Life Expectancy of a Filter Sock

How long do they last? The ones I am using seem to be getting full faster than normal so I'm assuming they are done for.

 

Are you using the fuzzy feltish type or mesh?
I bought a couple of the fuzzy type and they're too hard to keep clean. I think I'm going back to my mesh one that never really wears out.

 

I use the fuzzy kind and wash them in warm water with bleach in the washer on delicate. I wash them by themselves. Works great. Hang dry. I have two sets and I change them out twice weekly. There is no problem yet and it has been months.

If you just rinse them under the faucet, it will need to replaced in a matter of weeks.

Be sure to rinse good with RO water right before putting them into your sump.

 

I read somewhere rinsing them in vinegar to get any calcium buildup off.. sounded like a good idea.

 

If you roll the fabric back and forth between your finger it breaks the nasties loose and cleans really easy. I can clean it out almost totally white again in prob 3 min.

 

Thanks. I've been turning them inside out and blasting them with the hose. I let them air dry for a couple days before putting them in the refugium. I do realize the problem with the hose water.

 

We have been using the

for a couple of years. To clean we just toss them and filter sponges into the washing machine with out soap and run them through a cycle.... What we have observed is that they begin to fray and look poorly so after about a year they get changed out...

Note: we have enough filters and sponges for three plus maintenance cycles with out re-using them...

 

I stick them in the washing machine with some backing soda wash them on hot
I've had some going on 3 years now.

J

 

I have been using the same mesh ones for about 1.5 years now.

 

filter socks last a long time if properly cared for, but on a reef system i wouldnt use one.