Messy Filter Socks...

[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...

[Delphinus]

I run my filter sock by itself in the washing machine. I get all a giddy if I can do 2 or 3 but for the most part it's an empty machine. You wouldn't really want anything else in with them.

It works amazingly well. Just a splash of bleach and away we go. I tried just rinsing them by hand really well between uses but that was no good, the smell even after rinsing was too much. Washing machine is the only way to go I think.

I went to 4" socks on my new tank and it's annoying as heck that I have to change them out every 3-4 days or so now though. I'm OK with once a week but more is too much. I am excited to try out some mesh socks as an alternative, just got them in from BRS yesterday. They are a nylon or something similar material, looks like they should just hose off clean and clog far less often. Might be something you want to look into if you're not comfortable with cleaning yours in the washing machine.

[Zoaelite]

BRS sells them super cheap, I bought 10 and just rotate them out. When all 10 are dirty they go threw two wash cycles, a sani cycle and then an extra long hot wash.

[lastlight]

These mesh ones don't filter to the same micron level tho do they?

[whatcaneyedo]

If you don't want to run them then don't. I personally feel that I need to use them because of my poorly designed overflow which creates a massive amount of micro bubbles.

[jon.smolders]

I heard that washing filter socks in the washing machine can be a source of phosphates? Even if you don't use soap, it could pick up soap residue from inside the machine. Anybody have issues with this? I turn mine inside out and clean it in the bathtub, but then again, I don't have much of a bioload right now so they're not that dirty. It is a pain though.

I like the nylon bag idea... Maybe even just a media bag would work... Or double or triple them up if they're not fine enough.

[Milad]

Why hasn't anyone suggested filter floss material? Since i switched to the filter floss, I find it better than the filter socks (water seems clearer)
I think i spent 6 bucks a couple months ago on the filter floss and still have tons left. I dont reuse, i just throw them away

[Funky_Fish14]

Originally Posted by jon.smolders

I heard that washing filter socks in the washing machine can be a source of phosphates? Even if you don't use soap, it could pick up soap residue from inside the machine.

Not totally sure on this... or the complete details of it... but im pretty sure that some regulations came out many years ago banning the use of phosphorous entirely from detergents?

Cheers

Chris

[DiverDude]

Originally Posted by jon.smolders

I heard that washing filter socks in the washing machine can be a source of phosphates? Even if you don't use soap, it could pick up soap residue from inside the machine. Anybody have issues with this?

My skimmer would go nuts every time I put in a clean sock (even though I run no soap, no bleach and do a second rinse cycle). Now, I rinse each sock thoroughly with tap water and then RO before it goes back in the sump.

No problems now.