Filter Sock Cleaning Question
- Thread starter jef4y
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Why have the two sizes, 100 and 200? I am in for 5 or so if we get a group together.
Edit: Why not a 50? Guess that is my dumb question of the day?
Edit: Why not a 50? Guess that is my dumb question of the day?
+1. You'd be rinsing a 5 micron sock out every few hours or so. Maybe for water polishing, but not for every day use.
Most felt socks are 200 micron. I use 100 micron mesh socks when I am good about maintenance. I use 200s when I want to be lazy. I would rinse a 200 micron mesh sock out every week or so. The 100s need it every 3-4 days or they overflow, IME. When the 100s need rinsing every other day or so under normal conditions, unless your tank has been filthy and they have filled up fast, that is when a bleach or peroxide soak is needed, as organic slime build on the nylon fibers, but IME that is only needed every couple months at the most.
Good call Dave!
Where were you 3 months ago when I bought these?!?! LOL...
Thanks for the info everyone.
Seth, I'm not sure that the fabric softener will be a big deal because he's too lazy to add extra fabric softener, and just used one of the "Tide Pods" type detergents so I'm thinking it will okay if I wash it again.
Where were you 3 months ago when I bought these?!?! LOL...
Thanks for the info everyone.
Seth, I'm not sure that the fabric softener will be a big deal because he's too lazy to add extra fabric softener, and just used one of the "Tide Pods" type detergents so I'm thinking it will okay if I wash it again.
I have used 25/50/& 100's and for some reason the 100's were filling up faster than the 25's.:confused2: I even started making sure the Tags were properly labeled. Went back to 50's and I get anywhere from 4-6 days before it fills up to the rim and I would discard them.
Fill time for the socks, mesh or felt, probably depends a lot on the flow rate through your socks, how often you feed, how many fish you have, how good is your skimmer, etc. I'm running a ton of water through the three 7" mesh socks on my sump right now with a 4000 gph return pump and 600 gallons of water in the system, so I'd guess my socks might need rinsing more often than some.
I believe mine are standard 4"x 14" if I had to guess. They are felt, what you would find in the LFS. I'm not moving nearly as much water as you. I only had 1 drain back when I was messing with different Micron Socks. Now I have 2 drains, and I opened up the return Ball Valve more. I will be honest, I don't have exact numbers. My skimmer is grossly undersized, but in the market for a bigger one. I am trying to get by until I build my upgrade. I don't have a lot of room for a big skimmer in my 10gal Sump with piping in the way. The stand is not really designed to hold a Sump, but I made it work.
Hehe...the felt socks work great, don't get me wrong. It is just the time and resources involved cleaning them that I can't stand. I have a standing guilt complex about all the water/electricity we use in this hobby, so I try to be green whenever I can.
Also, I have learned that the easier a maintenance chore is to do in this hobby, the more likely I am to do it. So I use the mesh socks because they are easier to clean. I position my protein skimmer cup for easy access, and I try to make my media reactors as easy to get to for refill/cleaning as possible, all because I keep up with them better if they are easy to reach. Water change setups are the same way. The easier I can make a water change to do, the more likely I am to do it. So I plumb in valves and remote disposal pipework whenever/wherever possible.
It is not easy being a lazy reefer!!!
Acroholic;794934 wrote: Hehe...the felt socks work great, don't get me wrong. It is just the time and resources involved cleaning them that I can't stand. I have a standing guilt complex about all the water/electricity we use in this hobby, so I try to be green whenever I can.
Also, I have learned that the easier a maintenance chore is to do in this hobby, the more likely I am to do it. So I use the mesh socks because they are easier to clean. I position my protein skimmer cup for easy access, and I try to make my media reactors as easy to get to for refill/cleaning as possible, all because I keep up with them better if they are easy to reach. Water change setups are the same way. The easier I can make a water change to do, the more likely I am to do it. So I plumb in valves and remote disposal pipework whenever/wherever possible.
It is not easy being a lazy reefer!!!
:lol2:I'll 2nd that!
I buy 100 micron 12 X36 or something close to that from Pet Solutions. I cut them I size I need for whatever use, sew them on my machine , takes 1 min or less. Hold them on with a plastic band that electricians use to band wires together. Change them every three days of 2 days if feeding Rods Food. Toss them in a plastic container with peroxide and cover. When I do a water change and have a load of wet towels I just dump the accumulated micron socks in with the towels. Hot water , soap and no fabric softener. Do not machine dry. I always have a stack clean and ready and cost is about 37cents. I can make 25 out of one large micron sheet. And they last forever, been doing it that way for 5 years now. Bubba
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