Filter socks

[jroescher]

I'm going to start using a filter sock. I can only use one 4" sock because of very limited space in that part of my sump. I want to get several and wash and reuse them.

What's best? The prices vary widely for what looks like the same thing. Is there much difference in quality? And does quality really matter?

Felt vs Nylon? Seems nylon would be much easier to clean.

And how do you clean yours?

[Zack]

I can't speak to a quality of one or the other, but my socks from e-shopps are still kicking after several months. I toss em in the washer machine on rinse cycle only with hand wash and then throw em in the dryer for a few minutes and they clean up well. Some use bleach in their rinse cycle and air dry then freshwater bath but that kinda scares me a bit.

[SABOB]

I have 3 felt and 1 nylon.....wash in hot water and alittle bleach, extra rinse cycle.Let them air dry


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[jroescher]

Is one easier to work with than the other? Nylon or felt?


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[Dean]

I have two felt and one nylon and clean them in the same way SABOB does so as far as cleaning they are the same. I feel like the felt removes more particles than the nylon because of how dirty they get in a shorter period of time. I've had this set now for over a year and they are still going strong.

[SABOB]

The felt traps more, so it clogs faster.LFS didn't have the nylon at first,so bought one later.Ive got no rhyme or reason as to which I use.


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[Bill S]

I need some new 7" felt socks. Anyone know where to get them locally?

[Dean]

I need some new 7" felt socks. Anyone know where to get them locally?

Good morning Bill
I saw that SaltyFish aquariums had them in when I was in there last week. You might check with them.

[SABOB]

Think Elegant Reef has some,I'd call first


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[TPinner@saltyfishaquariums]

I use the felt ones both at home and the store. A few years ago saw a write up on Reef2Reef about the best ways to clean socks. A study was done by a scientist and he concluded using hydrogen peroxide was the best method. I have been following his method every since and am still using the same socks years later. I wash them of on my back patio using the jet setting so to knock off the "dirt" and then place them into a five gallon bucket. Soak them for 24 hours in 3% peroxide. Rinse off and then air dry for a day. They will be just as white as the day you bought them. The peroxide eats away the dirt just like it cleans a wound, where bleach only makes the dirt white and the material stays clogged. Completely reef safe and works really well.


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[LuckySingh]

I use the nylon ones . Simple 30 sec hand rinse in hot water does the job. I have 5 or 6 and change em every 3 to 4 days . Nylon ones can last months

[jroescher]

I went with nylon. They are incredibly easy to clean. Air just passes through though. Part of the reason for using the socks was to control some of the micro bubbles.

I never saw the point of using bleach to clean. It doesn't clean, just kills. So you still have the same biological matter still in the sock, it's just white.

[zerreissen]

I wash them of on my back patio using the jet setting so to knock off the "dirt" and then place them into a five gallon bucket. Soak them for 24 hours in 3% peroxide. Rinse off and then air dry for a day.

I also follow this method for my felt socks with great results.

[Dean]

I also follow this method for my felt socks with great results.

Is the peroxide diluted or do you have to use a large container of it every time you wash them? I have two socks in my rotation and they need to be swapped out every 3 days. I would go through a lot of peroxide if I washed them this way.

How often do you have to swap out your socks? I am really curious to know if you get more than three to four days out of a sock before it gets clogged.

[jroescher]

200 micron mesh doesn't clog at all. Everything is passing through. 100's have been ordered.

[zerreissen]

Is the peroxide diluted or do you have to use a large container of it every time you wash them? I have two socks in my rotation and they need to be swapped out every 3 days. I would go through a lot of peroxide if I washed them this way.

How often do you have to swap out your socks? I am really curious to know if you get more than three to four days out of a sock before it gets clogged.


I have 4 socks which I rotate 2 out each time they clog. I personally use a 1 gallon bucket (from the dollar store) and pour the peroxide over the socks and let them sit in the bucket for 24 hours. I probably use 1/4 - 1/2 cup or so per sock each time. I rotate my socks each weekend; I can easily get 7+ days out of them. If you're only using one sock at a time, that makes sense why they don't last as long...

[Dean]

I have 4 socks which I rotate 2 out each time they clog. I personally use a 1 gallon bucket (from the dollar store) and pour the peroxide over the socks and let them sit in the bucket for 24 hours. I probably use 1/4 - 1/2 cup or so per sock each time. I rotate my socks each weekend; I can easily get 7+ days out of them. If you're only using one sock at a time, that makes sense why they don't last as long...

So just soaking the sock with peroxide would work. Awesome. I am going to give this a shot.

John,
I like using the felt type sock because it takes out a BUNCH of gunk that would pass through the nylon sock. Of course that means they have to be cleaned more often but to me it is worth it.

[jcnkt_ellis]

After reading the peroxide tip, I washed my two socks in my machine and poured peroxide in the slot where bleach goes and let them air dry. The socks came out almost pure white with no smell. I've had them back in for a day now with no issues. I'll end up washing them this way again.

[Dean]

After reading the peroxide tip, I washed my two socks in my machine and poured peroxide in the slot where bleach goes and let them air dry. The socks came out almost pure white with no smell. I've had them back in for a day now with no issues. I'll end up washing them this way again.

That sounds perfect! How much peroxide did you use?

[jcnkt_ellis]

I used less then a cup, I had the smaller standard bottle of generic peroxide and it was almost empty so I poured it all in.

[jroescher]

When you wash them in the machine,
do you use any detergent?


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[jcnkt_ellis]

I don't use detergent, there is a lot of talk that detergent doesn't really wash out of the socks.