Need some quick help

jk1nole · 12/20/2009, 05:29 PM

Tank is about 6 weeks old....

Doing a normal water change today. I decided to install a filter sock on my sump when I was done. I did something dumb and forgot to rinse it first.

After running for a few minutes the sump has started to foam a little and the skimmer is loading up with what looks like soap bubbles, but I don't think that is what it is.

The tank started to cloud up some then I unplugged the sump pump and it is clearing again.

What should I do?? No stores are open to get fresh water. Should I put the sock back on not that is is rinsed? It is a little foamy in the sump still. Skimmer is running

My acan and frogspawn do not look happy.

Chiefsurfer · 12/20/2009, 05:43 PM

I would leave the sock out, if you have enough flow in your main tank without the return pump on, leave it off. Let the sump clear up, once it clears up, turn it on again. Might want to run the sump a LITTLE wet. I'd rather have low healthy water than high dirty water. Just my $.02

laxer23 · 12/20/2009, 06:36 PM

I agree take care of the sump and isolate it from the main

jk1nole · 12/20/2009, 06:43 PM

Well it has gotten better. I ran the skimmer in the sump and then turned on the sump again. The foaming has stopped for the most part and the Acan started to open back. I have rinsed the filter sock over and over and over again. Should I attempt to reinstall the sock?

Lightsluvr · 12/20/2009, 06:45 PM

Yikes. I bet you won't do that again... (we all learn from our screwups)

It was good that you caught the problem. As suggested above, Isolate the sump until you can change out the water. Is there a place you can toss a bag of carbon in the tank? Do you have fish, inverts or coral in there yet? Any signs of stress on the tank occupants?

When you say you forgot to "rinse" the sock, are you saying you use soap or detergent to clean them??? If the answer is yes, I would never use those socks again. It's just not worth the risk for a $4 filter sock.

I use 12 filter socks a week on my system. For years, I have tossed them in a front loading clothes washer with ONLY a half cup of original Clorox chlorine bleach. (No additives, perfumes or any of that stuff) Run them on the delicate cycle, then run a second cycle with plain water and air dry.

If they are just new socks that you forgot to rinse, I wouldn't worry too much. It's the soap or other chemical that could mess up your tank.

Good luck.

LL

jk1nole · 12/20/2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightsluvr

Yikes. I bet you won't do that again... (we all learn from our screwups)

It was good that you caught the problem. As suggested above, Isolate the sump until you can change out the water. Is there a place you can toss a bag of carbon in the tank? Do you have fish, inverts or coral in there yet? Any signs of stress on the tank occupants?

When you say you forgot to "rinse" the sock, are you saying you use soap or detergent to clean them??? If the answer is yes, I would never use those socks again. It's just not worth the risk for a $4 filter sock.

I use 12 filter socks a week on my system. For years, I have tossed them in a front loading clothes washer with ONLY a half cup of original Clorox chlorine bleach. (No additives, perfumes or any of that stuff) Run them on the delicate cycle, then run a second cycle with plain water and air dry.

If they are just new socks that you forgot to rinse, I wouldn't worry too much. It's the soap or other chemical that could mess up your tank.

Good luck.

LL

Yeah, that will not happen again. I just have 3 little fish, inverts, and a few corals. The only stress I saw was the Acan and Frogspawn start to close up.

I have started the sump again and the water in the sump seems to have cleared and settled. The corals are opening up again.

I would never clean with soap. It was brand new and I just forgot to rinse it with clean water.

It seems to have calmed down, but the issue had me freaking out.

sedor · 12/20/2009, 07:06 PM

+1 if the sock is brand new and there wasn't a warning on the packaging stating to specifically rinse the product, then its probably nothing.

jk1nole · 12/20/2009, 07:53 PM

Seems to be getting clearer by the minute. No more foam. Thanks for the help and calming my fears.

Lightsluvr · 12/21/2009, 01:57 AM

Good news!

LL

12/20/2009, 05:29 PM	#1
jk1nole Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 211	Need some quick help Tank is about 6 weeks old.... Doing a normal water change today. I decided to install a filter sock on my sump when I was done. I did something dumb and forgot to rinse it first. After running for a few minutes the sump has started to foam a little and the skimmer is loading up with what looks like soap bubbles, but I don't think that is what it is. The tank started to cloud up some then I unplugged the sump pump and it is clearing again. What should I do?? No stores are open to get fresh water. Should I put the sock back on not that is is rinsed? It is a little foamy in the sump still. Skimmer is running My acan and frogspawn do not look happy.

12/20/2009, 06:45 PM	#5
Lightsluvr Tangaroa to 500 gallons Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,855	Yikes. I bet you won't do that again... (we all learn from our screwups) It was good that you caught the problem. As suggested above, Isolate the sump until you can change out the water. Is there a place you can toss a bag of carbon in the tank? Do you have fish, inverts or coral in there yet? Any signs of stress on the tank occupants? When you say you forgot to "rinse" the sock, are you saying you use soap or detergent to clean them??? If the answer is yes, I would never use those socks again. It's just not worth the risk for a $4 filter sock. I use 12 filter socks a week on my system. For years, I have tossed them in a front loading clothes washer with ONLY a half cup of original Clorox chlorine bleach. (No additives, perfumes or any of that stuff) Run them on the delicate cycle, then run a second cycle with plain water and air dry. If they are just new socks that you forgot to rinse, I wouldn't worry too much. It's the soap or other chemical that could mess up your tank. Good luck. LL __________________ Click on my username and select "Lightsluvr's Home Page" for a recap of our build thread - AGE Hybrid Tank in a 500G system with dedicated fish room. (Takes a few minutes for photos to load) Leave a note if you stop by... Current Tank Info: 350G AGE Hybrid reef tank. 500G+ total water volume. Three sumps for filtration. Barracuda Gold return and Hammerhead Gold closed loop pumps. DIY T5 light system on rails. MP40W x3 to supplement closed loop. 130G Water management system.

12/20/2009, 07:06 PM	#7
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	+1 if the sock is brand new and there wasn't a warning on the packaging stating to specifically rinse the product, then its probably nothing. __________________ Ryan

12/21/2009, 01:57 AM	#9
Lightsluvr Tangaroa to 500 gallons Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,855	Good news! LL __________________ Click on my username and select "Lightsluvr's Home Page" for a recap of our build thread - AGE Hybrid Tank in a 500G system with dedicated fish room. (Takes a few minutes for photos to load) Leave a note if you stop by... Current Tank Info: 350G AGE Hybrid reef tank. 500G+ total water volume. Three sumps for filtration. Barracuda Gold return and Hammerhead Gold closed loop pumps. DIY T5 light system on rails. MP40W x3 to supplement closed loop. 130G Water management system.

12/20/2009, 05:43 PM	#2
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	I would leave the sock out, if you have enough flow in your main tank without the return pump on, leave it off. Let the sump clear up, once it clears up, turn it on again. Might want to run the sump a LITTLE wet. I'd rather have low healthy water than high dirty water. Just my $.02

12/20/2009, 06:36 PM	#3
laxer23 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York Posts: 56	I agree take care of the sump and isolate it from the main

12/20/2009, 06:43 PM	#4
jk1nole Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 211	Well it has gotten better. I ran the skimmer in the sump and then turned on the sump again. The foaming has stopped for the most part and the Acan started to open back. I have rinsed the filter sock over and over and over again. Should I attempt to reinstall the sock?

12/20/2009, 07:53 PM	#8
jk1nole Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 211	Seems to be getting clearer by the minute. No more foam. Thanks for the help and calming my fears.