Could filter socks be bringing unwanted nutrients into our tanks?

[MnFish1]

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

I guess it depends on the size of the tank. Most people with 'filter socks' have large tanks. I rinse mine with tapster and then shake most all of the water off. The amount of pollutants is minuscule compared to the volume. IMHO

 

[jd371]

I tried going without but I got too many bubbles and salt creep everywhere even after lengthening the drain pipe, and the skimmer needed cleaning more often because it got dirty faster so I went back to using them. They were never really a hassle to me. I change them out every 3-4 days. After hosing off the used one it goes in a bucket of bleach and once the bucket is filled I turn them inside out and rinse them in the washing machine, turn them right side out again and rinse a second time and let them air dry and done. I use 8 socks so I can go a little over a month before they need cleaning.

 

[Bob Escher]

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 know where I'm located in wisconsin we have a large copper concentration in our water. Do the heavy metals evaporate out with the water as they dry or is it left behind in the filter sock to then be released into our tanks when we put it in. Any thoughts, suggestions, or comments are welcome. Possibly a good one for @Ryanbrs @randyBRS to do a BRSTV Investigates on?

Thanks,
Crabs

Hmm I’m in Wisconsin but we have a well

 

[Docdiggy]

I used to rinse them and squeeze them til they looked clean. Once they dried they would smell like a wet dog. On my last cleaning I put them in the washer with bleach and ran 2 rinse cycles. I couldn't believe how clean they were. After a day of drying they had zero scet of dog or bleach.

 

[lolgranny]

Ever rinse new socks and see how much sediment comes off of them?

I run socks once a month for a day or 2 and that’s it. I blow off all my rock when I run them and clean the tank the best I can. Otherwise no thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Been running socks 4+ years without issues. Key is to keep them clean. I have 4 sets and change/rotate them every 5 days and wash in warm water only......No bleach , etc and let them air dry.
Low nitrates, NO3 and Pox. These are results with socks

 

[JT's Adventures]

I'm so new to reefing that I'm still building my stand, and have yet to put water in the tank. When I saw the roller matt I couldn't imagine going any other way.

 

[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?

I have an idea... You know how they sell those small filter cups that you put floss into? You could use something like a plastic gallon sized pitcher instead. It should rise above the water line and you drill holes in it and pack it with floss that you toss out. Amazon sells huge rolls of crappy quality filter floss that would be good to pack a gallon pitcher with.

That way, you have mechanical filtration that's much better than a sock, no splashing, and cheap replacement material in bulk.

I personally use 50 micron socks because everything goes right through a 100 micron sock, which is nominally rated. Meaning only 80% of the sock is filtering at 100 microns. The remaining 20% is anywhere from 150-200 microns. The 50 micron sock is 50, 80% of the time and 100 the other 20%.

But if you wanted to ditch socks you would have to put something to absorb the input, or if you're running a syphon, lengthen the pipe to where it's always underwater enough not to splash.

 

[Forsaken77]

I'm so new to reefing that I'm still building my stand, and have yet to put water in the tank. When I saw the roller matt I couldn't imagine going any other way.

I don't know if you would know this, or came upon it in prior research to buying the roller mat, but did they fix the issues where certain pieces would repeatedly break or need replacing?

How long does a roll last? Does it smell? How does it determine when to spin?

 

[Wonf]

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

@crabs_mcjones

I've got the same sump and wanted to go sockless (still use them for a couple days after a water change or when I want to). I did a ton a research online and found a good way without permanently modifying the sump.
Grab a couple funnels that are the same size (or slightly larger) than the sock hole. I got mine at Walmart, it was a 2 pack (one large, one small). The smaller one was a perfect fit. Stick the funnel in the sock hole (you might have to wiggle or slightly squeeze the top of the funnel to get it through the ridiculous sump design) and raise the water level to hit just above the bottom of the funnel. No more noise/splashing.

 

[Crabs McJones]

@crabs_mcjones

I've got the same sump and wanted to go sockless (still use them for a couple days after a water change or when I want to). I did a ton a research online and found a good way without permanently modifying the sump.
Grab a couple funnels that are the same size (or slightly larger) than the sock hole. I got mine at Walmart, it was a 2 pack (one large, one small). The smaller one was a perfect fit. Stick the funnel in the sock hole (you might have to wiggle or slightly squeeze the top of the funnel to get it through the ridiculous sump design) and raise the water level to hit just above the bottom of the funnel. No more noise/splashing.

