how do you clean your sock filter?

Manuel Martinez · 03/25/2008, 04:37 PM

I use to wash my Sock Filter with only water and brush, but is getting dirty more a more.

I would like to know, how do you clean your sock filter?

SeanT · 03/25/2008, 04:42 PM

I have several.
When I get down to the last clean one I throw them in the washing machine and add a cup or so of bleach.
I let it go through its cycle, use the rinse cycle one more time then I hang to dry.
Been doing it this way for years.

ACBlinky · 03/25/2008, 04:47 PM

That's my preferred cleaning method too. I replace my sock daily and put the dirty ones into a bucket. When I run out of clean ones, I take the entire bucket of socks down to the washing machine. I wash them with a cup of bleach, on the whites cycle (hot water). They come out fresh and clean, good as new. I hang them over the edge of the bucket and within a few hours they're dry and ready to use again.

Manuel Martinez · 03/25/2008, 05:01 PM

Ok thank you, I'll try with a cup of bleach and the washing machine.

packer · 03/25/2008, 05:27 PM

I do the same, but being a bit anal I run two rinse cycles and add some declorinater to the last rinse. Then air dry in the sun. I dont know if you really need the declorinater as the bleach might precipitate out especially dried in the sun, but I figuer its cheaper to do this then chancing and repurchaseing all my SPS and other corals!

reefkeeper135 · 03/25/2008, 08:06 PM

I was nervous about using bleach for a long time but finally gave in....I use HOT water and a cup of bleach and an extra rinse. Be sure to use the "gentle" cycle as the plastics rings dont like to bent from a rough cycle.

Aquarist007 · 03/25/2008, 08:44 PM

I use the bucket but the socks soak in bleach in it until I go through all six. I rinse the bleach soaked socks out in the washtub then send them through the wash.
the chlorine in the bleach will evaporate and cause no harm to the tank
so in the summer I let them evaporate or dry outside--in the winter i send them through the dryer

gman08016 · 03/25/2008, 08:46 PM

I wash mine in bleach with my socks.Been doing it for about a year never had a problem.

Denver aquarist · 03/25/2008, 10:03 PM

wow I use the washer but never used bleach, I was scared that bleach may get into the water......

FlaGuy · 03/25/2008, 10:18 PM

The bleach should be fine as long as you do a couple of plain water rinse cycles after the bleach wash.

SkyPapa · 03/25/2008, 10:54 PM

Hot washing machine and bleach here also.

03/25/2008, 04:37 PM	#1
Manuel Martinez Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 214	how do you clean your sock filter? I use to wash my Sock Filter with only water and brush, but is getting dirty more a more. I would like to know, how do you clean your sock filter?

03/25/2008, 04:42 PM	#2
SeanT Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 13,860	I have several. When I get down to the last clean one I throw them in the washing machine and add a cup or so of bleach. I let it go through its cycle, use the rinse cycle one more time then I hang to dry. Been doing it this way for years. __________________ My tank was cool. Current Tank Info: Barebottom (the tank not me...at least not at the moment).

03/25/2008, 04:47 PM	#3
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	That's my preferred cleaning method too. I replace my sock daily and put the dirty ones into a bucket. When I run out of clean ones, I take the entire bucket of socks down to the washing machine. I wash them with a cup of bleach, on the whites cycle (hot water). They come out fresh and clean, good as new. I hang them over the edge of the bucket and within a few hours they're dry and ready to use again. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

03/25/2008, 08:44 PM	#7
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I use the bucket but the socks soak in bleach in it until I go through all six. I rinse the bleach soaked socks out in the washtub then send them through the wash. the chlorine in the bleach will evaporate and cause no harm to the tank so in the summer I let them evaporate or dry outside--in the winter i send them through the dryer __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

03/25/2008, 05:01 PM	#4
Manuel Martinez Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 214	Ok thank you, I'll try with a cup of bleach and the washing machine.

03/25/2008, 05:27 PM	#5
packer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ventura, Ca Posts: 338	I do the same, but being a bit anal I run two rinse cycles and add some declorinater to the last rinse. Then air dry in the sun. I dont know if you really need the declorinater as the bleach might precipitate out especially dried in the sun, but I figuer its cheaper to do this then chancing and repurchaseing all my SPS and other corals!

03/25/2008, 08:06 PM	#6
reefkeeper135 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 531	I was nervous about using bleach for a long time but finally gave in....I use HOT water and a cup of bleach and an extra rinse. Be sure to use the "gentle" cycle as the plastics rings dont like to bent from a rough cycle.

03/25/2008, 08:46 PM	#8
gman08016 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 137	I wash mine in bleach with my socks.Been doing it for about a year never had a problem.

03/25/2008, 10:03 PM	#9
Denver aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 131	wow I use the washer but never used bleach, I was scared that bleach may get into the water......

03/25/2008, 10:18 PM	#10
FlaGuy Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Schererville, IN Posts: 91	The bleach should be fine as long as you do a couple of plain water rinse cycles after the bleach wash.

03/25/2008, 10:54 PM	#11
SkyPapa Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 994	Hot washing machine and bleach here also.