Filter socks for dominant SPS tanks

[Aquattro]

Used socks for years, and not used them for years. As someone said, not a game changer.

Pros, clean sump, catches larger things like algae that I don't want going through the system, keeps small snails and such from getting in the pumps. Clears water pretty good, but a mature system tends to do that on it's own anyway. Catches food going over the overflow, air bubbles if you get them.

Cons - PIA to remember to change them out twice a week, have to wash a batch monthly, catches pods which I feel compelled to save and return to the tank

 

[MichaelW]

Interesting thread. I use felt filter socks. I have a herbie style drain and the full siphon line goes into a filter sock, the other does not. The sock just gets a clean out under the tap every other day. The sock well overflow if left longer and the water is dirty when I clean the sock. The way I see it is all that junk would be in the sump breaking down etc if it wasn't in the sock to be removed. Yeah it can be a hassle to clean so regularly but in all honesty it's less than 3 minutes to clean it in the sink and pop it back in. The pods thing... Eh doesn't bother me there still plenty elsewhere.

 

[nemodan]

At the end, and this is my personal opinion, all is being reduced to nutrient export. In my case is the refugium with macro for phosp and Matrix for Nitrate. If there is an equilibrium then all that junk is biologically processed and with weekly water changes of ~ 10-15 % the cycle is completed.

The issue is that each tank is different !!!

What works for some (let say use of socks), could not work for others at all or could parcially work or could be it does not matter if socks are used or not.

Cheers