Are they food grade funnels? Like they won't leach stuff over time will they?

 

[Forsaken77]

I do think washing filter socks is not good for the system, with the residue of detergent. Also the sock is really not ever clean and tend to clog faster of the first use. As far as extra nutrients, yes if you leave to sock in to long your nitrates and phosphate will climb a little, but not that much.

Back when I was trying to figure out my high phosphates and nitrate combined with cyano outbreaks and then diatoms is was playing around with filter sock and not running them and running them. I really did not see a difference in nutrient levels with the sock were in or out.

The key to controlling my nutrients was running a good GFO reactor and running a seeded filter media.

Now I have to be careful not to run to much or my nutrient levels will go down to zero and I still feed heavy.

What type of seeded filter media do you use?

 

[Wonf]

Are they food grade funnels? Like they won't leach stuff over time will they?

They are food grade (they were in the kitchen accessory section)... But Walmart.... so.... now you got me worried/thinking......

 

[Wonf]

Are they food grade funnels? Like they won't leach stuff over time will they?

OT but with that sump, do you use the large rectangular sponge that goes between the 2nd and 3rd section? I have, got a little lazy with cleaning it (just used to give it a couple squeezes and casual cleaning during water changes). Was chasing nitrates for a while, recently tried thoroughly cleaning it and literally had to squeeze it 40-50 times before it wasn't giving out brown water...
Now rethinking the entire sump setup... I've only got a skimmer in the middle section right now....

 

[Crabs McJones]

OT but with that sump, do you use the large rectangular sponge that goes between the 2nd and 3rd section? I have, got a little lazy with cleaning it (just used to give it a couple squeezes and casual cleaning during water changes). Was chasing nitrates for a while, recently tried thoroughly cleaning it and literally had to squeeze it 40-50 times before it wasn't giving out brown water...
Now rethinking the entire sump setup... I've only got a skimmer in the middle section right now....

I do use the sponge in between the fuge and last chamber. I trake it out weekly and knock off all the loose detritus on it and I take it out and ring it in RO/DI water for a full cleaning once a month. My skimmer is in the last chamber with my return pump and I have chaeto in the center section.

 

[atoll]

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

I suggested to BRS that they do some experiments with detritus to help determine if detritus is as bad as it is made out to be. I got a reply they would consider it. Just imagine if some real scientific experiments were carried out and they proved after a short period detritus became inert and that filter socks and prefiltration gave little benefit and people stopped using prefiltration as I have for the last 2 years. There is a lot of money tied up in various prefiltration in this hobby from roller mats to simple filter wool. I read a lot of hearsay but no real evidence to support prefiltration and I don't expect any trials to happen any day soon.

 

[DSC reef]

I use socks simply to keep the sump and tank cleaner. I've never used them because I was worried about the effects of detritus long term. I want to pull out my return pump as little as possible, same with my skimmer. Even if they do a real study and prove that detritis is not harmful at all I'll still use socks. @crabs_mcjones look into red sea 225 micron mesh filter socks. For us it's a game changer. It's got the holding capacity of felt, lasts longer and is so easy to rinse clean. I threw away 12 felt socks and now only have 2 of the red sea socks. No more washing machine. I tried other mesh socks and they were horrible.

 

[chicago]

looking at how my socks look after just two days... i cant see going without them. i put mine in the laundry washing machine.. i set the cycle for extra rinse. Actually i sometime wash them through two or three cycles ... and use the bedding setting so get full water in the machine.. i do add some bleach.. the heavy spin cycle ends up with them almost completely dry.. I then soak them in large bucket with some type of dechlorinator. Have not had any issues.

 

[siggy]

The risk of soap or something else getting on/in them is so high?

This Is my concern. I have had 3 front loaders and they all build up soap residue and need periodical cleaning and they are the worst, top loaders aren't so bad but they still have a ring of scum at the top of the tub.
I have been wanting to try those plastic cups that you put floss in, seems easier to keep on top of. And the occasional times I really disturb the tank I place floss at the overflow.
BTW during warm weather my power washer turns them into new

 

[jsker]

What type of seeded filter media do you use?

Aquaforest life bio fil. works great. I also used the Zeovit and that worked great too. The Aquaforest is a bit less in price and I run Aquaforest system