When to change filter socks?

[laverda]

Any kind of mechanical filter like a filter sock, filter floss or canister filters should be changed frequently. Ideally no more then three days. Michanical fIlters like fIlter socks do a great job of removing paticals the catch is if you don't change them often your going to have more nitrates and phosphates. If some one has cronic algae proplems the first question I ask is if they have a mechanical filter of any type and How often do you change.

 

[Vegareef]

From what I have been reading lately, people are dosing nitrates and the corals in there tanks are doing better than ever. To tell you the truth, my tank and corals are doing just fine when changing my filter sock just when it starts to over flow. A little nitrates are ok with a reef tank so don't go too crazy changing out your filter socks before they start to over flow. You'll be just fine not being so concerned with the sock exchange. Just wait till they start to over flow. If you don't think so, ask me for a pic of my set up. Peace and love.

 

[tdjma]

For cleaning socks I soak mine in a bucket with lots of bleach for 3 days rinse then run through washer with no detergent air dry last a week maybe 2

 

[NanaReefer]

I'm using the 200 micron and change out every 7-10 days. My nitrates have never gone over 2.5 per Salifert. Of course my chaeto gets first dibs on nitrates [emoji3]
I have around 20 so I'll let em dry out, turn inside out, shake well and wash in washing machine. Large load 1/2 cup bleach, rinse twice. Let air dry till use.

 

[whatchamacallit]

Finally running my 25 micron filter socks in the stupidly sized tray! Yayy

 

[coffeydelsol]

BTW, many sock filters can be bought from mcmaster-carr, for much less than aquatic suppliers sell them for.

Do you by the filter sock with the plactic or meta retaining ring from McMaster - Carr?

 

[coffeydelsol]

Do you by the filter sock with the plactic or meta retaining ring from McMaster - Carr?

(METAL)

 

[huskerreefatl]

Plastic and i trim out a spill over section so if it starts overflowing before i notice, it goes through the open section. This is because my filter sock holder sits high in my sump and i don't want any splashing out

 

[s2nhle]

very good thread. Thanks,

 

[JBNY]

I change my filter socks when they overflow, I have a few, the first one gets changed once a day the others further down the line get changed maybe once a week. I flip them inside out and give them a rinse in the sink then put them aside and later run them through the washer with a 2x rinse with a little bleach and let them dry for a day or two before using them again.

I dose a nitrates already so the tiny bit of nitrate that could possible be coming from my filter socks is perfectly fine with me.

 

[Larry L]

Detritus left in a filter sock will rot and cause elevated Nitrates.

I've heard this mentioned a lot but I'm not sure I get it. Ideally you capture detritus in the sock and then clean the sock frequently enough that you are getting the detritus out before it starts to break down and cause nitrate problems. But if you leave the detritus sitting in a dirty sock, how is that any different that letting it sit it the bottom of your sump or elsewhere in your tank?

 

[tdjma]

That's exactly it remove the detritus before it turns . Bleach oxidizes the socks clean .

 

[Larry L]

That's exactly it remove the detritus before it turns . Bleach oxidizes the socks clean .

Right, I get that. What I don't get is when people say they don't use socks because leaving a dirty one in there causes nitrates. Seems like that is a problem whether the detritus is sitting in a dirty sock or sitting in your sump, so you're no worse off.

 

[SciGuy2]

I put cheap poly fiber in the socks and pull it out every other day and toss it. I then clean the sock every week or two. The poly fiber catches most of the gunk so the sock fouls slower. Of course, I'm using this in a small system (<50 gallons), so YMMV.

 

[7hogwarts]

Plus one on Mc Master Carr for filter socks. I change mine out every week. I inspect my socks for any critters that manage to get there. I have found zoas, Shrooms, anemones, and lots of pods. I then rinse my socks inside and out. Once I get 20 or so, I soak them in a bucket of 1cup bleach with water overnight. I run my washing machine through 2 rinse cycles to get rid of any soap residue. Then I run the socks through the washing machine and add a dechlorinator. I dry my socks outside in the sunshine to help reduce any possible leach that might still be left. (Sunshine will naturally break down chlorine)

 

[reefsaver]

You'll most likely be changing it out more than once every two weeks. Mine clogs up every 24-48 hours with only two fish and being fed 4 pellets every other day. I take it out, pull it inside out, throw it in the washer on heavy duty hot , let it dry in the air, then throw it back in the tank

I have watched BRS so much and Andrew Duneman has filmed some crazy bristle worms inside his filter sock and another photo of his finger covered in bristles. Taking out filter socks is probably the scariest part of owning my aquarium even know I have never seen ANY kind of worm I just don't want bristly fingers and some kind of biological spine stuck in my finger along with whatever kind of weird pain comes with it. I feel like it's just a matter of when not if but still I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[laverda]

You can always wear gloves. Bristleworms don't bother me too much, just make my fingers swell up. Vinegar dissolves the bristles quickly.

 

[PeterC99]

I have a redsea reefer 170, where the generally available filter socks doesn't fit. So i am kind of forced to buy the redsea socks. I would like to know details about filter sock maintenance. Is it ok if i take it out every 2 weeks and wash thoroughly in hot water and reuse it? How long before i should change to a new one? Any tips in cleaning?

Tip to make the sock last longer:

when replacing filter sock, put a small piece of filter floss in the sock. After 4 days, pull out dirty floss and leave filter sock. After another 4 days, pull out filter sock and clean in washing machine with bleach. (Important- regular bleach only, scented bleach or no splash bleach will kill your corals). Wash on hot and use extra rinse cycle. Let socks air dry. Best to get enough socks to last month or two between cleaning them in washing machine.

 

[reefsaver]

You can always wear gloves. Bristleworms don't bother me too much, just make my fingers swell up. Vinegar dissolves the bristles quickly.

I ringed out my filter sock today and I have a single tiny bristle in finger, I can't believe it lol... I full inspected the filter and there was nothing in it! Thank you for this comment btw it's nice to know I can just dip my finger in some Vinegar to dissolve the bristle, it's just annoying because I play a lot of games and type a lot, play guitar and whenever I get glass or anything stuck in my hands it's suuuper annoying.. I just removed the bristle with nail clippers because I really didn't want anything left under my skin but I'll try vinegar if it's ever bad.

 

[PeterC99]

I ringed out my filter sock today and I have a single tiny bristle in finger, I can't believe it lol... I full inspected the filter and there was nothing in it! Thank you for this comment btw it's nice to know I can just dip my finger in some Vinegar to dissolve the bristle, it's just annoying because I play a lot of games and type a lot, play guitar and whenever I get glass or anything stuck in my hands it's suuuper annoying.. I just removed the bristle with nail clippers because I really didn't want anything left under my skin but I'll try vinegar if it's ever bad.

Look into a melanurus wrasse. Beautiful fish that has completely gotten rid of bristle worms in my aquarium. Used to be stung all the time when I changed filter socks or harvested chaeto. After adding the wrasse - No More bristle worms!