin so right now that's a no go lol. And the sprayer nozzle on my sink doesn't have nearly enough pressure to be able to effectively clean off anything.

I have an attachment on the laundry sink from garden and a short 'garden hose'. which gives high pressure

 

[azreeftank]

My socks have never gone in the washer. My wife would kill me then file for divorce if my Fish stuff went in her washer. I just stick them in a bucket of water with cup of bleach and let is sit for 1-2 days. Rinse out in utility sink and let air dry for 1 week so the little residual bleach evaporates. I have been doing this for 8+ years. I occasionally let them sit out in the AZ sun and they are good to go. This is very easy to do and I still think I would like to try sockless for a while and see if water clarity changes. My tank is super clear so I’m afraid to try this.

 

[jduong916]

I change out my filter socks twice a week. Sunday and Wednesday. And I do 6 gallon water changes every sunday (total water volume is between 40 and 50 gallons) And I wash the socks right away, and let them air dry before reusing them. I'm seriously considering finding a way to go sockless.
This is my sump, any ideas on how I can modify it to not have socks but not splash and make all kinds of noise?

Remove the acrylic under the return pipe and extend the pipe lower. Should stop the splashing.

 

[Susan Bates]

I change mine every day.....trying to bring down nitrates , I wash then in a bucket and high pressure hose straight away, about 5-6 times

 

[Robink]

I just recently stopped using socks. Except on w/c day when I blow off the rocks and disturb the sandbed. Prior to that I would wait till I had about six dirty socks and then soak them in a bucket with water and bleach for a day or two and then rinse with the hose. I would then let them air dry for at least a week. You have to have plenty of socks for this. However, now I just use them once a week. Same plan as before only now they don't get quite so dirty.

 

[Crabs McJones]

My sump uses two socks at a time, I've got 8 socks total right now.

I just recently stopped using socks. Except on w/c day when I blow off the rocks and disturb the sandbed. Prior to that I would wait till I had about six dirty socks and then soak them in a bucket with water and bleach for a day or two and then rinse with the hose. I would then let them air dry for at least a week. You have to have plenty of socks for this. However, now I just use them once a week. Same plan as before only now they don't get quite so dirty.

 

[drblakjak55]

I have seriously considered this but with the way my Sump is setup it's a pain to run them without because I get too much splashing I have the Aqueon proflex 2 sump and without the filter socks it splashes all over the place

Lengthen the input tube until it’s underwater than it won’t splash

 

[Robink]

My sump uses two socks at a time, I've got 8 socks total right now.

Mine too. I'm not sure how many I have...

 

[Mical]

I used felt socks iniatially and found them collecting alot of food etc. I switched to mesh and tank improved. Finally removed socks altogether and tank is thriving. I think there is merit to Triton method but I'm not sold on their additives.

 

[ALbque]

I clean mine in washer, inside out and add a small amount of Clorox bleach on quick wash cycle with an extra rinse cycle. They come out pretty dang clean almost like new. Almost ! Then I soak them in a 5 gallon bucket of RO water with a capfull or two of seachem prime for a couple of days. Rinse again before use with RO water. Been doin this for years and never had any issues whatsoever...... The Seachem Prime gives me peace of mind and removes any traces of chlorine that may be left from the bleach wash. I only use bleach and hot water, NO SOAP OR DETERGENTS ! WORKS 4 ME......

 

[Cnidoblast]

best to just bleach bucket soak them and then soak them in ro water with seachem prime in it
as this avoids possible toxic chemicals from detergent getting into the tank

 

[Midrats]

I'm surprised more people don't use cups or mesh socks. All the washing and bleaching, and spraying. I was happy to say goodbye to felt.

 

[seamonster]

Don’t overthink this! I’ve been using filter socks for many years without any problems. The ones I use now are the kind that can be cleaned in the sink! (Nylon ones, from BRS). Real fast and easy! Never had a problem with either kind

 

[seamonster]

Don’t overthink this...I’ve been using filter socks for years with no problems. The kind I use now are the nylon kind that can be cleaned in the sink (from BRS)...real quick and easy!

 

[Forsaken77]

I change out my filter socks twice a week. Sunday and Wednesday. And I do 6 gallon water changes every sunday (total water volume is between 40 and 50 gallons) And I wash the socks right away, and let them air dry before reusing them. I'm seriously considering finding a way to go sockless.
This is my sump, any ideas on how I can modify it to not have socks but not splash and make all kinds of noise?

Could you possibly use those cups MD sells and fill them with floss? Or find a container that fits so you can just chuck the floss?

 

[Forsaken77]

I clean mine in washer, inside out and add a small amount of Clorox bleach on quick wash cycle with an extra rinse cycle. They come out pretty dang clean almost like new. Almost ! Then I soak them in a 5 gallon bucket of RO water with a capfull or two of seachem prime for a couple of days. Rinse again before use with RO water. Been doin this for years and never had any issues whatsoever...... The Seachem Prime gives me peace of mind and removes any traces of chlorine that may be left from the bleach wash. I only use bleach and hot water, NO SOAP OR DETERGENTS ! WORKS 4 ME......

I was just going to suggest adding some Prime to the rinse cycle in the washing machine. That way it eliminates a few steps