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Cleaning filter socks
I use a 7" filter sock in my sump, and it can run a long time before it plugs up and I have to clean it . How often should they be cleaned before they become a nitrate factory?
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it will plug before it become a nitrate factory, rate at which it clogs depends on the micron size and how much it is removing from the tank (flow rate, feeding etc.)
once it starts overflowing, or perhaps before, put it in the washing machine, wash and rinse with warm water, no detergent or bleach required. cheers. |
I replaced & cleaned the socks once a week no matter they were plugged or not. I flush them with warm water, rinse and soak them in a bucket of fresh water with bleach for overnight. Replace the water next day and hang them till dry. I won't dare to use the washing machine/dryer or else my wife is going to kill me.
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2-3 days for me. I swear by them. I have 10 in rotation, pre-rinse then I soak them in a bucket with bleach after a week its goes into the washer machine and when it comes out they look brand new.
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1 week here, give or take a day
Triple 4" felt setup ( same area as 1 x 7" ) I have 2 sets in rotation Turn inside out, rinse, into washer on gentle and warm water with a cup of bleach 2nd wash water only Turn right side out and wash 2 more times Stand up on ring to dry Maybe I use a lot of water, but they're clean :smile: |
6-7 days o dual 4" socks.
Rinse out, toss 6-8 at a time in the wash with vinegar mix. (Inside out) 14 in rotation- toss out 2 ever other month and replenish..... Sent Via The Pirate Ship... |
Thanks for all the replies. Looks like some variance in the times. But I notice most clean with bleach. Is that to kill the nitrate producing bacteria, or is that just what it takes to get them clean looking again?
I use the 7" 200 micron felt type sock. But I only have 2 now, thinking I can run 1 while cleaning the other. I am surprised how many everyone is using. Looks like I may have to buy more. |
Cleaning with bleach makes them nice and white is all
Gives me the feeling that they are really clean I'm sure just washing in freshwater will kill off anything live You don't need to buy more than what you have, unless you plan on letting them soak while you use up enough to warrant a load of laundry I just turn down the water level as low as it goes and blow off water conservancy :rolleyes: |
I run a rotation of filters socks aswell, usually changing mine out every 3 days or so. Once I have a few dirty ones I throw them in the washing machine with some vinegar. Another nice option is the 300 Micron filter socks that won't clog up near as fast, only catching bigger particles.
http://www.royalaquariums.ca/p/511/v...ch-filter-sock |
I change mine every 7 days or earlier if they start to overflow. I can tell as my skimmer starts going nuts. I don't bother turning them inside out as I didn't really see them getting any cleaner when I did. I have about 10 that I cycle in and out and do 1 load of laundry every couple of months. No bleach or detergent.
I also have a quick look in the sock to make sure I didn't lose any starfish, snails, etc |
I must be doing something wrong. I get less than 24 hours out of mine before they're overflowing, and there isn't even any fish in my tank at the moment.
I noticed I started getting way less time out of them when I switched from a herbie to a durso, has anyone else noticed bubbles in their overflow water making the filter socks clog up faster? I've got 7 socks, so I'm doing a dedicated filter sock load once a week. |
Adam, when I was using mesh ( Poly ) socks, I was lucky to only use 2 sets per DAY :surprise:
Same as you - they would overflow very quickly Since I've switched to felt I've had no issues, and I have to remember to change them weekly as they seem to last forever now |
What brand/micron size are you using? My sump was built for square filter socks, and I've been having a hard time finding any for order online. I would happily switch if it meant I could get a couple of days out of them.
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You'll have to change your hanger if you buy the ones I use
They are round and have a plastic mounting ring Aqueon 200 Micron sock These Vertex ones plugged up more than once a day, even though they are 300 Micron vs the 200 I use now |
Well, I just did my first cleaning using bleach. After pre-rinsing, I let it soak in a pail with bleach added for a day, and then thoroughly rinsed it again before letting it sit in fresh water for another day.
