What is the smell?!?!?

[Starling541]

This may be a two part question.
First time with a sump, and want a place where I can store my my filter socks until the EOW where I can wash them all at once.
Was thinking an Oder absorbing diaper pail. It’s been 3 decades since I’ve changed a diaper, but I imagine stink sucking technology has come a way since the 5 gallon bucket I used when my kiddos were in diapers.
Looking online I see some highly rated METAL diaper cans that filter out the smell. Afraid of the saltwater corroding the metal. What are you all using to store your used socks?
Second thing, I read that I can toss the socks in the washing machine with no detergent and just hot water, long cycle. I fear remnant chemicals in the lip of our front loading machine. Am I overthinking this? If not what is the best method you use?
In hindsight a roller would have been a better option and when I upgrade to a larger tank it will be the option in the new sump I run with. Right now because of plumbing and space the sock is the hand I will be playing until that upgrade.

 

[blaxsun]

This is something I'm intimately familiar with. The first thing I found is that you want to generally rinse/scrub your filter socks out right away. If you place them wet in a pail, etc. they just end up getting moldy and the smell... my God. So after rinsing and scrubbing in hot water, let stand and dry.

Second, you should launder your filter socks (it's a good idea to have 3-4x the number of filter socks you need so you can rotate these out as needed). You can either use OxyClean+white vinegar -or- bleach (not both!). I put these on heavy soil, extra water and extra rinse.

It's also important to invert the filter socks before placing them in the washing machine, then revert them back after you take them out to dry.

 

[twentyleagues]

I throw mine in a tote with some bleach and water. Then about once a month wash them in the washing machine with more bleach inside out on the first run and flip them right side and wash again in just water extra rinse and let air dry until ready for next change.

 

[exnisstech]

I ditched the socks and switched to reef diapers and haven't had a single regret.
@Reef Diaper is a sponsor here.

Home - Reef Diaper

Never wash another nasty filter sock again! Filter socks are arguably the worst part of aquarium maintenance and are the equivalent

reefdiaper.com

 

[Doctorgori]

see how its possible to get 3 different options/opinions and all of them good ….
here is another; option 4: get a Reefmat

 

[bushdoc]

I have 3 sets of filter socks and “marinate” them in bleach solution and once a week do bigger laundry in bleach and extra rinse cycle.
Be sure that your significant one is informed and agrees

 

[Starling541]

see how its possible to get 3 different options/opinions and all of them good ….
here is another; option 4: get a Reefmat

Sadly as I said, the footprint I have won’t allow a roller. It is certainly on the COE for my upgrade when that happens.

 

[Syntax1235]

I have the same concerns as the op shared regarding detergent residue contaminating the socks. I have a top loader, and the detergent dispenser is nasty. I also tend to overthink things.

I don’t use socks all the time, but I usually just scrub in the sink - it is not adequate.

 

[Timfish]

Consider not using one at all. Fish poop is and important source of carbonates and nutrients for corals.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1015895108

https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00842/95393/103168.pdf

 

[Starling541]

Consider not using one at all. Fish poop is and important source of carbonates and nutrients for corals.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1015895108

https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00842/95393/103168.pdf

Wow, if I was in the batter’s box I would have struck out with this pitch. This was TOTALLY unexpected!
I was expecting some other considerations from rollers to varying socks. Even the disposable sock I didn’t know existed was less of a surprise than NO mechanical filtration.
I was hoping for softball pitched responses like “this is how I store my used socks” that I could grab onto…… but no socks?!?! Like I said MIND BLOWN. The umpire just called me out!
I will certainly read these swim upstream links, pun intended. Are you doing this successfully?
I get why in the ocean it works because water to fish ratio is just so vast, but trying to wrap my head around how it would work in the limited confines of a restricted tank where the dilution ratio is much different than the sea.
I appreciate those that challenge the status quo and experiment against the norm, it helps the hobby grow!

 

[thedon986]

I have never used much of any mechanical filtration in my sumps. I have a bit of poly filter floss but it is all the way at the end between skimmer and return chamber and I wait until it's so full it starts making m ATO run too much. Not sure I even really need it. First chamber is a large ~8g refugium.

 

[flashsmith]

Reef diapers. Problem solved. For me running filter socks through the machine resulted in them tearing around the plastic ring long before they were ever worn out. So again for me the expense of replacing socks and the cleaning process more than justified making the switch.

 

[Derrick0580]

I used an old salt bucket with a lid to store them. Didn’t notice a smell at all, but they were kept in my fish room. Secondly, I ran the washer on hot empty just to clean out any residual detergents then our machine offers heavy duty wash with 5 rinse cycles. Did this and added some plain clorox bleach to them. After the 3+ hour wash cycle I laid them out on my fish room floor to dry. They never smelled like bleach coming out of the washer but I figure any left over would have dissipated through the drying process.

 

[Timfish]

. . . Are you doing this successfully? . . .

Yup.

Large Build - Skimmerless since 1997

Hi Tim I have one question. Are you using natural light to light your reef? I didn't notice any lights hanging in the video you posted in top down thread. Hey, the system does get sunlight filtered through bronze tinted windows mid morning. Depending on time of year it varies from about half...

www.reef2reef.com

And here's some other systems without skimmers, reactors or mechanical filtration I've set up and maintained over the years:

90 Gallon Mixed Reef


500 gallon


220 Rimless 450 view

 

[Jedi1199]

My method probably wont work for anyone else but other single guys with extra rooms in the house... lol

I have (as stated above) a supply of socks that will last me a month or so.

In my water making room/ art studio, I have a brute can that has been cycling a batch of new dry rock for over a year now. Whenever I change out a sock I wring out the majority of the water into the sump then I drape the sock over the edge of that brute can to dry. Once its dry I toss it into an old salt bucket till washing day comes.

Washing day!!!!

OK.. when I wash my socks I typically do them after I have finished all of the laundry I need to do. I toss them all into the front loader, heavy soil, HOT water, extra rinse, extra spin. NO detergents, NO bleach.

When they are done, I lay them out to air dry and then run the self-clean cycle on the washer.

 

[bestfishes]

Avoid the metal pail if you go that way. The white plastic ones will be best for this application. I agree that letting them sit is going to reduce the life as they will rot out. I just throw them in the wash on the sanitary setting which is really hot, I use no bleach or detergents. But I dont wait, put it in just after it comes out and then dry on a rack. I can reuse my average sock 10-15 times, and I generally keep about 10 new ones around to make it a once a year process to buy stock replacements.

 

[F i s h y]

I run with no socks or other filter material.

 

[codycolina707]

Jesus these solutions seem like alot of work get a filter roller and call it a day a roll last me like 2-3 months