Why replace filter sock every 3 days?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Nice job!

I change mine every 4 to 5 days when they overflow. In my case, they really do serve a purpose. I run 2 lighted sections in my sump, one as a refugium with chaeto, and one as a frag tank. The filter sock keeps detritus and chunks of nuisance algae that eventually end up growing in the overflow from reaching and settling in these areas.

An old picture. The lighting over the frags is now T5 like the display.

 

[sticky polyps]

Another facet to MY question, instead of purposely overfeeding to supply no3 and po4, not continually changing out the sock would paramount because continually overfeeding for this purpose would in turn introduce and potentially overdose other elements such as trace, toxic heavy metals or ammonia...etc.

 

[bairdimusprime]

great thread! i don't run socks as my sump doesn't have a place for them. i get an algae film build up that drives me nuts. i'm saving for a new sump as we speak so i can start running with filter socks.

 

[Duez]

I run a sump with 3 socks an about every 7-10 days i change i dont feed heavy and my coral looks great. I dont get how decomp would play any part in my socks since they are most of the time full of pods, bergdanudis, baby bristels if 5% gets back it thats fine it strains in to my fuge anyway then to the skimmer section whice has anothe filter to my return pump section, whice has my reactors in also

 

[Kang-Hyeok Lee]

every 3 or 4 day for me

 

[Tom Blevins]

Once a week for me and my reason is for polishing the water a bit and to catch any Aiptasia
which is very full in my overflow but not 1 in my display, good 1 stage filter and the sock is second.

 

[Neptune1707]

Why run one at all? What function does it perform?

It polishes the water.

 

[kissedpicasso]

Filter soaks are costly little boogers, First time using them. Does anyone have any bulk buying suggestions.

 

[cjsreefaus]

Ill pull them out every 24 hrs. I only run one big one. But its discoloured after 24hrs. But i think if your trapping it remove it. Your tank water is only as clean as the sock your pumping all your water threw.

 

[sticky polyps]

You can wash them by themselves in the washing machine, no soap, capful of bleach. Air dry for a day, good to reuse. If you just rinse them they will start to get clogged more and more frequently.

 

[GROSSR]

I changed the sock out at least once a week. Now if you want to change every few days, that is ok as well. There is a balance here. How long before the content of the sock begin to breakdown and leach back into the tank vs. washing/cleaning and beating them up in the wash. If I could, I would replace my sock everyday, wash a bunch and do it again. Sooner is clearly better than doing it later.

rich

 

[Tom Blevins]

I have 10 so just rotate, I don't have to rinse & once I get down to 8 then I wash them in Clorox
and dry very well on a couple cycles in the dryer to evaporate the Clorox.

 

[kissedpicasso]

Awesome suggestions.

 

[Smite]

I have 10 so just rotate, I don't have to rinse & once I get down to 8 then I wash them in Clorox
and dry very well on a couple cycles in the dryer to evaporate the Clorox.

They don't get too beat up this way? Do the rings warp?

I have a bunch of socks, probably 20+ I'd love to be able to just drynthe darn things rather than find room to hang them all.

 

[Tom Blevins]

@Smite ,just make a little noise in the dryer but hold up well, some are a couple years old and still come out white.

 

[horseplay]

I use mesh socks and they overflow in 2 days. At least they're easy to wash and the sink is right next to the sump.

 

[kissedpicasso]

i just ordered 4 more red sea filter socks from Bulk Reef Supply to rotate. At $10. each i can't afford replacing filter socks every 2-3 days and coral so thank you for the washing tips.

 

[b4tn]

I think I paid $5 and made 8. They are very easy to make if you have a sewing machine or a friend with one.

 

[kevindo123]

I machine wash them with only bleach and then soak them with prime for 24 hours then air dry them in my garage on a cloths hanger rack. They fit nicely in the individual slots and takes about 3 days to completely dry. I do a final rinse in RO water prior to putting them in the sump.

I change the filter every 3 to 4 days or they over flow. I like to keep my sump clean as possible so to reduce maintainence on the pumps and sensors.

 

[Feltman]

I use a cup of bleach with 2 rinses and run the cycle twice. One thing I've noticed is if ur washer has the center aerator in it they will start to get tore up after awhile and start to fall apart. But it's still better then replacing every time. Wife actually doesn't mind because the bleach cleans the washer out and sanitizes it.