Found my phosphate & nitrate problem hopefully

[Connie]

For a few months now I have been fighting phosphates and nitrates. I couldn't figure out what was wrong and no matter what I did, the numbers wouldn't go down.....until now. I wanted to put this out there in case someone else needs the info. I re-use my filters as I think most people do. I have a frontload washer and I would put the filter in the washer alone with no detergent and wash with hot water. No problem, right? Wrong! My frontload has a drawer as I believe all of them do. I regularly clean around the drawer to get any Tide or Downy remnants off of it. I pull the drawer off and clean everything fairly regularly. This last time I took the drawer out I noticed Downy goo at the bottom of the drawer cavity...the goo was all the way back as far as my arm could reach. I have been slowly poisoning my reef! I will be doing one of three things. hand wash (Doubtful..lol), stop using fabric softener or stop re-using my filters. Oh by the way....I googled the ingredients of fabric softener and the ingredient in that makes it gooey and soft is rendered fat from cattle, sheep and horses! Feel dirty yet?

 

[Downbeach]

Are you talking about filter socks? If so, are the mesh or felt?

 

[Connie]

I am talking about both felt pads and the blue/white poly filters. I use them in a tray between my overflow pipes and fuge. I would think it could affect socks as well. Not sure though since I don't use them.

 

[MarvinsReef]

when I was using filter socks, I had about 6 that I rotate. I just put the others on a bucket until all 6 are dirty, then wash them all at the same time. I normally quick wash them with hot water 3 times. the first go around is not a good sight. LoL. after the 3 quick wash, I run the washer by itself with just bleach. 3x quick wash might be too much but I'd rather run them more than less.

anyway, I'm glad you were able to figure out the source of your phosphate/nitrate problem though.

 

[spscrazy]

Well uck. I just found out my pug has allergies. Put her on a restricted diet. And had to stop using liquid fabric softner. I thought it was just the dyes and scent but with this new info maybe its the fats also. Either way now really.glad I stopped using it. Glad you found the problem. Seems that washer has a design flaw to allow that to build up

 

[Bootstrap]

Yeah you should pull out your fill tray and clean all of that out. I'm a appliance repair man, lmk if you need any help

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD

 

[Connie]

Well, I hate to stop using my softener. It gives me warm fuzzies, ya know? Marvin, I was washing mine through just one hot quick wash, maybe I should try two. I do religiously run the washer through a cycle with bleach only every couple of weeks. I know it will be better in any case now because I had goo up to my chin when it was over! SPScrazy - Sorry about your pug and I bet ya her allergies has something to do with the fat in the softener. Bootstrap...that's good to know and I will keep that in mind! I just hope someone else can use the info and save them from the heck I've been through. :roll:

 

[mcarroll]

There are much better alternatives to fabric softener that will soften the fabric just as well without the nasty fragrances and other crud they put in. Plain white vinegar is my favorite, but ammonia is really effective as well and might be more gentle for some things. I have found both to be good in my general washing (laundry never comes out smelling like either one, btw).

Further, fabric softener, as you have found, will be a problem with a front loader. Front loaders tend to accumulate resudies and "go stinky" even without fabric softeners. Add that gook they call liquid fabric softener into the mix and I have to think it would be worse.

As far as the filter pads and felts:

When you take them out from use, rinse as much dirt off as you can and then just drop them in a bucket of plain non-scented bleach and water in a 1:10 solution. Usually an overnight soak is sufficient to clean them. Rinse anything remaining on them and enough to get rid of all the soak water and let them air out until they no longer smell "bleachy". (Unless you are in a hurry, dechlorinator is an unnecessary expense - 100% of the chlorine will dissipate on its own.) It should be almost like new when you're done.

Light sponge might not survive too many of these, but anything with a little heft such as felt should survive many cleaning cycles like this.
​

Good luck!

-Matt

 

[Connie]

This is great info Matt. I will definitely try this. Thanks!

 

[mcarroll]

Almost forgot to add:

NEVER EVER EVER combine ammonia with bleach or any bleach-containing product such as "detergent with bleach".

NEVER.

Ammonioa + Bleach = Deadly gas. :horn:

The fact is that with the cleaning and softening power of vinegar and ammonia (you can combine them and other "natural" cleaners such as borax, baking soda) you may find that you rarely have to use bleach on your laundry. (More for your tank maintenance!)

Make it a rule to use bleach and only bleach when you use it.

-Matt

 

[Zack]

I throw my filter socks in washer but afterwards I always soak and rinse in rodi water. Works for me. Hand washing the socks never seems to get them as clean and white....

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