Why replace filter sock every 3 days?

[nervousmonkey]

i just ordered 4 more red sea filter socks from Bulk Reef Supply to rotate. At $10. each i can't afford replacing filter socks every 2-3 days and coral so thank you for the washing tips.

@kissedpicasso take a look at this thread on making your own socks. Pretty cool information: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-filter-socks.162584/

 

[nervousmonkey]

I will admit that I've had these socks for quite some time and that they might be doing exactly what you say. However, what I do about once a year is soak them in bleach for a day or two and rinse. After doing this a couple months ago, there was no change in the time they lasted.

Otherwise, my cleaning protocol is to run them under the sink faucet when rubbing fabric to fabric. They are seven inch mesh socks, 200 microns.

My protocol as well. Rinse, rub together, soak in vinegar, rub, rinse, peroxide, rub and keep rinsing until clear. Works great with occasional bleaching.

 

[ReefCartel]

Ill pull them out every 24 hrs. I only run one big one. But its discoloured after 24hrs. But i think if your trapping it remove it. Your tank water is only as clean as the sock your pumping all your water threw.

+1 The filter sock is a toll booth to your filtration.

 

[ReefCartel]

I only use one filter sock and change it out once a week during my weekly WC. My sump has been running for a year and I never seen any algae or detritus build up in the sump. Tank seems happier too.

Better angle of the bottom of my sump. Nice and clean thanks to that one fliter sock.

 

[Damon]

Filter soaks are costly little boogers, First time using them. Does anyone have any bulk buying suggestions.

Amazon.. For sure.. I purchased 8 4"socks for 35.00 shipped to me for 200 micron.. They also have packages of 100 micron, all in that same price range. Then, they have long, medium, short, etc..

I recently switched from a 7" stock to dual 4" socks.. And amazon was my source also, as I ordered socks ranging from 100 to 0.5 microns. And they were fairly inexpensive also..

The DIY sock option was one I considered, but I neither own a sewing machine, or can sew(well, I can, however, it is like two rocks playing with each other.. Looks that horrible)..

 

[MikeyAl]

Amazon.. For sure.. I purchased 8 4"socks for 35.00 shipped to me for 200 micron.. They also have packages of 100 micron, all in that same price range. Then, they have long, medium, short, etc..

I recently switched from a 7" stock to dual 4" socks.. And amazon was my source also, as I ordered socks ranging from 100 to 0.5 microns. And they were fairly inexpensive also..

The DIY sock option was one I considered, but I neither own a sewing machine, or can sew(well, I can, however, it is like two rocks playing with each other.. Looks that horrible)..

+1

 

[tj w]

I change mine out every 3-4 days. I use one 7"sock on my 300. I order 50 felt socks through brs once a year. I wash them all once or twice. Like others have said just with a lil bleach and let them air dry. Never had any issues

 

[Scotty LaBeouf]

when you say change them do you mean buy a brand new one or just rinse it out?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

when you say change them do you mean buy a brand new one or just rinse it out?

Wash them in your clothes washer without any soap. Some people wash them with vinegar in a steam cycle. Once the washing is complete, allow the sock to air dry before reinstalling it. It's good to have a couple of sets to rotate them out.

 

[MikeyAl]

when you say change them do you mean buy a brand new one or just rinse it out?

I always keep 4 on hand and rotate them. When I pull one out, I replace with one that has been soak in in RODI. I wash the one taken out and put back in rotation. I can get good 10 washing a if I replace them regularly.

 

[nervousmonkey]

The DIY sock option was one I considered, but I neither own a sewing machine, or can sew(well, I can, however, it is like two rocks playing with each other.. Looks that horrible)..

That made me crack up! Sounds like me. Tried the DIY option for about 20 minutes with a needle and thread; I figured that it didn't matter that I do not have a sewing machine or that I didn't know how to stitch, I could just swing it. I ended sewing three sections together on accident. It looked like a 4 year old's project, or a really cool post-modern interpretation of a filter sock...

 

[Sound2]

On the same topic of filter socks, we are just setting up our sump and filter socks. How do you clean them for re-use?

 

[Damon]

That made me crack up! Sounds like me. Tried the DIY option for about 20 minutes with a needle and thread; I figured that it didn't matter that I do not have a sewing machine or that I didn't know how to stitch, I could just swing it. I ended sewing three sections together on accident. It looked like a 4 year old's project, or a really cool post-modern interpretation of a filter sock...

