Filter Socks should I toss them

[Koddie Doo]

Got a new sump.had a hole for filter socks so I put them in. But now they need to be cleaned and I wonder if I should washing machine them/ get new ones/ not even worry about them and leave them out.

I have never used them in the past...

 

[kegogut]

I clean my socks by turning them inside out and tossing them into the washer with some bleach. I have 20 or so socks so I only have to wash them about once a month.

Youll definitely notice the difference in how much detritus collects into your sump and without. I quit running them a while back but only had one on my drain, the detritus that built up in my sump encouraged me to start running them again,although I made a sock holder that holds two instead of one so I dont have to change then as often which helps me keep using them. lolz

 

[Koddie Doo]

Using the washing machine scares me. You sure that it does not leave residue from prior loads?

I assume you let them air dry?

 

[kegogut]

Ive never had a problem with residuals, I do an extra rinse cycle though. Yes,I let them air dry.

 

[DamonG]

Washing machine definitely.. And if your wired about residual, what I do, is. have the gf run whites last, with a double rinse cycle.. That way, the bleach from that clears out the residual.. Then, I actually wash my socks 3x.. Once regular, and twice inside out.. All with a little bleach.. I also rotate my socks and over time,I have about 15 of them. I then, let them of course air dry for at least a day, and put them back into rotation.. I have used the same ones for about 2 years this way washing them..

And I did this on previous tanks also, after being afraid myself for years.. No adverse effects whatsoever besides nice, clean, long lasting white filter socks..

From note 5.. rip note 7

 

[jtrasap]

I throw them in the washer in bleach and then soak them in a bucket with r/o and prime.

 

[Pife]

I wash mine in the washer machine with normal detergent on hot cycle. Then I run them through on a second cycle with triple strength bleach and an extra rinse and air dry.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I run socks on my system. Every three or four days I change them out. Rinse them out and into the washer with bleach with extra rinse cycle. Once done, air dry completely. Just before use, rinse in RO/DI and squeezed to remove excess RO/DI and into the sump it goes. Years and years of doing this with no problems whatsoever.

 

[Koddie Doo]

Every 3 or f days, is that the avg run time for every one here?

 

[DamonG]

Every 3 or f days, is that the avg run time for every one here?

Depends on the micron rating honestly.. For 100, about two to three, for 200, about 4 to 5, and for the low ones I have that are like 10, that's only hours.. And then,I rub dual socks in a box in series, so my first one is the one that takes a hit mostly, and requires changing a lot.. The second one lasts longer by far, at at least a week and a half..

From note 5.. rip note 7

 

[Flippers4pups]

It depends. Every system is different. I stir my sand bed twice a week to kick up what's caught in it and that gets caught in the sock. Works for me.

 

[kegogut]

Every 3-4 days with me. I run 200 micron 4" long.

 

[Pife]

I run the long 4 inch ones and they last a week or so. I have 3 in my system.

 

[Koddie Doo]

I have these

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/r...YAnd6bvJFi5QAJ7SuElbXV_b3OfyENswXQRoC6ADw_wcB

300 micron 7"

 

[Tigé21v]

When I've used them in the past, they seem to really help keep the detritus out my sump. But with my setup, it's a real pain to get them in place and keep them there. I've gone through bouts where I decide I'm going to make the effort to stay on top of them and change on a regular basis, but the plan seems to always go south after a few weeks. I took advantage of the Black Friday deals and picked up a Theiling Roller Mat. Still need to get it plumbed into the system. I'd like to clean up the sump as much as possible before starting it up. Curious to see how much it'll help to keep the sump detritus-free.

 

[kegogut]

When I've used them in the past, they seem to really help keep the detritus out my sump. But with my setup, it's a real pain to get them in place and keep them there. I've gone through bouts where I decide I'm going to make the effort to stay on top of them and change on a regular basis, but the plan seems to always go south after a few weeks. I took advantage of the Black Friday deals and picked up a Theiling Roller Mat. Still need to get it plumbed into the system. I'd like to clean up the sump as much as possible before starting it up. Curious to see how much it'll help to keep the sump detritus-free.

