Alternatives for filter socks

[duncanpate1]

I've been sock less for a couple of years cuz....
Hate having to change them weekly.
I figure the Chaeto is catching most of the big stuff.
I have a lot of SPS & feed cyclopeeze & reef roids, I figure that the pods etc In the sump appreciate the snacks!


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[windlasher]

I use this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-x-100-ft-Preloaded-Drain-Sleeve-34140-6/203092475

I cut off a 12" section and use a hot glue gun to close off one end but... I am a bit anal and you could just as well tie off one of the ends. I tie the open end around my drain pipe. Traps all the big stuff, the skimmer takes care of the rest of it. I throw them away but you could just as well wash them.

 

[BlackTip]

I only use the filter sock when I clean the tank. I take it off 3 days later.

 

[d0ughb0y]

Try diy your filter sock. It costs me about 25 cents per 7" diameter sock so I just toss it out and replace a new one every week. You can search for diy filter sock.

Fwiw, I have tried no sock. When I went no sock, my pumps were all gunked up after a month. With sock, my pump is still clean after six months. I also like a clean looking sump.

 

[jacksonpt]

My tank has been running for 3ish years now, I think... at least in it's current state, and I've never run socks**. I ran a skimmer up until about a year ago, but I've never been a fan of skimmers.

I do run a media reactor (GFO/carbon), and the foam pads act as filters, but that's the closest thing I run to mechanical filtration.



** I do run socks for about 24hrs if I'm doing something really invasive in the tank... something like moving LR around or big-time sump cleaning. But that only happens about once a year.

 

[scottmccray]

Sorry I couldn't resist.

 

[sick1166]

late 90's early 2000's we never ran socks we took wet dry dumped out bioballs used that as sump and let the skimmer take it all out some people ran the a/c floss or mat filter and thru it out every few days or week or whenever but that also caught debri,s un-eaten food, detritus and like a sock the 24/7 of water pounding thru it broke it down even faster so we skipped that and let the skimmer do it all

 

[ChrisATX]

I use this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-x-100-ft-Preloaded-Drain-Sleeve-34140-6/203092475

I cut off a 12" section and use a hot glue gun to close off one end but... I am a bit anal and you could just as well tie off one of the ends. I tie the open end around my drain pipe. Traps all the big stuff, the skimmer takes care of the rest of it. I throw them away but you could just as well wash them.

I really like the idea of this. Going to have to pick some up and give it a test. At that price comes out to about $.25 each.

 

[ReefCowboy]

Mesh socks. One unit will last at least 10 washes, that can be easily done in 3 mins under a sink. A 200 micron would keep things looking good