Do filter socks trap copepods?

[zachtos]

stats: I have a 75G and 50G refugium, each which drain down into a 150G return sump tank to then get pumped back up into my 240G reeftank.

question Do we think that filter socks on the outlets of the refugiums and other drains to the return tank are filtering out copepods and other life from reaching my display tank?

If so, do these benefits of removing detritus outweight losing an increase in food supply for my fish?

*I see tons of pods all over my filter socks when I clean them once a week... although none lately as I had a bout with redbugs a month or so ago and I had dosed interceptor 3 weeks in a row... A month later I still see no pods... but I'm told they will come back, hopefully the socks are not making it worse. I lost a copperband butterfly the other day, looks like he starved after 8 months. I also have a mandarin dragonette and an achilles tang that seem to love pods.

 

[sabbath]

Yes, The filter sock will trap pods.

I run open from display to the fuge and back to the display. Just for that reason.

I do run foam before the skimmer thou.

 

[zachtos]

So perhaps I should not run any socks or filter guards at all in my system then? ...Or I will not be able to get the pods to travel into my pump back upstairs?

Is this a general concensus?

 

[Crimthann]

as sabbath said if you're going to run a filter sock in your system the best place to put it would be on the line that is going from your display back to the sump/refuge. Your refuge is designed to create a safe place for pods to breed so they can go to your main tank, putting a filter sock on their way into the tank it is kinda counter productive.

That being said I usually only have one on my tank (on the end of my overflow going back into the refuge) when I'm turkey basting my rocks which knocks all sorts of crap into the water.

 

[zachtos]

Hrmmm, darn, the way I plumbed the system, the main drain for the display tank and the upstairs refugium both drain downstairs and share the same drain... I guess I can't use filter socks in my system and should stop immediately.