Do you use a sock? Why or why not?

[Danny Mac]

So I have been debating weather I want to put a filter sock on the intake into my sump. I do have quite a bit of bubbling going on in the first and a little in the second chamber. Everthing I have read in this forums archived articles say they don't recomend using them. What's your opinion? If you use them why if not why not? Thanks all!

 

[cubsFAN]

I don't. Don't want to change them out and clean them. I use a shop vac to clean the detritus out of my sump when I do water changes. I don't have any probs with micro bubbles. None get past my baffles and into the return section. If you don't have micro bubble being returned into your display I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[chuckdallas]

I have used them before and now I don't. Pros for their use: Makes the water clearer. Cons: I had to change them every 5-7 days, had to clean them, had to buy them when they ran out.

Right now, I have an external overflow, which has flexible pvc piping from the bottom of the external overflow box, like those used for pools. There are two outputs from the overflow box and one pipe that leads to the sump. The flexible tubes drop down to a PVC junction I designed. This junction is made of hard PVC pipes and that pipe drops the water for the skimmer into that compartment and then the rest goes to the fuge compartment. The flow to the fuge compartment is controlled by a ball gate valve after the junction to the skimmer. I don't have a way to get the water in the overflow box through a sock and then into the PVC pipes. I could throw a sock under the pipe that drops water into the skimmer compartment, but I don't have much room, so I am not using them now. No mess to clean up now. Some people say that the pods from the fuge won't make it to the DT with a filter sock, but it's not an issue with my design, because in my setup the water flows out of the fuge to the return pump compartment.

 

[Tracey2]

Nice cheap filtration, I use them. I change them every week and put them in a bucket with water and bleach, when I have a few in the bucket I wash them in my machine, rinse twice and let them dry.

 

[solitude127]

I use them. I'm too lazy to vacuum out my sump.

 

[jlemoine2]

I think filter socks are nice when blowing a bunch of ditritus around in the display. You can put one on before cleaning and leave it on for a day. The sock will catch a lot of gunk so your skimmer does not have to deal with it... or letting it sit around in the sump.

Generally, if you get lazy keeping your socks cleaned out, you may just cause yourself nitrate problems. You must change your filter socks at regular intervals.

 

[slicknick1970]

Not a fan of socks . But not a fan of water changes either. Have a 90 gal. Reef set up for 45 days now with no water changes yet. Parameters are so far so good.

 

[five O]

I use them, the main trick is to design your sump so you can have easy access to the socks. If they are easy to change, you'll change them more offen. If they are hard to get to, you'll just say "I'll get it next time"

 

[cloak]

No sock. I can't imagine any leftover food going over the falls and having to sit in a filter sock for days on end. That's some kind of stink. I'd much rather it just settle on the bottom of my sump where the pods/worms can consume it or circulate back up into the DT where the fish can get at it.

 

[vitodog]

I use them. I change and wash them every few days (I'm retired, so I have the time). I do see a difference in the clarity of my water (more polished) when compared to when I did not use them. And, it seems that my skimmer does not have to work as hard. Clearly, whether you use them or not is a matter of preference. It might just be my imagination, but my tank does look healthier (and cleaner) since I started to use them.

 

[Danny Mac]

Is there anyother means of stopping some of the bubbling near the intake? Again the bubbles aren't in the display tank but its annoying. But I guess if its not hurting anything id rather not because I can wet vac my intake sump...

 

[LaOtIn]

i use them, i use 2 everyday, i put them on before i put on my shoes.

as far as filter socks, yes i use them as well. always have, always will. my wife made me 15 of them. when they get dirty i put them out on my balcony to dry then when i get a pile i throw them in the washing machine with a little bleach and run 2 rinse cycles

why do i use them? keeps the water looking good and i see the crap they catch. plus i dont run a skimmer

 

[sminker]

Used them for about a week once. Too much maintanance. Ive got some LR in my sump where the water comes in and I have some more in the bubble trap. This seems to be the best setup for me. Keeps my water crystal clear with no micro bubbles and no maintanance.

 

[ChuckLawson]

I typically use them for the first few months after setting up a tank, mostly to catch fines from new sand, etc. I change them every few days and/or whenever they clog to the point of flowing over the top. After the tank has settled in, I usually only use them if I'm blowing crud off the rocks, etc...

 

[The Punisher]

I use them and think they're great. Like others have already pointed out, you have to keep up with changing them or they'll become a problem. If you change them out regularly, they're won't be any problems. After running them and seeing all the nasty stuff they pull out of the water, I won't not run them.

 

[Drewbaby]

I don't and I won't. Too many horror stories of flooded stands and overflowing socks along with the never ending washing and changing. I stick to cheap bulk filter media. My LFS sells it by the foot and I put it in a filter tray similar to that of a wet dry instead. If that get too dirty or clogged the tray is designed with a fail safe that allows it to bypass the filter and enter the sump vs. flooding the house. I also run carbon in media bags in the tray to polish the water and get crystal clear water equivalent to that of a sock.

 

[aquaph8]

I use one for both returns. I replace with a fresh one every two days or when water overflows instead of runs through it.

 

[The Punisher]

When my sock overflows it overflows right into the sump, no chance of it flooding my house.

 

[travisw30]

I use them and don't mind the extra work water is def clearer. I have mine set up so if it overflows it just goes into the sump. I have about 8 socks that I clean every 2 months. I use hydrogen peroxide though. And hand wash. I made a holder for 2 4" but just use the one side now days.

 

[falconut]

My system has been running for over 6 years. I never used to use filter socks, but I started this past year. Wow, these things get loaded with junk. I use 100 microns and change them every 5-7 days. My setup worked well without, but now I don't think I'd want all this extra junk floating around.