how do you clean your socks?

memorisa · 07/31/2008, 02:18 PM

hey guys,

after following the advice from many fellow RCers, i took out all the bioballs and the coral rubble that was in my trickle filter, and replaced it with a filter sock

having seen what has actually left out of the water column, i couldnt be any happier. it got real dirty in less than 5 days, prolly a result from having all the shiz stirred up in the balls and rubble as i took em out (i took out 25% a week btw)

i actually bought two. reading from other guys' experience here. now my question is how do i clean out the disgusting stuff out of the sock... i know i can't really use it in the washing machine b/c ther's chemical residue there right?

thanks in advance

nauticac4 · 07/31/2008, 02:35 PM

I'd buy about 5 more cause your going to want to change them every 2-3 days so they dont release unwanted nutrients into the water. That being said

I wash mine turned inside out on a regular cycle in the washer with the extra rinse and a little bit of clorox. If they smell like bleach after I take them out and hang them to dry I will run them again with no bleach. I have not had a problem doing it this way and I have done this for the last 6 or 7 months.

aquaman67 · 07/31/2008, 03:05 PM

To clean the micro filter on a HOT Magnum filter you use a 3:1 bleach mix so I'd say bleach is ok. I'd rinse it out very well and let it dry before using it.

eskymick · 07/31/2008, 04:30 PM

I put mine in the washing machine with my other underwear ... warm water, no bleach.

SSalty · 07/31/2008, 05:26 PM

I don't understand when people say to change to sock every 2 days. If you are regular with your water changes and have a effecient skimmer, you will be fine for 5 to 7 days. Well, alteast it works for me.

sanababit · 07/31/2008, 05:27 PM

bleach and a little soap, nothing has happened in the las 8 months i have been doing this, if you dont want to use soap the just use bleach and you will be all set, btw i wash them with my dirty socks, rags, underware, etc

Before i forget, i have had the same 4 socks since i started this hobby 15 months ago, so dont go into buying/exchanging/throwing away BS, use the same ones and save some money

sana

vsnph · 07/31/2008, 06:56 PM

Wash in tap water, then soak for about 30min in 100ppm bleached solution. Wring it an hang dry.

Quote:

Originally posted by SSalty
I don't understand when people say to change to sock every 2 days. If you are regular with your water changes and have a effecient skimmer, you will be fine for 5 to 7 days. Well, alteast it works for me.

Yup, but regular WC doesn't get all the detritus we wanted out of our system. Same as efficient skimming, as not all water passes through our skimmer, some untreated/raw/dirty water by-passes the skimmer and goes through the socks. These raw water has some detritus that a day or two is enough for them to decompose and add undesirable nutrients to our water column.

luvreefs23 · 07/31/2008, 07:03 PM

i turn mine inside out and wash in a warm cycle with xtra rinse...no soap or bleach. Works great.

memorisa · 07/31/2008, 11:12 PM

thanks guys,

if my understanding is correct, bleach is safer than soap yeah?

perhaps i was mistakenly lead to believe that any chemical usage is bad when it comes to aquarium stuff

sps1-2-b · 08/01/2008, 12:09 AM

I change my filter sock out twice a week and throw the dirty ones in the washer, no soap, no bleach. Over a year now without any problems.

IridescentLily · 08/01/2008, 12:21 AM

I clean my socks by pbitawa.

SALT WATER CRAZ · 08/01/2008, 12:26 AM

I put mine in the washing machine with warm water, mild bleach, two rinse cycles. Dry them, and there good to go.

memorisa · 08/01/2008, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IridescentLily
I clean my socks by pbitawa.

what's pbitawa?

yerboy · 08/01/2008, 06:39 AM

i just put mine in the washing machine with no soap and run it thru twice and just let it air dry.

tcwayne · 08/01/2008, 06:39 AM

Change mine daily and shoot with a hose. All good.

inachu · 08/01/2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aquaman67
To clean the micro filter on a HOT Magnum filter you use a 3:1 bleach mix so I'd say bleach is ok. I'd rinse it out very well and let it dry before using it.

they use socks on the HOT MAGNUM?!?!?!

I own one....

Azazael13 · 08/01/2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IridescentLily
I clean my socks by pbitawa.

Seconded

neepsync · 08/01/2008, 12:10 PM

I've alway used a little bleach in the washing machine for my filter sock and everything was great until...... my wife changed the bleach brand and I didn't notice. The problem happened when I put in clean filter socks that were washed with this "new bleach." Everything seemed fine until about an hour later a noticed bubbles on the surface water of my sump and huge bubbles in my protein skimmer collector. They looked like play bubbles that kids use. Well this new bleach was labeled "Splash-less" Clorox. I immediately stopped using it and just use plain ol' Clorox and have no more problems. So, make sure the wife doesn't change brands on you.

