filter sock cleaning?

[Art_Vandelay]

I want to clean my filter socks in the washing machine but I'm scared to do it in fear that residual soap in the machine may get into the sock and back to the tank :/ I've heard that bleach may be used to clean them in the machine. It's a bit too cold here to wash them with a hose outdoors.
Anyone have any experience with this? Success, failure, advice.... all would be much appreciated. Thanks :)

[USC-fan]

run them twice through the washer with just water or you can use bleach.

If you use bleach I would soak the socks in Prime after you run them through the washer. Them let them air dry.

[Art_Vandelay]

What is prime?

[USC-fan]

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4797/lg901187fs20912dov8.jpg

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4057&cmpid=03csegb&ref=3312&subref=AA&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=0901187000000

[Kentanner11]

IMO, I doubt anyone (besides a LFS, or a breeder) has enough socks to justify an entire 1-2 washing machine loads. I would just use a small plastic tub that you can buy at walmart for going in the sink filled with tap or better yet... water change water to clean them.

[USC-fan]

I have 27 filter socks and clean them every 3 months!

[sjm817]

Any residual Chlorine evaporates out. Let the socks dry before use. A dechlorinator is not necessary.

[sundancer]

Lay them inside out on the grass and hose the heck out of them.

[Kentanner11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11475714#post11475714 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by USC-fan
I have 27 filter socks and clean them every 3 months!


wow! do you have like 2 outputs and change them every week? lol! or what? lol!

[USC-fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11476096#post11476096 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kentanner11
wow! do you have like 2 outputs and change them every week? lol! or what? lol! i change them every 3 days. They are only $2.50 so i stocked up when i ordered them.

[reefmadness08]

First, definately have multiple socks on hand. Wash them in a bucket of any type of water and vinegar with a relatively small amount of bleach. If you have a pump you can position in the bucket to blow water through the sock, even better.

[Kentanner11]

wow so do you just let them sit until you wash or ???

[USC-fan]

Nope, i wash them out in my fish room sink and then they go into a 5 gal bucket. After coming out of the washing machine they look new!

[Kentanner11]

oh ok!

[sundancer]

If I put fish dirty diapers in the washing machine my wife will have a fit!

[Kentanner11]

/\ lol!

[Jeff]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11475723#post11475723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Any residual Chlorine evaporates out. Let the socks dry before use. A dechlorinator is not necessary. Agreed. Rinse well and let dry.

[reefkoi]

So you guys think that Chlorine bleach will not be leftover in the sock? I disagree, I think they need to be soaked in Prime, ever since I have done this I have lost no corals. Before soaking in Prime I was having SPS corals RTN on me right after putting the cleaned socks in.
If I'm way off base let me know, I just assumed since it removes chlorine and my bleach says "chlorine bleach" Prime would work?
I'm a believer after what I have witnessed in my own tank.
C

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11479140#post11479140 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkoi
So you guys think that Chlorine bleach will not be leftover in the sock?
Yes. Chlorine bleach breaks down very quickly when exposed to air. This would be a good question for the chemistry forum. One of those guys can explain the process.

I'd be more concerned about Prime making my skimmer go crazy and overflow.

[Percula9]

All you need is straight dechlor which is less expensive than prime. This is what I use to neutralize the chlorine. Prime has other chemicals that are unnecessary for this task. Dechlor is sodium thiosulfate.

[sjm817]

I dont believe any dechlorinator is needed as long as you let the socks dry.

[Kentanner11]

this could actually be an interesting experiment. all you would need to do is take one of your socks and put it in water and test the chlorine level. (pool test strips)

[sjm817]

I posted the question in the chemistry forum (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1282024). This comes up a lot and it would be good to see what the experts say. My understanding of the need or not to use a dechlorinator comes for the posts I've read on the forum, but not the chemistry forum. What those guys say is usually reliable.

[garyw68]

I have always washed my socks in my washer with a touch of bleach in hot water. Then I will wash a second time without bleach in cold water...let air dry overnight...put back in my sump...never had a problem....

[swisha]

I always use the washing machine with no bleach or chemicals. I wash it twice and let it air dry for a day. I have never seen any ill affects for the last 2 years.

