Filter Sock - Clean or Replace?

[DreamWeaver]

The filter sock in my sump is getting pretty nasty looking (brownish) and is starting to clog. Can they be effectively washed, or is better to just replace it? I wash it by hand weekly, but it doesn't seem to be doing much good. Thanks.

[Amphibious]

I turn them inside out, put them in the washing machine and through a complete cycle WITHOUT SOAP. They come out pretty clean.

[petunia]

IMO - clean, with fresh water.

[fat walrus]

I just buy them in bulk and change them out when needed. I tried washing them before, but they always seem to clog faster and faster with each wash.

[pammy]

My filter sock was clogged within a couple of days of setting up my new tank, because of the sand storm. I tried rinsing it well, in fresh water, but that didn't do anything, so I tried putting it into the washing machine without any soap, on the smallest, shortest cycle, and it came out looking like new. My LFS suggested adding a little bleach, so I had to clean it again last night, so added one small capful of bleach. My filter socks are two expensive to just throw out. Bought the Elos socks, and they're $10 a piece. I just bought a 2nd one, so that I can always have clean one to swap out.
Pam

[CarmieJo]

I would err on the safe side and give it a rinse in a bucket of water with a heavy dose of dechlorinator after I pulled it out of the washing machine.

[salt-rookie]

Are you using a sock to catch microbubbles of to catch particulate matter???

[pammy]

Ahhh...hadn't thought about the microbubbles. The sock was already set up in my sump (Elos System80) and I assumed that it was to catch particle matter, but I was just commenting to someone, that my new tank (set up for 3 weeks) has zero microbubbles in it.

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

Are you using a sock to catch microbubbles of to catch particulate matter???

[salt-rookie]

Take the sock off and replace it with cheato!

[pammy]

I have to empty compartments in my sump, and I'll be adding cheato in one of them soon!

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

Take the sock off and replace it with cheato!

[V]

call me weird, but after wearing my pantyhose i rip em off & use that as a filter sock, bulk buy em & apply em i always say! just aim for nutral colours & its safe

[CarmieJo]

V, I'd suggest you wash the panty hose after wearing and before using in your tank.

[V]

hey, wat..........you saying im not clean

[salt-rookie]

Veriann...I SURE hope you are a SHE REEFER!!!!!

[V]

oh good question *looks at my profile*

[CarmieJo]

It's OK. V's from Oz, they do things different there.

[salt-rookie]

Variann...you are in Australia??? My 26- year old daughter is in Sydney!

[strangelove]

Or you can rinse out all the loose stuff out, soak it in a bucket of water and set it in the sun, in a day the sun bleaches it out. I've got two that I cycle this way.