07/31/2008, 02:18 PM	#1
memorisa protoZOA Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Turkey Posts: 465	how do you clean your socks? hey guys, after following the advice from many fellow RCers, i took out all the bioballs and the coral rubble that was in my trickle filter, and replaced it with a filter sock having seen what has actually left out of the water column, i couldnt be any happier. it got real dirty in less than 5 days, prolly a result from having all the shiz stirred up in the balls and rubble as i took em out (i took out 25% a week btw) i actually bought two. reading from other guys' experience here. now my question is how do i clean out the disgusting stuff out of the sock... i know i can't really use it in the washing machine b/c ther's chemical residue there right? thanks in advance __________________ Memo - ----------- I <3 Zoas! Current Tank Info: 1000 lt. (265 gal) zoa dominated mixed reef - 2+ year old

07/31/2008, 02:35 PM	#2
nauticac4 Baby Fish Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,237	I'd buy about 5 more cause your going to want to change them every 2-3 days so they dont release unwanted nutrients into the water. That being said I wash mine turned inside out on a regular cycle in the washer with the extra rinse and a little bit of clorox. If they smell like bleach after I take them out and hang them to dry I will run them again with no bleach. I have not had a problem doing it this way and I have done this for the last 6 or 7 months. __________________ Put Wings on it and Let it Fly!!! PBITAWA !!! Current Tank Info: 180 Cube 3x3x3. 29Gallon Sump 20 Gallon Fuge (1) Lumenarc Reflector w. 250W ARO Ballast and - Modded GS1 Skimmer - Eheim 1262 Return - Vortech MP40W and Swirler Stein

07/31/2008, 04:30 PM	#4
eskymick Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pulaski, WI Posts: 1,368	I put mine in the washing machine with my other underwear ... warm water, no bleach. __________________ SG - 1.025 pH - 8.1 NH4/NH3 - 0 mg/L NO2 - .003 mg/L NO3 - .2 mg/L Calc. - 420 dKH - 8.0 Flow ~ 80x Current Tank Info: 24" cube SPS Reef, 15 gal sump, 1- LumenBright Pendant with 250w 20K Phoenix lamp, 1 - Vortech MP40, ATB 840 v1.5 skimmer.

07/31/2008, 05:26 PM	#5
SSalty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 562	I don't understand when people say to change to sock every 2 days. If you are regular with your water changes and have a effecient skimmer, you will be fine for 5 to 7 days. Well, alteast it works for me. __________________ "once you've tasted excess, everything else tastes bland"

07/31/2008, 05:27 PM	#6
sanababit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uranus Posts: 3,094	bleach and a little soap, nothing has happened in the las 8 months i have been doing this, if you dont want to use soap the just use bleach and you will be all set, btw i wash them with my dirty socks, rags, underware, etc Before i forget, i have had the same 4 socks since i started this hobby 15 months ago, so dont go into buying/exchanging/throwing away BS, use the same ones and save some money sana __________________ Senior Member of the "Hardly any Water Changes, Temp Swinging, T5ing, No Qtining, Frag Exchanging for Fish Food Current Tank Info: 90RR inwall, Octopuss Skimmer, 2 MP40 wQD, 1 MP10 WQD, 2 Radions G4 Pro, Apex Doser, Apex Controller, 400w heater, 30 Gal Sump, Biopellets, Carbon, Gfo, Macroalgae

07/31/2008, 03:05 PM	#3
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629	To clean the micro filter on a HOT Magnum filter you use a 3:1 bleach mix so I'd say bleach is ok. I'd rinse it out very well and let it dry before using it.

07/31/2008, 07:03 PM	#8
luvreefs23 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 758	i turn mine inside out and wash in a warm cycle with xtra rinse...no soap or bleach. Works great.

07/31/2008, 11:12 PM	#9
memorisa protoZOA Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Turkey Posts: 465	thanks guys, if my understanding is correct, bleach is safer than soap yeah? perhaps i was mistakenly lead to believe that any chemical usage is bad when it comes to aquarium stuff __________________ Memo - ----------- I <3 Zoas! Current Tank Info: 1000 lt. (265 gal) zoa dominated mixed reef - 2+ year old

08/01/2008, 12:09 AM	#10
sps1-2-b Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 1,248	I change my filter sock out twice a week and throw the dirty ones in the washer, no soap, no bleach. Over a year now without any problems.

08/01/2008, 12:21 AM	#11
IridescentLily Editor-Reefkeeping mag Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 3,858 Blog Entries: 5	I clean my socks by pbitawa. __________________ ~April Editor-Reefkeeping Magazine

08/01/2008, 12:26 AM	#12
SALT WATER CRAZ Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: michigan Posts: 872	I put mine in the washing machine with warm water, mild bleach, two rinse cycles. Dry them, and there good to go.

08/01/2008, 06:39 AM	#14
yerboy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 275	i just put mine in the washing machine with no soap and run it thru twice and just let it air dry.

08/01/2008, 06:39 AM	#15
tcwayne OLDGUY-OG Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, Florida Posts: 2,645	Change mine daily and shoot with a hose. All good. __________________ Chuck

08/01/2008, 12:10 PM	#18
neepsync Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Omaha Posts: 65	I've alway used a little bleach in the washing machine for my filter sock and everything was great until...... my wife changed the bleach brand and I didn't notice. The problem happened when I put in clean filter socks that were washed with this "new bleach." Everything seemed fine until about an hour later a noticed bubbles on the surface water of my sump and huge bubbles in my protein skimmer collector. They looked like play bubbles that kids use. Well this new bleach was labeled "Splash-less" Clorox. I immediately stopped using it and just use plain ol' Clorox and have no more problems. So, make sure the wife doesn't change brands on you.