filter sock affecting protein skimmer?

Pescador · #1 10-02-2007, 08:34 AM

I just had a similar reaction with new filter socks. I use a set of three 7" socks and just purchased a bunch in bulk. The first set I rinsed in tap water and no problem everything was fine.
The second set I didn't rinse and I got quite a scare. My skimmers started foaming like nothing I've ever seen, thick like soap suds, the foam was standing up a foot high.
I thought my tank was toast. I shut everything down and rinsed them in tap water and started up again, they foamed a bit and then quit. Everything is fine in the tank but I sure got a scare.
What ever it is on the polyfilters foams like crazy but is non-toxic, and rinses out easily.

robzilla · #2 10-02-2007, 12:35 PM

same thing happened with my new filter socks. takes an hour or two and the skimmer calms down.

Melina · #3 10-02-2007, 10:06 PM

Well after a few hours, it settled down, and now, my skimmer is functioning normally. The water is crystal clear and I am feeling very relieved. I wonder what exactly it is that causes the skimmer to act up like that. Very strange! Thanks for the input... I was relieved to learn that others had experienced this as well and that it was no reason to panic. I will be sure to rinse any new socks from now on!

ed99 · #4 10-02-2007, 10:16 PM

It could have been just little bits of fibre from the fabric itself. Small particles can have big effect of surface properties of an water/oily substance mix so my guess is that these particles led to the skimmer producing a more stable foam until they were out of the system.

wickedfrags · #5 10-02-2007, 10:53 PM

Will not present a problem, they do that if you do not wash them before use. They should be washed thoguh, warm/warm with no detergent or bleach.

Hopefully you purchased micron bags that do not tie to the pipe, but rather have an internal plastic ring. The ones that tie to the pipe can cuase the tank to overflow when clogged.

Snappy · #6 10-03-2007, 06:18 AM

socks should rinsed well before hand.

edgv · #7 10-03-2007, 08:08 PM

I have used the filter socks from J&L for some time now. Always rinse them in RODI water before use though. When dirty I hose them off, again rinse in RODI water before use. New ones or cleaned ones, they always affect my skimmer, Bullet 1, the same way. To deal with this, I put a filter sock/bag on the out flow line of the skimmer. Works great to control the micro bubbles that come from the skimmer until it settles down.

Ed