Icecap filter socks
- Thread starter cap11885
- Start date
Ted_C
Active member
Im supposed to change my felt filter socks once every two days in both my tanks (150 gallon and 300 gallon). This along with water changes should keep my nitrates down. I use GFO to control the phosphates. I have around 40 socks on hand.
After removing the socks - I turn them inside out and let them soak in a 5 gallon bucket with 1 cup of bleach. I can fit 12 socks in a 5 gallon bucket.
New socks always require a wash as well. new socks forgo the soak and go right into the machine.
Once the bucket is full - I run them through a machine washer three times (warm wash with cold rinse / full load even though the washer is 1/4 full):
1 time with 1 cup of bleach (still inside out)
1 time turned right side out with non-phosphorous oxidizing detergent (no perfume) - oxyclean works for me here
1 time with no detergent.
There are a few rules to using a machine washer: if you regularly use fabric softener in your machine - you probably shouldn't use that on your filter socks. Fabric softener leaves residue in the washer that's impossible to remove.
If you regularly use the dispensing cups of the washer - you probably shouldn't use that machine (the cups never completely empty and will add stuff to your socks that you dont want).
Some normal detergents that you might use for washing clothes (like pods) leave residue in the washer that takes a few runs to remove and would contaminate your socks. My normal detergents are arm and hammer liquid or the dry tide detergent.
Indicators that your socks have become contaminated are an overflowing skimmer after changing out the sock or any odor on the socks themselves.
Once washed - I let them sit on my back porch for a day or two to dry out (and the sun hitting them works wonders in breaking down any trapped chlorine that might still be in the sock).
After removing the socks - I turn them inside out and let them soak in a 5 gallon bucket with 1 cup of bleach. I can fit 12 socks in a 5 gallon bucket.
New socks always require a wash as well. new socks forgo the soak and go right into the machine.
Once the bucket is full - I run them through a machine washer three times (warm wash with cold rinse / full load even though the washer is 1/4 full):
1 time with 1 cup of bleach (still inside out)
1 time turned right side out with non-phosphorous oxidizing detergent (no perfume) - oxyclean works for me here
1 time with no detergent.
There are a few rules to using a machine washer: if you regularly use fabric softener in your machine - you probably shouldn't use that on your filter socks. Fabric softener leaves residue in the washer that's impossible to remove.
If you regularly use the dispensing cups of the washer - you probably shouldn't use that machine (the cups never completely empty and will add stuff to your socks that you dont want).
Some normal detergents that you might use for washing clothes (like pods) leave residue in the washer that takes a few runs to remove and would contaminate your socks. My normal detergents are arm and hammer liquid or the dry tide detergent.
Indicators that your socks have become contaminated are an overflowing skimmer after changing out the sock or any odor on the socks themselves.
Once washed - I let them sit on my back porch for a day or two to dry out (and the sun hitting them works wonders in breaking down any trapped chlorine that might still be in the sock).
pecan2phat
Active member
Ice Cap sump filter sock trays are a PIA because a standard 4" filter sock does not sit in the well correctly. You end up buying theirs but I think they're a bit cheap with the heat pressed seams and they are kind of thin even for a 200 micron felt sock IMO.
Ted_C
Active member
I wash once a week. Also of note - I dont have an icecap - I just have custom tanks - so my filter socks are the 7" x 14" felt socks.
