Cleaning socks - the whites

[reeferkeifer]

How often do you guys clean the socks in your sumps?

 

[bcrueter]

barry_keith;984020 wrote: weekly, everytime I do a water change.

+1 i have to or it will over flow

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

weekly I change them out, rinse and allow to sun dry. About every 3rd time, I run them through the wash, turned inside out with bleach, double rinse and allow to sun dry. No problems doing it this way after nearly 18 months.

 

[bcavalli]

porpoiseaquatics;984035 wrote: weekly I change them out, rinse and allow to sun dry. About every 3rd time, I run them through the wash, turned inside out with bleach, double rinse and allow to sun dry. No problems doing it this way after nearly 18 months.

+1

I change every couple of days dependent on the micron size. I have about 3 weeks worth and wash them all at once as Jeff suggested. I do add a cap full of prime to my washing washing machine as well. Its probably overkill but it works for me.

 

[reeferkeifer]

Since I am just cycling my tank right now I do not have any livestock so I am thinking about changing them out every two or three weeks with my water change. Is there any reason not to dry them all the way in the dryer on low?

 

[bcavalli]

Since you generally would wash them with bleach you will need to air dry them so the chlorine evaporates from the socks (I leave them out for at least 24 hrs) I would assume using a dryer would also create unnecessary wear and tear. IMHO

 

[fishtank]

so you have to add bleach? I put the washer on rinse only with nothing in it then two quick cycles and I swear I could still smell soap after the fact so I have not used those socks yet.

 

[reeferkeifer]

As always, this forum is a wealth of info. Thanks :thumbs:

 

[jbadd99]

I change when they overflow. Wash with a 1/4 cup of bleach on a large load and give an extra rinse.

Been doing it this way for years with the same 8 socks I bought way back when...

 

[silver surfer]

I took my filter socks off 6+ months ago and haven't looked back

 

[skriz]

weekly to bi-weekly. I wash them in the washer, no bleach. I only need them mechanically cleaned, not sterilized in any manner, so I don't bleach them.

 

[rodasphoto]

Hydrogen Peroxide is a great bleach alternative.

 

[sleepyreef]

Skriz;984248 wrote: weekly to bi-weekly. I wash them in the washer, no bleach. I only need them mechanically cleaned, not sterilized in any manner, so I don't bleach them.

+1

I don't have a sock hanger in my sump so my sock just stands straight up in the corner of my sump. I change when it starts to fill up - usually about two weeks. I made the mistake of bleaching one of my socks and it made my sock limp. Gotta have stiff socks so they will stand up so no more bleaching.