Running No Filter Sock? / Apartment Reefing

[Colione]

Hey All,

So I just moved from a house to an apartment (worst idea ever), so I have limited space and some restrictions.

Mainly, there's shared washing machines. I used to rinse my filter socks outside with the hose, then throw it into my washer with bleach. So many people use the public washers with all sorts of crap in it, I don't think it's wise to put my filter socks in there and then back in my tank.

What are the cons to stopping using a filter sock? Or to just not using one in general?

Also, who else reefs in an apartment? How big is your tank and does your landlord / management give you any hassles? Mine is about 50gal display, not huge but contract might say no water beds and vessels of water over 10g.....

Just looking for any thoughts / advice! Thanks.

 

[thegrun]

I wash mine in a slop sink by blasting it with a stream of water from the hose, inside out and then right side out. That said, you can certainly run a tank without a filter sock. You will need to siphon out the detritus a little more often, but on the positive side your pod population should increase.

 

[pandimus]

You could do the bleach wash in a bucket..

 

[nikecivic]

I never washing my socks in the washing machine. I hose wash and then soak it in bleach in a bucket. Then hang dry it.

 

[pandimus]

I never washing my socks in the washing machine. I hose wash and then soak it in bleach in a bucket. Then hang dry it.

Man... So much work... Delicate cycle with some bleach.. Perfect..

 

[MxReEfEr92]

I wash mine in a 5 gallon bucket of water and half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Then put on for 2 rinse cycles, but you could probably get away with agitating it in clean water

 

[FDAWG]

I have a 135 gallon in a rented condo. The landlord was ****ed after seeing the 135ga in the living room after I moved in. I told him I would break my lease if I couldn't keep my tank. He made me put down an extra $1250 for the deposit and I must carry rentals insurance that cost me $12 a month. I'm now looking for a new condo to lease but no one wants to work me because I got a large tank. Renting and being a reefer SUCKS!

 

[bullitr]

I have a high efficiency ( low water washer and my other washer in the garage is buried with my reef junk and its not hook up. I am thinking going to laundrymat this weekend to wash 70-80 filter socks.I only used a gallon of bleach. Any suggestion ?

 

[Fishtitious Per]

I am thinking going to laundrymat this weekend to wash 70-80 filter socks.

Dang, that's alot of socks. Do you use ten at a time?

Back to topic: I use vinegar instead of bleach, and add an extra rinse cycle. Works well in my front loader machine at home. But always when the wife is not home. Funny how some folks are particular about washing their items after a load of filter socks, and some folks are particular about washing filter socks after other people's loads.

I guess it all comes out in the wash...

 

[organism]

You could do the bleach wash in a bucket..

This

 

[Browncoat]

I don't run socks on my reef tanks. Haven't for years. Think about all the good organisms floating around that could be beneficial to the corals that get trapped in a sock. I have my reef tank in my apt. too. Luckily, no issues. My management company doesn't have any policy against aquariums or size restrictions. If it's not in the lease or rental agreement I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[Colione]

I don't run socks on my reef tanks. Haven't for years. Think about all the good organisms floating around that could be beneficial to the corals that get trapped in a sock. I have my reef tank in my apt. too. Luckily, no issues. My management company doesn't have any policy against aquariums or size restrictions. If it's not in the lease or rental agreement I wouldn't sweat it.

Thanks!! It is in my rental agreement! But it's like a big company, and the landlord is a young girl who lives here (probably for free to manage) so I don't think she'd be too concerned. She seems really cool thus far. I'mma just hide it for the time being. We snuck it in

As for rinsing with a hose, the problem is I have no hose or area! I could do buckets inside my kitchen ... but sounds like a PITA. I'll probably just run sans filter sock for a while and see how it goes. I'll report back!

 

[reefomeez]

I'm planning on building one of these. All you need is a plunger, a bucket and lid. Boom...sock filter washing machine that the wife can't get mad at.

http://lifehacker.com/5918992/make-a-diy-washing-machine-from-a-five+gallon-bucket

 

[bustayanky]

I'm planning on building one of these. All you need is a plunger, a bucket and lid. Boom...sock filter washing machine that the wife can't get mad at.

http://lifehacker.com/5918992/make-a-diy-washing-machine-from-a-five+gallon-bucket

haha good one!

 

[jrpdriver]

I don't run filter socks, no issues with not having them, I do take my sump out and rinse it every 6-9 months though. Some stuff will settle without the socks but I haven't seen any adverse affects

 

[SWIMCOACHTOM]

I have a 150 in my apartment...landlord was ok with my 70 gallon when we first moved in. He hasn't said anything about my upgrade probably bc the carpet was already worn when we moved in and is going to be replaced whenever we leave. I don't use filter socks but use filter pads to soften the noise on my overflow.