Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday AM Quick Tip: How to Clean Your Filter Socks
I use and recommend filter socks on saltwater tanks. And just like any mechanical filtration method, they have to be cleaned periodically. Here’s how I clean mine.
Note: I do not use bleach in the washer when I’m washing my socks. I’ve found it isn’t needed. Also, I’m not worried about soap residue that might be in the washer as the amount of residue will be very small and I use the “extra rinse” cycle on my washer.
Browse the Store! Questions?
I suggest you start the washer load as soon as your spouse leaves for weekly grocery shopping or for a hair appointment. That way you can have everything cleaned out of her washer before she returns and she’ll never ask how you keep your socks so clean! Don’t ever forget and leave the socks in the washer or the secret is out!
My wife actually doesn’t mind me using the washer. She would rather have me use the washer and have the look looking good.
Bob Johnson…that’s exactly what I do! I also run the washer through a quick rinse cycle once the socks are out of the washer.
I stopped using filter socks a little while back due to the number of pods I found in the sock every time I rinsed them. Anyone have any good ideas for saving a 100 pods during the rinse out?
I change and wash my socks every 7 days
but I am running 2 socks on 50 Gallons of water
(using 200 micron ESOPP style 4″ circle socks)
Why would I want to change them out more often?
I use 1/2 a cup of bleach
jeff…i clean mine every 3-4 days as after that time they are starting to look dirty. If yours still look clean up to 7 days, that’s fine
Bill…I just pick out the pods I see
200 Micron felt socks – front loader, run a clean cycle before. run on delicate warm w/ socks, bleach, extra rinse, run another delicate cold cycle w/ extra rinse and finally, one more delicate cold cycle w/ extra rinse. then another clean cycle w/out socks. then I rinse socks in RO/DI prior to use… after reading above, I’m guessing I’m going overboard 🙁 – for those that do you bleach, it appears that splashless bleach is very “sudsy” and hard to rinse out (?)
I have always been so worried about soap residue
Mark,
I wash my socks with distilled vinegar. I thought that was the preferred method but things may have changed. I was told any vinegar that gets into the tank from the sock will just feed the bacteria. Thoughts.
Bill, I definitely go through a process of saving pods when I swap my filter sock every 4 days or so. My 9-year-old loves to help with saving the “cute little shrimp” and I have discovered that it is a very convenient way to distribute pods either back to the refugium, to another tank, to a friend’s system or putting up for sale……
Just a thought
I found that using 32 oz of hydrogen peroxide cleans the socks the best way. Double rinse cycle is usually what I do as well. They come out very clean and peroxide is cheap.
Do the filter socks store up phosphates?
My lfs never told me about the whole wash your socks thing. So since I got into reefing back in 2008, I’ve spent about 3 grand in socks. My New Years Tank Resolution is to never use them again. I could have had a whole new tank for 3 grand or a lot of corals! Thanks for this tip Mark. I actually just received my filter socks from Bulk Reef Supply in today. Half the price of the lfs and better quality!
I found the best way and quickest way to wash my filter socks was to use my pressure washer , I found using the washer wouldn’t always remove all the debris from the sock , pressure washer gets it all out in seconds and doesn’t damage the sock , I use the bubble magnus filter socks
My husband doesn’t mind if I use the washer for this. LOL. I use a cap full of bleach is all and works very well. The pod thing has been an issue for me. I never actually thought of looking through the gunk in the sock for the pods. Hmmm, maybe I’ll do that and see if I see any. What I do is dump the water in the sock in the tank as I am taking it out so if there is any swimming they are poured out but if they tend to stick to the cloth then i might have been washing away my pods.
I use bleach and after the sock is out from the washer I soak it for a day with Seachem Prime to make sure there is no smell of bleach left and then dry it and use it
After cleaning the socks I run a quick wash with an empty washing machine and a lttle bleach. It gets rid of the “peir” smell.
I wash mine in the washer with bleach then extra prime. But I only use the sock after I blow off my rocks with the turkey baster.
To save the pods found in the filter socks, I use a clean 5 gal bucket, put sock in the bucket and tap the sock to knock the pods out. This way I can save most if not all of them. Do this several times and try to keep to sock open. Just add some tank water and pour back in. This may also give you a idea of your pod population.
This paragraph will help the internet visitors for setting up new blog or even a weblog from
start to end.
Hi