Best way to clean a 100 micron sock?

steveboo · 05/26/2006, 08:07 PM

Hello all,

This may sound a little dumb, but I was wandering what is the best way to clean a 100 micron sock? I rinse them and turn them inside-out but it still does not seem to get everything out. Any of your tips or tricks would be most helpful. Oh yeah and what is the life span of a sock?

Thanks, Steve

GW Shark · 05/26/2006, 08:16 PM

After rinsing, wash them in the washing machine with bleach only, no soap. Run an extra rinse, and then dry in the dryer. Works beautifully and they come out white and clean.

steveboo · 05/26/2006, 08:20 PM

Thanks GW , I thought about that ,but was not sure about using bleach. I didnt know if it would cause any problems or not.

szwab · 05/26/2006, 08:37 PM

careful too much bleach will eat away at the sock. do an extra rinse after the wash and you should be good to go!

t-dizzle · 05/26/2006, 09:46 PM

Can filter socks and filter media bags be hand-washed effectively? It seems so terribly wasteful to wash a couple filter socks on an extended cycle all by themselves.

T./

KEITHMC · 05/26/2006, 10:07 PM

i do the same rinse then in the washer with bleach on the longest cycle with extra rinse but i do not dry mine in the dryer i air dry it and i let it sit out of the system for at least 3 days to allow and extra bleach to dissipate. never put a sock in the system that you can smell bleach on also i had my son come in behind me 1 time and throw other laundry in on top of it and he loaded it up with detergent and fabric softner long story short i put it not not knowing as soon as it touched the water the skimmer went crazy and i knew something was up pulled it out was in less than 10sec's but i lost $900 dollars worth of corals and the ones that made it just are not the same. so be carefull putting these things in the washer.

MplsMan · 05/27/2006, 11:52 PM

I've been washing my filter socks for almost 2 yrs in the washing machine, with hot water and 1 cup bleach, then i rince in cold water , let dry, never had a problem with bleach smell, they come out white every time.

White Tiger · 05/28/2006, 01:55 AM

They have a lifespan of around 1 year.

Danables · 05/28/2006, 02:04 AM

I just use the hose with a high power head. works fine been doing it for 5 years now. I change out the socks every year.

dgunn · 05/28/2006, 06:43 AM

I turn mine inside out, try to rescue all the mysis that I can, then put it in the washer with the lowest water level and shortest cycle possible. I will sometimes rinse a second time. It doesn't come out perfectly clean but much better.

On a side note how long do you guys have them on your system at a time. I usually run them for a couple of days, especially after cleaning the bottom of the tank and blowing off the rocks. Then wash them out and wait a week before doing it again.

frank2926 · 05/28/2006, 06:46 AM

how often to change depends on bio load and how much you feed. I change mine every 3 days.

steveboo · 05/28/2006, 07:59 PM

Thanks for all the replies, I just got my 220 running about two weeks ago and it seems I have to change my sock out about every three days. Its amazing what that 100 micron catches.

Steve

beanoil · 05/28/2006, 10:01 PM

Yeah, try a 25 micron--leave it on for a couple days, and water starts to overflow the top of the sock...

goetzc · 05/28/2006, 10:07 PM

Excellent question and answers.

MdM31 · 05/28/2006, 10:51 PM

i throw mine in the wash with a tad of bleach. works like a charm everytime, then i hang them to air dry.

05/26/2006, 08:07 PM	#1
steveboo Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh , PA Posts: 163	Best way to clean a 100 micron sock? Hello all, This may sound a little dumb, but I was wandering what is the best way to clean a 100 micron sock? I rinse them and turn them inside-out but it still does not seem to get everything out. Any of your tips or tricks would be most helpful. Oh yeah and what is the life span of a sock? Thanks, Steve __________________ "I need a bigger house so I can get a bigger tank." Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

05/26/2006, 08:20 PM	#3
steveboo Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh , PA Posts: 163	Thanks GW , I thought about that ,but was not sure about using bleach. I didnt know if it would cause any problems or not. __________________ "I need a bigger house so I can get a bigger tank." Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

