Messy Filter Socks...

[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

[tidal_waters]

Originally Posted by 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

Same here, a filter sock wasn't an option and wasn't really thought about during my build. So a drain guard follow by a trip to Micheals to grab that knitting stuff, fill it in with floss and voila! So far so good, I change it out every few days and toss it!

[mws]

Originally Posted by 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

I will try this. Do you buy it from the fish store?
Big Al's sell it for 15$ a big bag in Calgary.

[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.

[staceyd72]

For anyone interested in the mesh socks, I found some on the BWI website, same price as BRS; I just ordered a couple myself, hopefully they're more durable than the felt ones.

[Funky_Fish14]

So I like the clarity im getting from my (felt) filter socks... have about... 10-14? Put them in the wash, heavy duty mode, super cycle, HOT water, big 'splash' of bleach, extra rinse.... and out they come, with all the gunk that was in them inside the inner seams. Now, I pretty much feel like all the crud that was in them was washed around and condensed into the seam of each sock. The main body of the socks are clean but they are all full of gunk in the bottoms/side seam. What did I mess up? I would feel ridiculous throwing out socks all the time and just buying more.

Do the mesh socks clean out much easier?

[whatcaneyedo]

You also need to turn them inside out.

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

You also need to turn them inside out.

I do this too, works great