[rigleautomotive]

i also wash them in the washer with a half cup of clorox on the first pass then just water on the second pass.hang them to dry and use them after a quick rinse in rodi water.i have about 15 bags and have done it like this for at least 10 years with only positive results.clorine does dissapate quickly as it dries.

[paveking1]

I run 4 socks on my 220 for 5 yrs . I bleach them in scolding hot water in my wash basin . I then rinse in hot water for 10 min wring them out &put back on tank . no problems in 5 yrs . change once a week.

[beanoil]

I wash with bleach, two rinse cycles, let air dry for days and they still smell like bleach. Plus, I get sick of trying to rescue all of the pods, etc. that end up inside the sock. I'm thinking of removing them and going sockless.

[reefkeeper135]

I often wonder why you would risk washing with chlorine when for $2.50 you can put in a new one. When you compare the cost to replace your sock every 2 weeks to the total cost of your system and live stock seems like a small price to pay. JMO :)

[rigleautomotive]

the bags i use are 8 dollars each and i change them twice a week on three different systems,so it would be expensive after many years.this works for me and some of the bags i use in rotation are 10 years old.to each his own.

[Kentanner11]

I dont think it would be cost effective nor environmentally keen to do.

I would rather wash them with out bleach and just with really really hot water!

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11485778#post11485778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkeeper135
I often wonder why you would risk washing with chlorine when for $2.50 you can put in a new one. When you compare the cost to replace your sock every 2 weeks to the total cost of your system and live stock seems like a small price to pay. JMO :)
What risk?

[2crazyreefers]

We have 3 tanks and been using filter socks for 4 years. We just thow them in the washer then let dry, no problems ever.

[USC-fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11485778#post11485778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkeeper135
I often wonder why you would risk washing with chlorine when for $2.50 you can put in a new one. When you compare the cost to replace your sock every 2 weeks to the total cost of your system and live stock seems like a small price to pay. JMO :) New filter sock should be wash before using, so no matter what you have to clean them.

And if you wait 2 weeks to change filter socks you will have problems, IMO.

Here is where i get my filter socks from
http://www.filterbag.com/
$2.50 per sock.

[sjm817]

I got a bunch of those cheap filterbag socks. I was pretty disappointed. Smaller, and much thinner material than the ones I got from Premium Aquatics.

[USC-fan]

Really? Which ones did you get? They are the exact same ones my LFS sell for $15 a piece.

[sjm817]

It was awhile ago. I'll try to dig up the part number. I can take a pic of them both side by side.

[sjm817]

The one on the right is the type that I use. I use two of these on my basement sump. They get changed ~ once a week, These socks are two years old and are $8. They measure 16.5" x 12.5". the material is a lot heavier than the filterbag on the right which is ~ 9.5" x 12". Maybe they have better ones and I just ordered the wrong type.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/Cheerleader555240/IMG_0217.jpg

[USC-fan]

Oh you order the wrong one. I have sock like you have on the left.

This is the ones i ordered.
http://www.filterbag.com/search.php?commandstring=PONG100P4P

It is the exact same one all 3 of my LFS stock.

[rigleautomotive]

yea those are the good ones.i use them also

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11486620#post11486620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by USC-fan
Oh you order the wrong one. I have sock like you have on the left.

This is the ones i ordered.
http://www.filterbag.com/search.php?commandstring=PONG100P4P

It is the exact same one all 3 of my LFS stock.
Those according to the site are size 4. 4"x14" which would be smaller than either that I show in the pic. The ones I have (on the left) are PONG100P1P which are size 1 which are listed as 7" by 16.5". The ones I use (on the right) are 12.5" x 16.5". I dont see a size that large listed. Besides that, the material is much better on the larger socks I have.

here is a link to the item @ Premium Aquatics ($8)
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PM-BG100&Category_Code=GFI

This is how I use them in a 75G sump:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/Cheerleader555240/DSC_1385.jpg

[USC-fan]

I was just talking about the type of sock. I do use a different size for my tank.

[sjm817]

Ok. They are the same type, just a different size. You would have to have both to see the difference in the material.

[mpdharley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11486706#post11486706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817

here is a link to the item @ Premium Aquatics ($8)
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PM-BG100&Category_Code=GFI



FYI, if you use the 16" drawstring bags, this is where I get them for a bit cheaper. They have 10 packs for $50 ($6.95 individually):

http://www.reefspecialty.com/product_info.php?products_id=176