05/26/2006, 08:37 PM	#4
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	careful too much bleach will eat away at the sock. do an extra rinse after the wash and you should be good to go! __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

05/26/2006, 09:46 PM	#5
t-dizzle Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 158	Can filter socks and filter media bags be hand-washed effectively? It seems so terribly wasteful to wash a couple filter socks on an extended cycle all by themselves. T./ __________________ "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan Visit my gallery to see my tank evolve from bare glass into a beautiful reef! Current Tank Info: 26 bowfront w/ 40 lbs. Fiji LR, 40 lbs. sand, Remora, 2 MJ1200 PHs, 65w dual daylight/65w dual actinic/moonlight, various snails, 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 diamond goby, 1 skunk cleaner shrimp, and a bunch of softies, mushrooms and zoos slowly moving in!

05/28/2006, 02:04 AM	#9
Danables Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 338	I just use the hose with a high power head. works fine been doing it for 5 years now. I change out the socks every year. __________________ ><///> Steve Zissou: Don't point that gun at him, he's an unpaid intern. ><///> Current Tank Info: 100gal tank mixed Reef

05/26/2006, 08:16 PM	#2
GW Shark Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 124	After rinsing, wash them in the washing machine with bleach only, no soap. Run an extra rinse, and then dry in the dryer. Works beautifully and they come out white and clean.

05/26/2006, 10:07 PM	#6
KEITHMC Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 151	i do the same rinse then in the washer with bleach on the longest cycle with extra rinse but i do not dry mine in the dryer i air dry it and i let it sit out of the system for at least 3 days to allow and extra bleach to dissipate. never put a sock in the system that you can smell bleach on also i had my son come in behind me 1 time and throw other laundry in on top of it and he loaded it up with detergent and fabric softner long story short i put it not not knowing as soon as it touched the water the skimmer went crazy and i knew something was up pulled it out was in less than 10sec's but i lost $900 dollars worth of corals and the ones that made it just are not the same. so be carefull putting these things in the washer.

05/27/2006, 11:52 PM	#7
MplsMan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mpls,Mn Posts: 540	I've been washing my filter socks for almost 2 yrs in the washing machine, with hot water and 1 cup bleach, then i rince in cold water , let dry, never had a problem with bleach smell, they come out white every time.

05/28/2006, 01:55 AM	#8
White Tiger Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 348	They have a lifespan of around 1 year.

05/28/2006, 06:43 AM	#10
dgunn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 345	I turn mine inside out, try to rescue all the mysis that I can, then put it in the washer with the lowest water level and shortest cycle possible. I will sometimes rinse a second time. It doesn't come out perfectly clean but much better. On a side note how long do you guys have them on your system at a time. I usually run them for a couple of days, especially after cleaning the bottom of the tank and blowing off the rocks. Then wash them out and wait a week before doing it again.

05/28/2006, 06:46 AM	#11
frank2926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: phila Posts: 1,645	how often to change depends on bio load and how much you feed. I change mine every 3 days.

05/28/2006, 07:59 PM	#12
steveboo Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh , PA Posts: 163	Thanks for all the replies, I just got my 220 running about two weeks ago and it seems I have to change my sock out about every three days. Its amazing what that 100 micron catches. Steve __________________ "I need a bigger house so I can get a bigger tank." Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

05/28/2006, 10:01 PM	#13
beanoil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: PA Posts: 336	Yeah, try a 25 micron--leave it on for a couple days, and water starts to overflow the top of the sock...

05/28/2006, 10:07 PM	#14
goetzc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chanhassen, MN Posts: 141	Excellent question and answers.

05/28/2006, 10:51 PM	#15
MdM31 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Fairfax, Virginia Posts: 462	i throw mine in the wash with a tad of bleach. works like a charm everytime, then i hang them to air dry. __________________ 225 Miracles In Glass Aquarium, never been happier Current Tank Info: 360 gallon system