Lol, good do better than me at 20 minutes . I would give myself, mmnnn maybe 3. That's long enough to poke myself 20 times with the needle, cussing each time, and finally crying out of pain from holes in my fingers, and giving up.. Lol

Then, the inevitable scream of horror when I glue each little hole up in my finger.. Which would leave my hands looking like quazimoto..

I still dream of being able to do it, but nope, it wouldn't be pretty..

 

[Damon]

On the same topic of filter socks, we are just setting up our sump and filter socks. How do you clean them for re-use?

Like most, I wash them inside out twice in my washing machine. First time, with a little bleach, the second in just plain water. Then, I let them air dry for 2 days..

 

[Wayneb332]

I rinse them the best I can with a hose. I then soak them in bleach water till I have a few then wash them in the washing machine. I usually pick a gentle cycle with an extra rinse

 

[miyags]

when you say change them do you mean buy a brand new one or just rinse it out?

I have 6, 1oo micron socks on hand,when the sock start's to over flow,I switch out the sock. When I have 5 dirty socks I wash with bleach in the washer,let air dry,and start over.

 

[nervousmonkey]

I still dream of being able to do it, but nope, it wouldn't be pretty..

Oh, the dreams I have of being able to do things with my tank that others can do. I usually end up like you, with holes in my fingers, bruised fingers, goofy looking DIY projects and painful experiences. I'm sure I'll still keep trying and one day have something nice that I didn't pay for, but until then, the "Checkout" button is my best friend.

 

[DMan]

After a couple of days organics start to break down. In such a high flow area like a filter sock the water is well oxygenated. Which means stuff will decay faster. Leaving a sock to long will just cause a nitrate problem. This is the theory behind not using socks. Having dead spots in the sump is ideal because it lets detritus to build up in a lower flow area. Lower flow means less oxygen. Less oxygen means slower breakdown of organics. I look at my whole sump as one big filter sock. I still use socks occasionally, especilaly after water changes. Usual leave it in for a day or two and then remove it. If the sump is designed properly and the right flow is used you shouldn't see much of a difference with or without a sock.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Not sure where you heard about changes every three days...I change when it's overflowing. What I don't get is that it use to be every 5 days or so...but now it's every 1 1/2 to 2 days. I also wouldn't want to leave it in there for "several weeks" out of fear of decomp, and releasing nitrates and phosphates back into the tank. I'd stick to the weekly changes if it were me.

I'm pretty sure that your socks, just like any filter, are getting slowly clogged over time despite thorough washings. You can never remove 100% of the accumulated matter each time you wash. I would bet that if you measured the weight each time you washed and thoroughly dried them, you'd find the mass of each sock slowly increases over time.

I will admit that I've had these socks for quite some time and that they might be doing exactly what you say. However, what I do about once a year is soak them in bleach for a day or two and rinse. After doing this a couple months ago, there was no change in the time they lasted.

Otherwise, my cleaning protocol is to run them under the sink faucet when rubbing fabric to fabric. They are seven inch mesh socks, 200 microns.

The problem for me making my own is that I need the plastic ring.
And what fabric do you buy???? nylon mesh??? with micron size??? I apologize, I'm ignorant when it comes to purchasing fabric.


@AllSignsPointToFIsh , so you got me......I just ordered four new socks. Let's see if there is a difference.

Experiment Day!

So @AllSignsPointToFIsh forced me to buy new socks. I purchased 4 new seven inch, 200 micron socks from a vendor on Ebay. What I liked about this purchase was, not only were they fairly priced (5$ each/free shipping), but they were made in the USA! When is the last time you purchased something for your tank that was made in the United States?

So the thought was that my old socks, requiring to now be changed every 1 1/2 to 2 days, were clogged with some nasty stuff that my yearly bleaching wasn't cleaning out. I use to get 4 - 5 days out of each sock. So has my tank changed or are these old socks clogged?

The new socks arrived today. Now the one variable is that these are a different brand then what I've been using, but otherwise they are listed as 200 micron....the same size as the old ones. Here's the label on the new socks.




They appear to be the same size and shape of the old socks (New on the left, Old on the right).




However, the one noticeable difference is that the new socks are more transparent/less translucent. Here are two pictures looking through the old sock and new sock, respectively, of the window in my house.






New sock went into the tank at 1PM, 2/23/16. I'll update and let you know how my little experiment works out.

In the meantime, the difference in transparency bothered me, so I took one of the old socks and I'm soaking in vinegar, thinking it's clogged with inorganics and not organics, which would have been "consumed" by the yearly bleach bath.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

For the sake of accuracy, I didn't force you to do anything.