Could filter socks be bringing unwanted nutrients into our tanks?

[Greenstreet.1]

I soak mine in a bucket then wash by hand. But I do use the dryer to dry them.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I doubt chlorine or chloramine at legally allowed concentrations would have an effect on a whole aquarium using a dry sock. But if feared something else.
One could probably test if this was actually an issue.
Example: If say you know source is water high in copper.
take a washed sock, Place in a container of diluted HNO3 or OH- and wait for a color change or precipitate depending on solution chosen. Simple yes/no sock picked up copper. Other compounds will require their own coloring changing reactions.

 

[Larry L]

It's hard to imagine that your dried filter socks could be bringing in much by way of contaminants compared to what you are introducing in foods, by putting your hand in the tank, etc. etc.

 

[jeffrey holloway]

I run filter socks on both my systems. I don't have the Tap water quality issues that alot of reefers have. I agree with the no filter socks crowd, they really are not needed in most systems. I prefer using them and will use them until they fall apart.

 

[Ibrahim mustafa]

Rinse mine twice in ro after wash in machine. Once my cheato is filled out the sump area am going to get rid of filter socks.

 

[madweazl]

When I ran the socks, I tossed them in the washing machine with some bleach and never had an issue (two rinse cycles and air dry). With that said, life has been much easier after removing them from the system. While I have no evidence to show the tank is healthier because the socks were eliminated, I believe it to be true (it certainly isn't worse).

If you eliminated the filter sock, you could cut the bottom of the acrylic down tube but that would be a relatively permanent modification. An alternative was mentioned; using an elbow on the existing down pipe and running it down one of the filter sock holes. This method allows you to easily go back to the original design of the sump if you so choose.

If you try either method, make sure you consider the potential for the drain going full siphon if the down tube is extended below the surface of the water (typically a bad thing if using a single drain overflow).

 

[Jose Mayo]

The thought occurred to me the other day as I was doing laundry. Myself, along with dozens of other reefers, utilize our washing machine to clean our filter socks. Even those who rinse them out in a utility sink or similar. And unless you have a big high end RO system in your home, they all use straight tap water for the wash and rinse cycle. Is it possible that this is a way in for undesired nutrients such as copper or other heavy metals found in tap water?

I think it makes sense to worry @crabs_mcjones said, because although it can not be said to be large the amount of waste that returns to the aquarium with socks washed, this is an amount that returns each time, and tends to accumulate, if it is inorganic, whether or not it is toxic ...

Perhaps the ideal, if necessary, filters were single use, which were cheaper and disposable after saturation.

Regards

 

[Shua71]

Check out thetFilter media cup from MD. Thought I was crazy for spending 20 bucks on a cup but its been amazing. I use hypo allergenic pillow stuffing from Walmart and a change it out every day or two

 

[Dawn Dababneh]

I have been using filter socks in my 150 gallon for 10 years I have 6 socks I throw them in the wash machine and let them dry in the sun. I have not had and adverse effects my tank is mixed reef loaded from top to bottom. I live in O. C. California and I’m not sure about our wYer quality but, I’ve been tod it’s very good

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd have to say I'm not personally very concerned with the traces of things (except maybe soap) that might come from washing filter socks, but I've not seen any actual data that says it is an issue or not.

I would contend that small amounts of tap water are almost never any concern, but that doesn't mean that copper might not be binding to the material and potentially re-releasing it in the tank, but I don't think that is likely to be significant for normal materials.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I'd have to say I'm not personally very concerned with the traces of things (except maybe soap) that might come from washing filter socks, but I've not seen any actual data that says it is an issue or not.

I would contend that small amounts of tap water are almost never any concern, but that doesn't mean that copper might not be binding to the material and potentially re-releasing it in the tank, but I don't think that is likely to be significant for normal materials.

