Worried about Filter Socks

[goody]

I never used a filter sock on my 90g, but I recently upgraded to a 150g and decided to use a filter sock. Well, time has come to clean them, and even though I have read several people use bleach, I am just not comfortable with that. I will probably use Hydrogen Peroxide instead, but didn't have any on hand, so I just ran them through my washing machine, without soap, two times.

Being new to this, I am still worried if there was any detergent residue in washer that could transfer to the socks. Do I need to do anything else with the socks just in case? I've read about some using Prime, but they also used bleach.

Would like to put a clean sock on tomorrow, but want to be sure everything is good to go.

 

[thewackyreefer]

I have always used bleach cleaning mine as I never felt comfortable putting them in a washing machine.

I soaked in bleach, rinsed, dried, rinsed again then used without using Prime and never had any issues. I'd be more concerned about residue soap in a machine than anything.

 

[bobssecrtsn]

you can also use distilled vinegar in the washer machine =)

 

[Cherub]

I used a filter sock once and it made my skimmer go nuts. Is that normal? Caused an overflow and made a stinking mess. I pulled it out and haven't tried it since.

 

[Reefer831]

I change my filter socks about every 3 days....I keep about 20 of them on hand to make things easy....I use bleach every time with no problems....I first wash all the gunk out then let them sit in a bucket of water and bleach for a day or two then I rinse them out and then soak them again in a bucket of water with prime, I over dose the prime just to make sure I get all the bleach out....then I let them bake in the sun witch will take out the bleach also...some people even skip the prime but I feel a lot safer dosing the heck out of it, it not to expensive and worth every penny to save me stressing out. I dont like using the washer cause there is always going to be left over soap in you lines no matter what, and laundry soap is so concentrated it is hard to get it all out, think about how hard it is to wash off your hands....just look at people with successful tanks and copy what they do.....Good luck!

 

[Reefer831]

I used a filter sock once and it made my skimmer go nuts. Is that normal? Caused an overflow and made a stinking mess. I pulled it out and haven't tried it since.

That is normal and a good sign that your skimmer is working properly....I always wash new sock first.

 

[Cherub]

hmm ok well I will try again then with an eye peeled lol

 

[Reefer831]

One more thing is your socks should look bleached white, if not they are not cleaned fully and wont work well.

 

[Cherub]

how often do you clean them or do they just overflow when they're dirty?

 

[goody]

I change my filter socks about every 3 days....I keep about 20 of them on hand to make things easy....I use bleach every time with no problems....I first wash all the gunk out then let them sit in a bucket of water and bleach for a day or two then I rinse them out and then soak them again in a bucket of water with prime, I over dose the prime just to make sure I get all the bleach out....then I let them bake in the sun witch will take out the bleach also...some people even skip the prime but I feel a lot safer dosing the heck out of it, it not to expensive and worth every penny to save me stressing out. I dont like using the washer cause there is always going to be left over soap in you lines no matter what, and laundry soap is so concentrated it is hard to get it all out, think about how hard it is to wash off your hands....just look at people with successful tanks and copy what they do.....Good luck!

I may have read your process on reefaddicts blog. Are you just using cold tap water in the buckets? You have me rethinking using the washing machine.

 

[Reefer831]

I may have read your process on reefaddicts blog. Are you just using cold tap water in the buckets? You have me rethinking using the washing machine.

yes I use tap cause the prime will take out what ever is in the Tap...but if I wasn't using prime I would use RODI.

 

[Reefer831]

how often do you clean them or do they just overflow when they're dirty?

I try not to let them get to the point where they overflow, when I am on top of things I usually change them every 3 to 4 days.

 

[ss95003]

I do not do anything special. I turn mine inside out wash in the machine with bleach turn them back right side in, and rewash with nothing. Let air dry and reuse. Have done this a dozen times with no issues.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

I replace weekly - turn them inside-out and rinse when removed, then store them in a bucket waiting until I have about a dozen that need to be cleaned. I then toss them in the washing machine, heavy duty cycle. I add only bleach and use an extra rinse cycle. They air dry and I give them a quick rinse in RO just prior to use.

Been doing it like that for years. The socks seem to last a couple years before they eventually need to be replaced from fraying.