That's awesome. I was looking at the Theiling . Keep us posted on how it works.

 

[Tigé21v]

Ya, the thought of having filter socks without the work of having filter socks is quite inviting. I'm excited about getting it up and going. I want to do it right though. I'd like to get things set so that all water passes through the roller mat before moving on to the skimmer or other filtration. I use a Rubbermaid for a sump. Lots of room, but not very segregation-friendly. I've been thinking of a way to add a "pre-sump" so to speak. I have a few ideas, but wish I could find a material that I could use to work out all the potential issues before I commit to building the final design in what will probably be acrylic. And with little to no acrylic experience, I'll probably need twice the amount that should be needed to make up for my mistakes. Not looking like it'll be an inexpensive project. I've looked at possibly using PVC sheets, but it doesn't seem to be much cheaper. Haven't been able to come across any other material at a reasonable price. If someone has an idea of another material that would work, I'd love to hear it.

 

[DamonG]

Ya, the thought of having filter socks without the work of having filter socks is quite inviting. I'm excited about getting it up and going. I want to do it right though. I'd like to get things set so that all water passes through the roller mat before moving on to the skimmer or other filtration. I use a Rubbermaid for a sump. Lots of room, but not very segregation-friendly. I've been thinking of a way to add a "pre-sump" so to speak. I have a few ideas, but wish I could find a material that I could use to work out all the potential issues before I commit to building the final design in what will probably be acrylic. And with little to no acrylic experience, I'll probably need twice the amount that should be needed to make up for my mistakes. Not looking like it'll be an inexpensive project. I've looked at possibly using PVC sheets, but it doesn't seem to be much cheaper. Haven't been able to come across any other material at a reasonable price. If someone has an idea of another material that would work, I'd love to hear it.

Why not just use a smaller stock tank? Like a 15 to 20 gallon? Sit it on something in your big tub, and feed your overflow to that. Then put a simple output(like a pvc/bulkhead setup), and let it flow out at a certain level, to the big tub, that you want? Like say 8 or 9 inches high for example? Would certainly save the complexity and anxiety of acrylic fabrication... And it would still look extremely cool and as I like to say "highly technical".. Lol

From note 5.. rip note 7

 

[Tigé21v]

Why not just use a smaller stock tank? Like a 15 to 20 gallon? Sit it on something in your big tub, and feed your overflow to that. Then put a simple output(like a pvc/bulkhead setup), and let it flow out at a certain level, to the big tub, that you want? Like say 8 or 9 inches high for example? Would certainly save the complexity and anxiety of acrylic fabrication... And it would still look extremely cool and as I like to say "highly technical".. Lol

From note 5.. rip note 7

That's how I currently have it configured. I have a container-in-a-container sitting on a stand. Water return from the tanks flows into the smaller container that also has the skimmer feed pump in it. Skimmer return dumps into the second (larger, main) container, then flows into the Rubbermaid. I originally set it up with just the one container as the "skimmer chamber" so that my internal skimmer would always be sitting in the same water level. Had the skimmer return dump back into the same container so that in the event of some problem (tank overflow), the skimmer pump would never run dry.
It works, and works well. I've had it set up like this for years. But it's not very much room. Any time I'm at the big box stores, there's always a trip over to the storage container isle to see the latest and greatest offerings in totes. Usually no luck.
I'd like to make something with some more room. Possibly be able to fit the heaters and reactors in, or have a way to hang the heaters off of it. Would like to come with a way to integrate a return chamber on it also to help keep the ATO water more consistent.
And you can trust me on this one- this current configuration doesn't look cool. It looks like what it is- a couple of totes partially filled with water. Functional, yes. Sump-Of-The-Month material, definitely not.