Filter Socks & Bleach

Member No. 1 · 09/12/2018, 06:33 AM

Now I know there are a lot of different methods when using bleach to "clean" filter socks, however my question has more to do with the actual chemical process.

The scope of using bleach, as I understand it is to "renew" the socks to a "clean" and almost "new" condition.

When I clean the socks in bleach, using a washing machine or by hand, they do in fact come out looking "clean" and almost "new".

My question is, does the bleach actually break down and dissolve the organics
or does it just "bleach" the organics so they appear white, but are still in the fibers of the socks.

If the latter, is there an alternative to bleach that is readily available and at a cost similar to bleach?

Seacreature66 · 09/12/2018, 07:30 AM

I am new to the hobby so I havr very little experience. But after using bleach I felt I could still smell the bleach after mutiple rinse only cycles. So my new approach is to soak in vinegar and tap water. Rinse with power spray on water hose then soak in tap water again that is conditioned with seachem prime for a couple of hours then let air dry. I changed after losing a gisj on qt. Not sure but suspected it was the bleach. Socks looked pretty clean.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

albano · 09/12/2018, 07:43 AM

Multiple systems, so I machine wash ~40 socks a month...1st time hot wash with bleach, 2x rinse, then hot wash again no bleach, 2x rinse, then air dry for at least 24hrs...doing this for at least 15 yrs, never a problem

jd371 · 09/12/2018, 07:49 AM

Iirc I read that the bleach does breakdown the organics, I'll see if I can find the post. After rinsing the sock with the hose I have a bucket with a little bleach added to the water and throw the used socks in there, once I'm down to the last sock I run them through the rinse cycle in the washing machine twice, let them dry for a couple of days and they're good to go.

Member No. 1 · 09/12/2018, 07:52 AM

To answer my own question, after a lot of digging, I found this.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1943735&page=3
Go to post #1.

Great info for others who might use the bleach method.

Guess I'm done using bleach!

Going to try hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, spray both inside/outside
on socks that are DRY, let sit a day, then toss in the washer, NO BLEACH.

I'll use the "seat of the pants" method to determine if this works better. By that, I mean do they look clean, and do the last longer before I change them out.

bertoni · 09/12/2018, 01:24 PM

That sounds like a reasonable idea. Please let us know how it works!

top shelf · 09/12/2018, 02:58 PM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1943735

I have posted that link many times but dont mind posting again if it helps people. It is also why I use strictly peroxide and soak 24hrs prior to washing. To me function is better then how it looks.

EDIT: Oops shame on me for not following the directions. I used the link but didnt go to page one like suggested. My mistake.

Member No. 1 · 09/12/2018, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by top shelf

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1943735

I have posted that link many times but dont mind posting again if it helps people. It is also why I use strictly peroxide and soak 24hrs prior to washing. To me function is better then how it looks.

EDIT: Oops shame on me for not following the directions. I used the link but didnt go to page one like suggested. My mistake.

Look two posts down, Page 1 link!

mako61 · 09/13/2018, 04:05 PM

I use Sodium Percarbonate to clean my socks. I like a powder better than liquid hydrogen peroxide.

ReefTeacher · 09/22/2018, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mako61

I use Sodium Percarbonate to clean my socks. I like a powder better than liquid hydrogen peroxide.

I use Sodium Percarbonate as well. It is available very cheaply from beer and wine making stores. It is quite safe as it is a simple matrix of Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) and Hydrogen Peroxide; both of which people add to their tanks.

Joe0813 · 09/22/2018, 06:38 PM

I just use hot water in the washing machine. they come out pretty clean and I don't have to wash them four more times to get the bleach out.

slief · 09/26/2018, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Member No. 1

To answer my own question, after a lot of digging, I found this.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1943735&page=3
Go to post #1.

Great info for others who might use the bleach method.

Guess I'm done using bleach!

Going to try hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, spray both inside/outside
on socks that are DRY, let sit a day, then toss in the washer, NO BLEACH.

I'll use the "seat of the pants" method to determine if this works better. By that, I mean do they look clean, and do the last longer before I change them out.

