Filter Sock Usage Poll

[mcgrawjt]

Reefnut brings up a concern I have for employing "socks". I am in the process of rebuilding my reef again, and I always used filter floss on a layer of eggcrate over bio balls. I recently purchased "mesh" filter socks (two sets for quick switch out) and was planning to use them as well as the filter floss for a two layered approach. My big concern is the pods getting trapped in the socks. I know they could get out of the floss but now I'm pretty sure they will be trapped.

John

 

[Patrick Cox]

I am planning a build right now and I am thinking I will drain my tank partially into the skimmer area where I will have a sock and partially into the refugium where I will not have a sock. Then my refugium water will flow through a bubble trap and up to the tank. This should at least preserve some of the pods. But I haven't decided for sure on the sock in the skimmer compartment. I don't currently use one and my sump is a mess so I am thinking I will at least try one and see if I like it. Good discussion.

 

[laugh]

Barefoot for me. My drain runs straight into my skimmer.

 

[deepseadan]

No filter sock for me, unless I stir up the sand or move rock in the tank. Otherwise everything's fine and my sump is clean. I do have a huge skimmer for my system though.

 

[grcforce327]

Had the sump designed to hold two socks for the inlets. I would definitely use them on initial setup and break-in!!! Got a few more pairs on the way to swap out.

 

[Dapg8gt]

Never used socks. I just clean the sump detritus out maybe monthly with a shop vac at WC's. I do have filter pads that get rinsed weekly in the systems.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Good poll.

 

[oldimpala]

I use felt...

The way I get around pod issues (with a hungry Mandarin in the display) is, I place what I loving call a makeshift 'fuge after the sock. (It's a pile of rocks with some Macro. Kinda a ghetto for my 'pods.)

If you can picture it, I have a two-level sump, and in a small corner are a few rocks that spent time in the display, and some Macro. Those "seeded" the pod population, now they reproduce there, flow into the lower sump basin, and get pumped back to the display a floor up.

Plenty of pods. Good Macro growth. No debris from the upstairs tanks in the sumps.

 

[Dadekster]

I have two drains, one I run into my fuge unsocked and the other goes into my skimmer sump which is felt socked. My sump stays much cleaner longer and I don't have to worry about the skimmer pump or any other pumps in the sump getting clogged or jammed with crap that makes it into the sump (I find snails, clumps of macro, etc caught in the sock all the time). Changing the sock takes literally 30 seconds, take it off the hooks and slide clean one in. Cleaning the sock takes 5-10 minutes with a garden hose. I then let it air dry and swap out 3 days later. My last tank (same one just new one is in-wall now) I didn't use socks and I can see running with them seems to make the corals happier since I think my tank stays a bit cleaner. Basically just less detrius buildup.

 

[Patrick Cox]

I have two drains, one I run into my fuge unsocked and the other goes into my skimmer sump which is felt socked. My sump stays much cleaner longer and I don't have to worry about the skimmer pump or any other pumps in the sump getting clogged or jammed with crap that makes it into the sump (I find snails, clumps of macro, etc caught in the sock all the time). Changing the sock takes literally 30 seconds, take it off the hooks and slide clean one in. Cleaning the sock takes 5-10 minutes with a garden hose. I then let it air dry and swap out 3 days later. My last tank (same one just new one is in-wall now) I didn't use socks and I can see running with them seems to make the corals happier since I think my tank stays a bit cleaner. Basically just less detrius buildup.

Exact same design as my new sump I am building. Glad to hear it is effective!

 

[cherubfish pair]

IMO, bacteria break down crud in the sock as dissovled compounds easier than particulate matter in some forgotten corner of a system.

I also leave everything running when I feed to "catch" what's not eaten.

 

[grcforce327]

IMO, bacteria break down crud in the sock as dissovled compounds easier than particulate matter in some forgotten corner of a system.

I also leave everything running when I feed to "catch" what's not eaten.

 

[Mekanic]

Always use a felt sock, changed every 3-4 days. I have about 10 of them, when they get changed they get tossed into a bag, when I put my last clean one in, the bag gets dumped into the washing machine with a cup of bleach and 3 rinse cycles.

 

[grcforce327]

Always use a felt sock, changed every 3-4 day

Same here.Mine start to overflow about every 3 days.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Same here.Mine start to overflow about every 3 days.

What size do you use? (4" or 7"?)

 

[Mekanic]

4" x 16"

 

[grcforce327]

What size do you use? (4" or 7"?)

Like mekanic said,they are 4x16,but the actual measurement of the material itself is approx. 3 1/2x14(just measured mine)

 

[SCRID]

I use filter socks too. They do trap pods but i try to shake and pick out as many as i can after removing one.
I bought my tank and sump used.
the sump had a 4" dia. pvc pipe siliconed to the bottom of the sump with some 1/2" holes drilled around the base of the pipe.
I assumed it was a diy sock holder.
It worked ok but i removed it and drilled all but the top 2" with holes.
Then added a 4" to 6" adapter to the top.
drilled a 1" hole in that adapter side wall and added a 45 degree elbow to control overflow water if the sock gets too plugged up.
the adapter also holds the sock ring up nicely.

 

[r1racer]

Simple to use. I keep one set ready for use while the other go in the washing machine. I replace them every 3 months or so. I also run my reactor outlets through them to catch any gfo or carbon that would otherwise escape.

 

[Donkeykong]

I only run filter socks during water changes or if I am stirring up sand and rocks for some reason. The rest of the time all the crap just settles in an area in the sump that is easy to vacuum out when I do my regular water changes. I use to run socks all the time but got tired of having to clean them out every few days. I have seen no negative effect going to my current system.