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Help!!! My
filter socks are nasty!
A filter sock, or a micron sock, is
a great way to give your aquarium water that polished look.
It removes the larger particles, giving your water better
clarity and permanently removing that nasty detritus (excess
fish food and fish poop) out of aquarium system.
Filter Sock
They work great, and most users rave immediately about the
improved water quality of their aquarium. But, let’s face
it, they tend to fill up quickly and begin to overflow
within a few days. This can leave a mess if you don’t change
them out regularly, because the water is splashing out of
the top of the sock causing some serious salt formation all
over the sump.
What can be done about it? The answer is simple, if you keep
a handful of them on hand and change them out as soon as the
water starts to fill up the sock, your water will stay
crystal clear and the salt formations will be minimized.
What about all these dirty socks? It’s so easy - just clean
them with chlorine bleach! Yes, I said BLEACH! Common sense
would tell us that if chlorine bleach is bad for aquariums,
then cleaning anything with chlorine bleach is a big no-no.
The cool thing about cleaning with bleach is that if it is
diluted properly, once it dries it will evaporate out and is
no longer harmful to your aquarium.
Here’s a quick "how-to" on keeping those filter socks clean:
1) Take the dirty sock off out of
the holder and let the water drain through. Place it in a
plastic bag and carry it to the laundry room or to your
garage. Hint: The filter socks don’t stink if they dry out,
so if you stand them upright in the garage, they will dry
quickly. You can then place them in the laundry room without
worrying about the smell.
2) When you have enough to make a load, take all of the
dirty filter socks and place them in the washing machine.
3) Add ¼ cup of bleach in your detergent compartment.
DO NOT USE DETERGENT!!!
4) Unless you have a high efficiency machine, the water
level should be placed on the lowest setting to cover the
filter socks with water.
5) Use the following cycles, if you have them,
a. Presoak
b. Wash
c. Extra Rinse
d. Max Extract
6) Either stand the socks on their end or hang them on a
clothes line to allow them to dry completely. If you are the
paranoid type, you may add Seachem’s alpha to the
aquarium just in case there is any trace chlorine.
You will need to periodically replace your filter socks as
they do wear out. If they are looking scraggly, it’s
probably time for some new ones.
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