Cleaning Filter Socks

[justin_cutri]

So I'm been told by many people with established tanks that the best way to do this is turn them inside out and put with in a washing machine with bleach. I was wondering if anyone uses another method. I was considering putting them in a vinegar bath with a powerhead and rinsing them thoroughly afterwards.

If the bleach method is the best how much in a standard load?

 

[lokii_37]

I turn mine inside out and just and wash them under running HOT water let them dry and put them back into circulation. Bleach doesn't really help wash them it just kills anything that is in them and makes them look nice, I think.

 

[northbay-reefer]

I use a hose with a nice strong jet stream of water and turn it inside out. Quick and easy.

 

[GiantBen]

I bleach then run once without bleach. I don't bother flipping because it is a pain. Let them stand for a couple days after bleaching.

 

[zeroinverse]

I don't use socks all that often unless tank really needs filtering...

That said, I run under hot water, squish them clean... Then just put them back. Don't even bother drying them. Figured a tiny bit of chloromine etc won't harm my 150+20 gal tank volume...

 

[gdm42001]

Front loader on Hot, and my water is HOT
fill the bleach dispenser (1 cup)
turn inside out
also I add 1 cup to the initial startup water as it is filling.
and I press the extra rinse button and the bleach button.
Let stand in the open air for a couple of days before using.

 

[Reef Bass]

+1 for Tom's blast with hose. Turn inside out, blast, turn rightside out, blast. Then I fling the water out of them, rinse each with two cups of reef water (to help rinse chloramines) and then back in use. I've seen bleach residue do horrible things to freshwater aquariums (kill cichlid fry) and as such I am very reluctant to introduce it into my reef environment.

 

[kodiak23]

Ive have 2 mesh socks Ive been alternating since January and I just rinse them in the sink and they still look fairly new. Much easier than dealing with felt socks. I dreaded cleaning my felt socks and have found mesh to be sufficient. Felt catches more stuff, but mesh only take 10 seconds to rinse out. Anyone else try mesh socks?

 

[ricksreef]

I have been using bleach for years always with an extra rinse and letting them air out a couple days, never a problem

 

[metalmulisha]

You can see a diffrence of using a hose and washing it in a washing machine. A washing machine literally cleans it. I've done both, only thing that I do is after using the washing machine I run another run wihtout anything but with just a heavier dose of bleach. Last thing you want is your clothes smelling

 

[justin_cutri]

Think I found the best solution. Quickest and most effective. Pressure washer! Occured to me when I went to clean my truck. Just let them sit in some warm water, turn them inside out 30-45 secs each. Even gets them super white but without any bleach

 

[shades_of_blue]

I stoped using them a ling time ago. Cleaning them sucks. I use a gatorade bottle with lots of drilled holes in it and fill it with loose fiberfill. I attach the bottle to my sock holder and the overflow hose into the bottle. When its dirty i throw away fiberfill and replace it with clean fiber. Works better than filter sock. Saves money