Is there an easy mode filter sock maintenance?

[Laith]

If you have the space and budget, get a roller filter instead. Socks are only efficient if they are cleaned every two to three days. A rollermat type filter takes stuff out of the water column automatically.

I tried socks for about a month in my old tank and gave up as it was such a pain to keep up with the swapping and washing.

But that was me. Others have great success with socks if they can keep up with the maintenance.

 

[scowall]

preface: I like my fairly ultra simple big tank. UV and ATS. It is a waterbox 230.6, and with it does have two 7" filter socks. I could take them out and not worry about it, and I know plenty of people who do this....

But, I like the idea of a sock or a filter mat.

So the title is the question, is there an easy filter sock maintenance mode? I can't just throw them in the washer because the salt will eventually tear up the washing machine. That just isn't acceptable.

But standing out in the yard, with a hose, blasting out all of the debry sucks.

So is my "EZ Mode" a new filter roller for this tank, or is there an answer to deal with filter socks reasonably easily, that doesn't involve just buying more and more and more. The WB filter socks are NOT cheap, and there is no cheap alternative.

I put mine in the washer with a splash of Clorox, put in the sun to dry and air out. I have never had a problem with this method.

 

[Steverd]

Yes, I overthink it and try to save the copepods that somehow gets into the sock and put back into the tank.
Anyone else do this and just ignore them?

 

[Jerfatico]

I have 10, use 2 at a time. When I get to the last 2 I throw all of them in the washer with a lot of bleech. Extra rinse cycle and then put them out in the sun to dry for several hours.

 

[edd59]

bleach is an acid and doesnt ruin your washer so neither will the miniscule amount of salt thats in the sock

 

[BAMslam93]

preface: I like my fairly ultra simple big tank. UV and ATS. It is a waterbox 230.6, and it does have two 7" filter socks. I could take them out and not worry about it, and I know plenty of people who do this....

But, I like the idea of a sock or a filter mat.

So the title is the question, is there an easy filter sock maintenance mode? I can't just throw them in the washer because the salt will eventually tear up the washing machine. That just isn't acceptable.

But standing out in the yard, with a hose, blasting out all of the debry sucks.

So is my "EZ Mode" a new filter roller for this tank, or is there an answer to deal with filter socks reasonably easily, that doesn't involve just buying more and more and more. The WB filter socks are NOT cheap, and there is no cheap alternative.

I have a much smaller 15 gallon but I like to run my clothes washer through a self-clean cycle to get rid of all detergent residue. Then I throw my dirty filter socks in and add three capfuls of non-scented bleach. Depending on how much gunk there is, sometimes I need to put them through the wash twice lol

 

[BZOFIQ]

"I" have been washing 20+ socks every month in our Samsung front loader for over 10 years! They get a 1st wash with Chlorox and second inside out with no chlorox or with chlorox (depending on how white they are after first wash) and extra rinse.

Not only is my wife not against it, she is the one doing it for me!

If that's not love, I dont know what is.

To the OP, use the machine, nothing wrong with it. Socks come out looking new.

 

[RedReefer]

preface: I like my fairly ultra simple big tank. UV and ATS. It is a waterbox 230.6, and it does have two 7" filter socks. I could take them out and not worry about it, and I know plenty of people who do this....

But, I like the idea of a sock or a filter mat.

So the title is the question, is there an easy filter sock maintenance mode? I can't just throw them in the washer because the salt will eventually tear up the washing machine. That just isn't acceptable.

But standing out in the yard, with a hose, blasting out all of the debry sucks.

So is my "EZ Mode" a new filter roller for this tank, or is there an answer to deal with filter socks reasonably easily, that doesn't involve just buying more and more and more. The WB filter socks are NOT cheap, and there is no cheap alternative.

I use Reef diaper. No washing. Just throw away and replace.

 

[RobertK]

Hey Bryan, what did you end up doing about this and how is that working out for you?

I'm planning a new system (tank, stand and sump) and trying to decide whether to even include filter socks in my new sump. I never ran filter socks or other mechanical filtration for 20 years in my old tank. Seems like all the sumps nowadays have filter socks. I don't want to mess with a fleece roller either. I'm more concerned about minimizing water noise from the sump, especially the filter sock area. Thanks!

 

[skey44]

Hey Bryan, what did you end up doing about this and how is that working out for you?

I'm planning a new system (tank, stand and sump) and trying to decide whether to even include filter socks in my new sump. I never ran filter socks or other mechanical filtration for 20 years in my old tank. Seems like all the sumps nowadays have filter socks. I don't want to mess with a fleece roller either. I'm more concerned about minimizing water noise from the sump, especially the filter sock area. Thanks!

