Messy Filter Socks...

[GMGQ]

Does anyone have any suggestions on maybe an alternative to filter socks?

I used to use one, but it would get gunked up so fast with nasty crap, and it was a PAIN to clean it... and I cant justify throwing it in the washing machine...

???

[DiverDude]

Originally Posted by GMGQ

... and I cant justify throwing it in the washing machine...

???

Errr....why not ?

I have about a dozen socks. I change them out at least once a week and then dump them in a bucket full of water with a little bleach in it. When I'm down to a few clean socks, I pull the dirty ones from the bucket and run a load in the washing machine with nothing (no soap or bleach) and an extra rinse cycle.

Nice and clean.

[GMGQ]

...cuz I've got like... 2 :P

Originally Posted by DiverDude

Errr....why not ?

I have about a dozen socks. I change them out at least once a week and then dump them in a bucket full of water with a little bleach in it. When I'm down to a few clean socks, I pull the dirty ones from the bucket and run a load in the washing machine with nothing (no soap or bleach) and an extra rinse cycle.

Nice and clean.

[ponokareefer]

Originally Posted by GMGQ

...cuz I've got like... 2 :P

Then buy a couple more, store the dirty ones in a plastic bag and do them all at once when they are all dirty. That is what I do.

[GMGQ]

OK, well I'm not going to go out to buy a whack of filter socks just so that I can justify throwing them in the washing machine. I'm looking for a way to make life easier, not create more laundry :S

I guess the next logical question would be, is it even worth it to run filter socks? As Lampshade has suggested, these socks can tend to be bags of nitrates.

[lastlight]

I stopped using my socks as well. Might be my imagination but my polyp extension seems to be better since removing them.

The downside is more particulate matter in the water column and throughout the sump. I imagine the skimmer gets more stuff to take out and there's less rotting in the sock. My nutrients may have gone down some I'm not sure but I do know the liverock compartment of my sump (where I do waterchanges from as well) has a lot more crap settling in it now. I can't easily access this area to suction it out so I may remove this rock from the system. Food for thought maybe...

[Lampshade]

I've been running no socks on my new tank, waters not as crystal clear as it used to be, but nitrates are near 0 which they wheren't with socks on. Also... not cleaning those things is GREAT!