I can’t say I agree with him in that post. Bleach is a very powerful oxidizer. It oxidizes the organics and the water/rinsing flushes them out. Bleach has been used for decades in the aquarium industry to clean equipment both by hobbyists and public aquariums. It’s been proven safe as a cleaner regardless of any smell one may notice in the socks after cleaning. Also, bleach has a very short half life in salt water as well as when it comes in contact with the air. When you dry the socks out they are perfectly safe and I’d argue that it would take MUCH more peroxide to effectively clean the socks than it would bleach and if you can see the socks are stained, then they aren’t as clean as they could be.

Member No. 1 · 09/27/2018, 11:40 AM

slief,
I've been washing socks in bleach for years, and completely understand how reef safe it is.
The reason for my OP was to find out if in fact, does bleach breakdown/dissolve the organics enough to allow them to be washed away. Or does it just "Bleach" them along with the fibers the socks are made of to give the appearance of being clean.
My fact finding was to see if this does happen, and if not, is there a alternative to bleach that will breakdown/dissolve the organics that is both reef safe and price comparable.
I change filter socks very often. Brand new socks last 4-5 days before they get to the point of overflowing into the sump area. Recleaned socks I only get 2-3 days. I'm looking for a way to restore the socks to an "As New" condition and regain some of the performance and increase the replacement interval.

My next cleaning cycle will be with hydrogen peroxide, and I will evaluate to see if the cleaning intervals increase, decrease or remain the same.

If hydrogen peroxide does breakdown/dissolve the organic matter better than bleach, but the socks look "dirty" but I get my performance back, I'll live with the trade off.

GreenTankCorals · 10/03/2018, 06:44 PM

Interesting back and forth responses.
Good discussion.

homer1475 · 10/04/2018, 03:01 PM

Back when I ran socks I read the mentioned thread and tried peroxide for a while.

I found it no better performance wise(time between having to change) then if they were washed in bleach. The only difference was the bleach made them "look" cleaner.

I simply had a bucket full of bleach water, when it was full of socks I dumped all in the washing machine. Regular cycle, and air dry. Once they air dried the bleach smell dissipated. Never had an issue in the 3 years I ran them that way.

DrewCam · 10/04/2018, 08:35 PM

I spray all of my socks clean with a hose. Next, I soak them in a bucket of bleach. Then i dechlorinate them using sodium thiosulfate crystals. Then i throw them in the washing machine on a rinse and spin cycle with a little more thio. After this process, I pull them out all, fold them and stack them up for future use.

09/12/2018, 07:43 AM	#3
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	Multiple systems, so I machine wash ~40 socks a month...1st time hot wash with bleach, 2x rinse, then hot wash again no bleach, 2x rinse, then air dry for at least 24hrs...doing this for at least 15 yrs, never a problem __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

09/12/2018, 07:52 AM	#5
Member No. 1 Ver. 2.1 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rehoboth, MA Posts: 1,803	To answer my own question, after a lot of digging, I found this. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1943735&page=3 Go to post #1. Great info for others who might use the bleach method. Guess I'm done using bleach! Going to try hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, spray both inside/outside on socks that are *DRY, let sit a day, then toss in the washer, NO BLEACH*. I'll use the "seat of the pants" method to determine if this works better. By that, I mean do they look clean, and do the last longer before I change them out. __________________ Pete "I never make mistakes... I thought I did once, but I was wrong" Current Tank Info: In the process - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661614

09/12/2018, 01:24 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That sounds like a reasonable idea. Please let us know how it works! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/12/2018, 02:58 PM	#7
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1943735 I have posted that link many times but dont mind posting again if it helps people. It is also why I use strictly peroxide and soak 24hrs prior to washing. To me function is better then how it looks. EDIT: Oops shame on me for not following the directions. I used the link but didnt go to page one like suggested. My mistake. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

09/13/2018, 04:05 PM	#9
mako61 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Dallas Posts: 359	I use Sodium Percarbonate to clean my socks. I like a powder better than liquid hydrogen peroxide. __________________ Thanks, Mako Current Tank Info: Returning Reefer - Red Sea 525XL, Mitras LX7s, Apex, check homepage for vids of tank