Why do some do so.

Or like me just leave it alone. My latest tank is about 5 years old now. I have never cleaned my sump. Why haven't I? Well let me start by stating, I have no filter floss, no socks and no roller mat. Apart from a skimmer there is nothing else to particulate like detritus out. So back to the...

www.reef2reef.com

An active thread discussing this here. I currently use poly-fil in cups. I’m planning to go back to no mechanical filtration. Just an extra maintenance step that doesn’t produce different results is my reasoning.

 

[BryanM]

Hey Bryan, what did you end up doing about this and how is that working out for you?

I'm planning a new system (tank, stand and sump) and trying to decide whether to even include filter socks in my new sump. I never ran filter socks or other mechanical filtration for 20 years in my old tank. Seems like all the sumps nowadays have filter socks. I don't want to mess with a fleece roller either. I'm more concerned about minimizing water noise from the sump, especially the filter sock area. Thanks!

I just switched to cups and floss, we'll see how that goes.

 

[Reef Puncher]

I just switched to cups and floss, we'll see how that goes.

thats what i do. its soooo much easier than socks. this is the cheapest and best floss with least amount of floss shedding, that i have found so far. i cut it into 6"x6" squares and toss it every few days. soooo much easier.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I just switched to cups and floss, we'll see how that goes.

I did that for a while, then found socks to be easier to replace.

 

[Reef Puncher]

I did that for a while, then found socks to be easier to replace.

washing socks you think was easier than throwing something in trash? it takes about 5 min to cut 2 months worth of squares. then all you do is toss it every few days.

 

[BryanM]

thats what i do. its soooo much easier than socks. this is the cheapest and best floss with least amount of floss shedding, that i have found so far. i cut it into 6"x6" squares and toss it every few days. soooo much easier.

whats this cutting you speak of? I just grabbed a big handful and shoved it in the cup

 

[TX_REEF]

preface: I like my fairly ultra simple big tank. UV and ATS. It is a waterbox 230.6, and it does have two 7" filter socks. I could take them out and not worry about it, and I know plenty of people who do this....

But, I like the idea of a sock or a filter mat.

So the title is the question, is there an easy filter sock maintenance mode? I can't just throw them in the washer because the salt will eventually tear up the washing machine. That just isn't acceptable.

But standing out in the yard, with a hose, blasting out all of the debry sucks.

So is my "EZ Mode" a new filter roller for this tank, or is there an answer to deal with filter socks reasonably easily, that doesn't involve just buying more and more and more. The WB filter socks are NOT cheap, and there is no cheap alternative.

why not use a handful of filter floss inside the socks, and just toss and replace regularly? I use this stuff, cheap and easy to cut to size: https://amzn.to/4i8ucFR

 

[BryanM]

why not use a handful of filter floss inside the socks, and just toss and replace regularly? I use this stuff, cheap and easy to cut to size: https://amzn.to/4i8ucFR

I just switched to this, seeing how it goes.

 

[X-37B]

400 microm nylon socks. You can put floss in if you want and it works better than cups. I have both and run with no floss. It captures the big stuff and let's the good stuff through.
If I am cleaning overflow I can just drop in floss or run some 200 micron felt socks to catch everything
I run 400 micron mesh socks on 4 systems and clean only when needed. I can easily go for 30 days without touching them.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I store my old socks in a bucket with bleach water. When it fills up, I wash them with bleach in the washer with an extra rinse cycle. I’ve been doing this for years with no issues.

 

[BZOFIQ]

washing socks you think was easier than throwing something in trash? it takes about 5 min to cut 2 months worth of squares. then all you do is toss it every few days.

YES, I just swap socks, take dirty socks and put in a bin behind the house. When that bin is full, probably 25-30 socks, it's laundry day. No mess, no fuss.

When I used cups, I noticed there is water channeling on the sides of Polly fill, something you don't get with a sock. Another benefit, socks will fill up in about 3-4 days, I get a text message from APEX and a beep at the tank and someone, anyone in my household replaces them - both kids trained. The most important thing, the crud is immediately taken out of circulation and my sump is spotless and it has never been cleaned.

With cups you get extended use but the stuff you're catching just gets dissolved right back into the water column when the cup isn't addressed twice-weekly. You do it any less than twice a week and your nitrates go up - where is the benefit of having them in first place?

Would a roller be better than either option, yes?

I should probably mention that my wife is responsible for the laundry duties. She's a champ!