filter socks make my skimmer go crazy

[tr3]

So I wash my filter socks in the washing machine with the longest cycle I can. I then let it dry for two days but every time I change them my skimmer goes crazy. Is there something I am missing?

 

[rainmaker]

I wash mine with a little bleach (no soap) then let air dry for couple days

 

[Firemanreefkeeper]

Sounds kind of ridiculous but I wash mine then rinse them with the hose 5 times to make sure all the soap is out of them. A couple of times I didn't do that and my skimmer did what yours is doing. It's just a little residual soap in the sock.

 

[PDR]

Do you use soap?

 

[tr3]

no soap or anything. just hot water with extra rinse.. I was wondering if hot water could cause it? I know it sound funny but I know there is sediment in your hot water tank.. just a thought

 

[PDR]

I wouldn't think so, I use bleach and hot water, 2 long "deep wash" cycles and I have never had any issues, even when I ran a skimmer.

 

[rainmaker]

If I try to use a new sock with out washing first it will cause skimmer to overflow I always now wash with bleach before I use an have no problems an I run a extra rinse cycle to remove any bleach then allow to dry

 

[HB AL]

I’ve never thrown them in the wash, I just hose them off with the garden hose and let em hang dry in the sun for a few days, been doing it like this for ever. What would be the reason for throwing them in a washing machine, just wondering?

 

[PDR]

I’ve never thrown them in the wash, I just hose them off with the garden hose and let em hang dry in the sun for a few days, been doing it like this for ever. What would be the reason for throwing them in a washing machine, just wondering?

Much easier and they get much cleaner.

 

[rainmaker]

Seems to be something in felt maybe washed in soap before made into sock bleach will remove any soap an after use will be white again

 

[tr3]

Seems to be something in felt maybe washed in soap before made into sock bleach will remove any soap an after use will be white again

so you're saying maybe leftover soap in the machine?

 

[HB AL]

Much easier and they get much cleaner.

How is it easier, takes a few minutes with a garden hose to clean a few, and what do you mean by cleaner, do they just look whiter? I only rotate 5 socks, so I guess if you have like 20 dirty ones and stored them I guess it would be easier throwing a whole bunch of dirty ones in the washer if you have a bunch and just let them pile up till they are all dirty, would that be why it’s easier? People say they run a wash with nothing in it to clear out any soap residue then start the wash of the socks with some bleach, then hang them all to dry, just wondering is that really easier? I wait till I have a few dirty ones then hose em off and air dry them in the sun, that seems easier in my case.

 

[HB AL]

so you're saying maybe leftover soap in the machine?

If your skimmer goes nuts then it’s probably safe to assume residual soap is left on the socks, probably not great for the water quality and tank inhabitants.

 

[PDR]

How is it easier, takes a few minutes with a garden hose to clean a few, and what do you mean by cleaner, do they just look whiter? I only rotate 5 socks, so I guess if you have like 20 dirty ones and stored them I guess it would be easier throwing a whole bunch of dirty ones in the washer if you have a bunch and just let them pile up till they are all dirty, would that be why it’s easier? People say they run a wash with nothing in it to clear out any soap residue then start the wash of the socks with some bleach, then hang them all to dry, just wondering is that really easier? I wait till I have a few dirty ones then hose em off and air dry them in the sun, that seems easier in my case.

It takes me all of 30 seconds to throw them in the wash, and take them out when done. I'm sure some people do some unnecessary steps that makes it longer, but for me, it is much easier to throw them in and forget about them for a couple of hours. They do look whiter, but I have no doubt that using hot water and bleach gets them much cleaner than just hosing them off.

 

[don_chuwish]

Try soaking them in a bucket of RO water before putting them in, just to give a good final rinse. I also leave the skimmer off for an hour or so after putting in clean socks.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

How is it easier, takes a few minutes with a garden hose to clean a few, and what do you mean by cleaner, do they just look whiter? I only rotate 5 socks, so I guess if you have like 20 dirty ones and stored them I guess it would be easier throwing a whole bunch of dirty ones in the washer if you have a bunch and just let them pile up till they are all dirty, would that be why it’s easier? People say they run a wash with nothing in it to clear out any soap residue then start the wash of the socks with some bleach, then hang them all to dry, just wondering is that really easier? I wait till I have a few dirty ones then hose em off and air dry them in the sun, that seems easier in my case.

I've always just hosed mine as well. Refenrlt I notice that after cleaning them and putting them back in the water level rises in my sock section much quicker than it used to. Its apparent that housing them is not getting them completely clean

Think it's time to throw them in the wash and just not tell the wife lol

 

[GrouperBait]

I do a little bit of bleach..like maybe 3 cap fulls, and I put it on small load, the temperature doesn’t matter—-ive some cold cold, warm cold, and hot cold and it’s all the same.
Then I turn the big knob to “quick wash low agitation” or “casual permanent press low agitation” and let’r rip. I have not tried high agitation because low works great and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

(Then I do another quick bleach and water with nothing in it just so that there is no fish poo on my clothes....and I only wash them when the wife is not home!)

Side note: don’t use soap. And make sure your washing machine is clean. They sell packs of cleaner stuff st Walmart. It may be worthwhile to use some to see if that helps. And also, leave the washing machine door open when not in use. It helps prevent mildew or nasty black crap.

 

[John3]

I think it’s air bubbles trapped in the fibers. If I put a sock in dry my skimmer goes nuts. If I wet(not rinse) the sock it doesn’t happen.