09/12/2018, 06:33 AM	#1
Member No. 1 Ver. 2.1 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rehoboth, MA Posts: 1,803	Filter Socks & Bleach Now I know there are a lot of different methods when using bleach to "clean" filter socks, however my question has more to do with the actual chemical process. The scope of using bleach, as I understand it is to "renew" the socks to a "clean" and almost "new" condition. When I clean the socks in bleach, using a washing machine or by hand, they do in fact come out looking "clean" and almost "new". My question is, does the bleach actually break down and dissolve the organics or does it just "bleach" the organics so they appear white, but are still in the fibers of the socks. If the latter, is there an alternative to bleach that is readily available and at a cost similar to bleach? __________________ Pete "I never make mistakes... I thought I did once, but I was wrong" Current Tank Info: In the process - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661614

09/12/2018, 07:30 AM	#2
Seacreature66 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 1	I am new to the hobby so I havr very little experience. But after using bleach I felt I could still smell the bleach after mutiple rinse only cycles. So my new approach is to soak in vinegar and tap water. Rinse with power spray on water hose then soak in tap water again that is conditioned with seachem prime for a couple of hours then let air dry. I changed after losing a gisj on qt. Not sure but suspected it was the bleach. Socks looked pretty clean. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

09/12/2018, 07:49 AM	#4
jd371 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Long Island Posts: 615	Iirc I read that the bleach does breakdown the organics, I'll see if I can find the post. After rinsing the sock with the hose I have a bucket with a little bleach added to the water and throw the used socks in there, once I'm down to the last sock I run them through the rinse cycle in the washing machine twice, let them dry for a couple of days and they're good to go.

09/22/2018, 06:38 PM	#11
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I just use hot water in the washing machine. they come out pretty clean and I don't have to wash them four more times to get the bleach out. __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

09/27/2018, 11:40 AM	#13
Member No. 1 Ver. 2.1 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rehoboth, MA Posts: 1,803	slief, I've been washing socks in bleach for years, and completely understand how reef safe it is. The reason for my OP was to find out if in fact, does bleach breakdown/dissolve the organics enough to allow them to be washed away. Or does it just "Bleach" them along with the fibers the socks are made of to give the appearance of being clean. My fact finding was to see if this does happen, and if not, is there a alternative to bleach that will breakdown/dissolve the organics that is both reef safe and price comparable. I change filter socks very often. Brand new socks last 4-5 days before they get to the point of overflowing into the sump area. Recleaned socks I only get 2-3 days. I'm looking for a way to restore the socks to an "As New" condition and regain some of the performance and increase the replacement interval. My next cleaning cycle will be with hydrogen peroxide, and I will evaluate to see if the cleaning intervals increase, decrease or remain the same. If hydrogen peroxide does breakdown/dissolve the organic matter better than bleach, but the socks look "dirty" but I get my performance back, I'll live with the trade off. __________________ Pete "I never make mistakes... I thought I did once, but I was wrong" Current Tank Info: In the process - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661614

10/03/2018, 06:44 PM	#14
GreenTankCorals Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tampa Posts: 90	Interesting back and forth responses. Good discussion.

10/04/2018, 03:01 PM	#15
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Back when I ran socks I read the mentioned thread and tried peroxide for a while. I found it no better performance wise(time between having to change) then if they were washed in bleach. The only difference was the bleach made them "look" cleaner. I simply had a bucket full of bleach water, when it was full of socks I dumped all in the washing machine. Regular cycle, and air dry. Once they air dried the bleach smell dissipated. Never had an issue in the 3 years I ran them that way. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

10/04/2018, 08:35 PM	#16
DrewCam Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 82	I spray all of my socks clean with a hose. Next, I soak them in a bucket of bleach. Then i dechlorinate them using sodium thiosulfate crystals. Then i throw them in the washing machine on a rinse and spin cycle with a little more thio. After this process, I pull them out all, fold them and stack them up for future use.