An alternative to beach for cleaning filter socks

[grassi]

So, I guess we can just use hydrogen peroxide off the shelf that we can get from say Sam's Club (cheap -- just about $1.75 for two liters)? Should it be used full strength or diluted?

Also, will this work on cleaning pumps (e.g. Vortech) as well?

Thanks for sharing!

I used the 3% you can find everywhere. Use it as it is, not diluted.
I didn't try on pumps yet, but I guess it will work the same way.
I used it for getting rid of hair algae on some frags and it worked well. Algae were gone, zoas still alive and opened up in a few minutes. Well, I didn't put the frags into the washing machine

 

[rsuplido]

Frags -- really? How long did you dip them? How can you explain algae dying and not the zoas?

Thanks.

 

[grassi]

Frags -- really? How long did you dip them? How can you explain algae dying and not the zoas?

Thanks.

For this topic is better if you find some infos from Justin Grabel. You can find also videos on youtube.
I'm still experimenting: I dip zoas/palys for about a minute. It worked well so far.
I think that 3% of concentration is not able to burn your skin or coral tissue if exposed for short time. It is enough to "burn" algae, or at least air algae.

 

[badpacket]

Here's a tip if you want to save some real money over buying liquid Hydrogen Peroxide. Buy Sodium Percarbonate.


"Sodium percarbonate is very neat stuff. It is a powder that releases hydrogen peroxide, and it is very concentrated.

To be complete, sodium percarbonate releases hydrogen peroxide and soda ash. As we know, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water. As you may expect, then, sodium percarbonate breaks down into oxygen, water, and soda ash."

http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/sodium-percarbonate.html

You can go to your local dollar store and pick-up some of their dry chlorine-free bleach. Mine sells it 1#/$1, comes with its own scoop inside.
http://www.lastotallyawesome.com/html/Products_Household_OxygenCleaner.html

Or, it sounds like you can buy this cheap and in bulk at pool supply shops, which might make me trust it a bit more than a dollar store product.

Buying it dry is much more economical than buying hydrogen peroxide liquid at Walmart or such, and you can increase the strength easily.

I use this at pretty decent strength, and its surprisingly strong. You'd have a hard time getting an equivelent strength like 35% Hydrogen Peroxide shipped to you as its considered a hazardous material. But you can make your own easily.

Anyone know pool store pricing? Wonder if HD or Lowes carries something.

 

[ToddG.]

Well ive been using oxi clean for awhile and havnt had any problems so far thiers no bleach it in and they are as white as can be got the idea from another person on here using it awhile ago. Anyone see any problems with this im no chemist From thier web site the main ingrediant is hydrogen peroxide thiers no fragrances or detergents in it

from thier site quote: More than 95% of the ingredients are minerals, or break down into minerals and components that are readily found in our natural environment. OxiClean® Versatile Stain Remover breaks down into oxygen and soda ash when mixed with ordinary water and uses the tremendous cleaning power of oxygen to remove stains. There are no toxic fumes. Like all cleaning products, it is not to be ingested

 

[grassi]

I thought of using sodium percarbonate. But then you have to mix it. I prefer how fast is to just drop some hydrogen peroxide from the bottle.
Plus it generates 35% hydrogen peroxide which is a little bit stronger than what you really need. But it works as well, yes

I use oxi clean for cleaning my homebrewing equipment. Works well, but I feel like I need a lot of rinsing to get rid of it. Even on your hands it feels "soapy" for minutes. I don't know if it is the soda ash or what. The main active ingredient is sodium percarbonate, but there are many other ingredients in it that we don't know
And it is not cheap

 

[jenghes]

Very interesting article. I plan to try it at home tonight.

Just a thought for those needing to use up money on their medical flexable spending accounts like me... Hydrogen Peroxide qualifies.

 

[keith sprague]

i just blast mine under high pressure with a hose till its white.i always worry bout chemicals like that in my tank.is there a down side of not killing any kind of whatever is traped in the sock? i havnt seen any kind of negative effects as of yet.

