Filter socks and evap water

[Scoobaman17]

Ok first off. What is the safest way to clean filter socks? I keep hearing controversy over between bleach and the washer. So which one? If I use the bleach method how much bleach for how much water? If I use the washer, what do I add or don't add?

Then on the evap water. Which is proffered among these three choices since I can't hook up an ro system yet.

LFS bought fresh water?
Arrowhead or other distilled water?
Or sink water mixed with Nov Aqua conditioner or other such products?

Now that I am going through about 1 gallon of evap per day I need to know these answers. Thanks everyone for your help.

[Blown 346]

I used to just rinse them under fresh water and squish them in my hands until clean.

I would use RO water.

[usmc121581]

When I did use them I would put them in the washer with just bleach. Then let them air dry.

For the water I would get a RO/DI but if it isnt a choice and you truely trust your LFS get it from there.

[sherm71tank]

You can wash the sock in the machine with bleach. About 1/2 cup should work fine. I wash about 10+ socks at a time and use a full cup with large load selected. Make sure they rinse well, second rinse is a good idea. Let them dry completely before you reuse them.

You really need to invest in an ro or ro/di system for your water needs. I would go with the lfs second.

[Scoobaman17]

Ro from the LFS huh. Until I can do an RO it's around $5.00 for 10 gallons of freshwater.

[Scoobaman17]

It's just hard to fit a complete RO system in your one bedroom condo with nothing but the kitchen water and the bathroom water. I'm trying to figure it out.

[Blown 346]

Im sure you have a grocery store that a RO water station. For what you will spend per gallon at a fish store, you can get a better deal most of time at the store. I pay .30 a gallon for RO water. The LFS here sell just fresh water per gallon for $1.00 and $1.50 for salt.

[sherm71tank]

Originally posted by Scoobaman17
It's just hard to fit a complete RO system in your one bedroom condo with nothing but the kitchen water and the bathroom water. I'm trying to figure it out.

It's really not hard. The whole system (minus water storage container) should fit under the sink easily, that's where mine is. Any of the reputable suppliers will be more than happy to help you with it if you give them a holler.

[Scoobaman17]

It's the water storage that I'm getting at

[sherm71tank]

Ok, thats fair. You are going through one gallon a day of evap, that's not much to worry about there. I use a three gallon storage container like is used for drinking water for the auto-top off on my sump. It also fits under the cabinet. When I want to do a water change I have a 30 gallon trash can with a float valve in it that I just connect to the ro/di with via a t-valve and off it goes. I don't have to watch it as it shuts off automatically. Works great for me.

[kinghokus420]

Originally posted by Scoobaman17
It's the water storage that I'm getting at

i use these exact doohickeys and it makes storing h20 so much easier. i keep 4 bottles of ro/di on hand at all times in the pantry closet in the kitchen. takes up very little footprint space. i used to sell these all the time to people in small apartments and they work great. talk to the guy that delivers water in your area. (dont talk to alhambra. they have funky water) he can hook you up with distilled, delivered too. i think i was selling it for 7.00$ for 5g. on my route. not a bad price considering it was delivered to your doorstep.


http://tmadeproducts.com/catalogs/2007bbcatalog.pdf

[kraash]

as far as the filter socks go, what has worked for me with no problems, is to turn the socks inside out, fill the washing machine on the ex large cold setting, add about a cup of bleach, stop the washer, add the socks and let them soak over night. The next day I turn the washer on the regular wash cycle and run two rinse cycles, turn right side out and air dry for a day before use. HTH