I removed it from the fresh water, and rinsed it again. But to my surprise, I can still detect a faint odor of bleach on the filter bag. I haven't dried it yet, so maybe that is still necessary. But I assume bleach is very bad for my tank. How much is allowable? Is rinsing and soaking in fresh water for a couple days enough? I haven't gone the clothes washer route yet, but might try that in the future, if I buy some extras. I am using the CPR 7" 200 micron socks with the plastic handles. They are very thick and stiff, and was not able to turn them inside out for easier rinsing. |
Didn't get a response to my last post. Still wondering about the lingering effects of the bleach soaking, and how much rinsing and soaking in fresh water afterwards is necessary to ensure no impact to my display tank.
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don't use bleach.....not required
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I put a dash of bleach in the washing machine with my filter socks from time to time. I've never had negative effects.
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Cap full of bleach with a bucket of water to soak is fine. I usually soak it for a week or so before the whole batch is ready for the laundry machine. I use a cap full of bleach also in the wash cycle. After the wash it gets air dried. Important part to remember is to make sure the socks are fully dried as the bleach will evaporate once its fully dried. I have used this method for years with no ill effects.
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Thanks again for the responses. I haven't dried the sock yet, but will do that long before I use it. I just bought 4 more today, so have 6 in total. That will allow me to set up a regular cycle, where I can clean and wash several at a time. I ran the first one 5 days before changing, and it was still only about 2/3 of the way dirty, so looks like a sock should last a full week, no problem.
BTW, J&L has these CPR socks on sale right now. They are definitely large socks (7" x 16") with lots of capacity. |
Just a quick update on my recent sock cleaning experience. Some have suggested washing without bleach. I tried that, and after a lot of washing and rinsing, they were still not clean. These 200 micron CPR socks are too thick and stiff to turn inside out, so it is very difficult to wash loose the crud that is stuck in the fibres.
I then soaked them in a bucket with some bleach for a couple days. And almost like magic, the crud was dissolved and easily washed out, clean and white. It took a couple more cycles of rinsing in clear water and then drying to get rid of the bleach smell. But at the end of a week, they were ready for use again. These large socks easily last a week for me, so a weekly cycle is just the right amount of time to get them cleaned and ready for use again. Thanks again to everyone for all your suggestions. Also, for your interest, here are a couple pics of the sock hangar I made out of a scrap piece of lexan. I like working with lexan, as it is easy to cut and shape/form similar to a thin sheet of metal, but is incredibly strong. Works perfectly. http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...edium/0041.JPG http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...edium/0112.JPG |
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You might want to try both, and see which one works best for you. If you can get more than a few days with your 100 micron, that should provide the cleanest water. My 200 micron sock is the felt fibre type. I was told that the mesh ones clog up faster. |
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I think that would be a little overkill. I still expect the skimmer to do its job of nutrient export. The 200 micron sock does a good enough job of catching the bigger bits which helps my skimmer last longer before having to clean off the build-up in the neck. |
Update ...
I haven't been happy with the residual smell of chlorine, so I've stopped using bleach and my socks come out clean enough Turn inside out, rinse very well under hi pressure in laundry tub, into washer on gentle and warm water for 2 cycles Turn right side out and wash 2 more times Stand up on ring to dry I could probably get away with 1/2 the wash cycles, but our water is not yet metered |
I've used bleach from the first time i've washed my filter socks. But I do 2 rinse cycles afterwards. The smell goes away once they dry.
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How much bleach do you use ?
I was using about 1 cup of bleach Even after 3 more wash cycles, I could still smell something once they dried |
I use 1 cap full if that cleans three at once for me, Ive been soaking in a pail to wait till I got 3 to wash so Im trying to decide if its better to soak just in water - smells bad or put some bleach in there too, but makes them really smell of bleach.
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Maybe just soak them in bleach overnight when they're all ready for the wash, or don't soak at all. Try experimenting Quote:
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for removal of chlorines (not chloramines), use SODIUM THIOSULFATE
I don't know why aquarium hobbyists haven't caught on to its use, but it is very common practice in aquaculture. It's commonly available from pool supply places... it's what pool maintenance uses to reduce chlorine in swimming pools. Dissolve sodium thiosulfate (a table spoon or so) in a 5 gallon bucket of freshwater, and soak overnight whatever you're trying to neutralize in residual chlorine. When I was managing marine ornamental aquaculture and needed to sterilize something (tank, habitat etc)... I'd use pool supply chlorine for a soak overnight, then another soak with lots of sodium thiosulfate. |
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Is the same type of product and safe to use to remove bleach from filter socks? |
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