 

[Joe]

With winter on the horizon here in Pennsylvania, I'm looking for a way to wash my filter socks indoors. For those of us that live in the country, we have to be concerned about what goes into our septic systems. I have never dumped any chlorine bleach into my septic system, but I wonder what effect peroxide would have on my waste system? Anybody have any insight?

Joe

 

[grassi]

keith sprague, if you are able to get it clean enough for doing its job I don't see any problem. Unless you used some medicaments or things you want to get rid of from the tank.

Joe, hydrogen peroxide will separate into water and oxygen, so it is 100% "green", that's why I like this method so much

 

[badpacket]

I'm not following, you can get 35% HP locally, and its not much more expensive than Sodium Percarbonate? The extra $$$ are worth the few minutes wait using dry mix?

I think the 'soapy' feel is the high pH interaction with your skin/oils, which should not be present as much as on average plastics, etc, once they are clean. I would guess a quick vinegar spritz or dip would neutralize that nicely.

I will probably stop using oxi-clean knock-offs from the dollar store as there is that unknown ingredient factor. Though, all things considered, as good as Sod. Perc. works, and the cheap nature of the base components, I'd expect it'd actually cost more to add anything else too it. But you just never know.
I'm gonna hit big box and pool stores this weekend to price it out.

I thought of using sodium percarbonate. But then you have to mix it. I prefer how fast is to just drop some hydrogen peroxide from the bottle.
Plus it generates 35% hydrogen peroxide which is a little bit stronger than what you really need. But it works as well, yes

I use oxi clean for cleaning my homebrewing equipment. Works well, but I feel like I need a lot of rinsing to get rid of it. Even on your hands it feels "soapy" for minutes. I don't know if it is the soda ash or what. The main active ingredient is sodium percarbonate, but there are many other ingredients in it that we don't know
And it is not cheap

 

[bertoni]

Hydrogen peroxide should decay very rapidly into oxygen bubbles and water, so I wouldn't think it'd have much affect on a septic system in small quantities.

If you're worried about any sort of bleach, I think using the high-pressure wash is fine for normal situations. If you were running a tank that had some sort of disease, I might sterilize the sock for various reasons.

 

[MaLi]

... got something for Kroger from $3.5. It contains sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate and it is enough for probably a full year. Testing right now on 4 dirty socks.
Sorry for the foggy picture. Hard to focus on a curved surface.

hope it helps,
MaLi

 

[JTR0510]

i have always used bleach to clean our socks now that i read this ill will be doing it with peroxide thanks for posting

 

[MaLi]

... got something for Kroger from $3.5. It contains sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate and it is enough for probably a full year. Testing right now on 4 dirty socks.
Sorry for the foggy picture. Hard to focus on a curved surface.

hope it helps,
MaLi

Did work very well, I will say, after 5 hours in a bucket followed by rinsing two times in a washer. Socks are clean and I am curious to see the way my tank will respond.

cheers,
MaLi

 

[jenghes]

Did work very well, I will say, after 5 hours in a bucket followed by rinsing two times in a washer. Socks are clean and I am curious to see the way my tank will respond.

cheers,
MaLi

Same result here. The sock is almost as white as the bleached ones.

Thanks for the advice, I posted your thread onto Michigan Reefers to key them into this as well.

Thanks!

 

[grassi]

I'm happy is working well for all of you
Alex

 

[noobtothereef]

i never kne you could use the beach to wash filter socks lol j/k i just use white vinegar and water soak overnight

 

[2 TAZ]

Great thread, haveing trouble finding Hydrogen peroxide in larger amounts and stronger strengths then 3%. I've been looking at hardware store and Walmart. The closest thing I could find is OxyClean and Borax. I guese Oxy Clean is not good but dose anyone know about Borax. The label says all natural and contains SODIUM TETRABORATE DECAHYDRATE, never taking chemistry I have no idea if it is safe or not.
Thanks

 

[bertoni]

Borax is a detergent booster. It might help clean a filter sock. Using it should be safe enough.