I think it would be a worth while experiment for either you in your lab or BRSTV Investigates

 

[Jongalt26]

I apologize in advance for not reading all of the posts. I switched to mesh filter socks, while they dont catch as much as the felt, they are easily cleaned by rinsing in the sink in less than a minute per sock.
A couple if times a year i'll toss them in a bleach bucket. (typically when i leave town, i have my tank sitter do it so they dont have to rinse the socks)

 

[reefer1]

I replace my filter socks every 2-3 days. Here's what I do once I have accumulated several dirty ones:
1) flip them "inside-out" and spray clean with a high-pressure nozzle (you can see the dirt come off)
2) hand rinse a couple more times in a bucket to remove any loose material
3) fill up bucket with Ro/Di water and Prime, allow to soak overnight
4) hand wring and throw in dryer
5) dry completely then flip "rightside" and run another dry cycle
I've been doing this new procedure for over 8-10 months and my sps tank looks great. I used to use bleach in the washer but I feel this works much better

 

[PanchoG]

Felt socks are too much trouble and you can carry pollution inside the system. I use mesh socks and are far easier to clean, deliver better filtration and are not as smelly as the felt ones hahaha.
Talking about the tap water, it should not be an issue for any tank the ppm levels are too low to contaminate the system. All of us would be have had massive losses to it.

 

[RobertN]

Why do people use the washing machine to wash something in an aquarium. The risk of soap or something else getting on/in them is so high? Rinsing them with a high pressure water source works fine for me - no soap, bleach, etc

Yeah, me too. I use my hose with a nozzle on it outside of the front of my house....the water pressure is pretty high when I have the nozzle adjusted with a narrow spray. Then, to reduce any tap water contaminants, I shake it out pretty strongly for a couple of minutes until it's mostly dry and then let it air dry. And finally, the night before I will switch out my currently-used sock with a washed one, I rinse a washed one with RO water for a few minutes and then vigorously shake it out. The next morning, I switch it for the one currently in my sump.

 

[bgoldb]

I had the same concern as my old washing machine was showing a little rust and several triton test results showed elevated levels of tin so I ran a separate triton test on the washing machine water (without bleach or any other form or cleaning detergent) near the end of the wash cycle. The triton results showed no elevated levels of any metal (including tin to my dismay) or really anything else for that matter. I thought I had found the smoking gun to my tin problem but the search continues. My new theory is that the elevated tin is coming from the pvc pipe but that is a discussion for another thread.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Well, what I've decided to do, per the suggestions of other users, is to wash them in the washing machine like normal, with an extra rinse cycle. And then soak them in a bucket filled with RO/DI water for a day, and then air dry them. Would still like to see this tested in either Randy's lab or a BRSTV investigates. Curious as to how much a filter sock has the potential to bring into the system by just pulling it out of the washing machine and throwing it in the system Thank you everyone for the suggestions and comments, I appreciate you all

 

[Crabs McJones]

Why do people use the washing machine to wash something in an aquarium. The risk of soap or something else getting on/in them is so high? Rinsing them with a high pressure water source works fine for me - no soap, bleach, etc

This is true, but I'm also concerned with the potential chlorine, chalormines, copper, lead, and other heavy metals that can be found in your high pressure water source. Along with the potential soap residue from the washing machine

 

[madweazl]

Well, what I've decided to do, per the suggestions of other users, is to wash them in the washing machine like normal, with an extra rinse cycle. And then soak them in a bucket filled with RO/DI water for a day, and then air dry them. Would still like to see this tested in either Randy's lab or a BRSTV investigates. Curious as to how much a filter sock has the potential to bring into the system by just pulling it out of the washing machine and throwing it in the system Thank you everyone for the suggestions and comments, I appreciate you all

I'd be more concerned with the good things they're keeping from system.

 

[MnFish1]

Im sorry. I cant believe someone would wash their filter socks in a washing mach9ne and then be concerned about what it could 'cause'.. This seems patently ridiculous - no offense to those doing this mind you - only the ones defending that it makes sense. Rinse them off with a high pressure spray in any sink - let them dry - it takes 1-2 minutes (Rinse them upside down so that the stuff comes out) - Youre done - Sorry - the amount of chemicals divided into your entire tank is minuscule at best. I really dont see this as a question - but maybe im a ....