I am using a 100 micron filter sock on one side of my sump,which discharges to the skimmer side with return pump in middle of sump,the other side is unfiltered with water falling directly into refugium. I have noticed that the filter is usually light brown in color after 1-2 days,upon further inspection I have noticed many different and small creatures caught inside sock ,microfauna or plankton I hope.Do you think the benefits of this filter sock filtering food and detrius is better than the unwanted removal of these organisms?
Filter socks good or bad?
- Thread starter dover101
- Start date
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
i use filter socks to cut down on micro bubbles from the overflow. i always take them off for a few hours during feeding and add a short length of pipe to extend the overflow down to just below water level. i also have 4 or 5 for each system and replace them daily, letting them sit with trapped food particles in them causes the trapped food to brake down into NO3 much quicker and doesn't allow the skimmer to pull them out.
T Man
~PPPPPPP~
Re: Filter socks good or bad?
Good description dover101 , and Welcome to Reef Central !!
As you have seen, filter socks work. Using them continously will filter your water column of everything down to 100 micron.
I use socks when I clean or rearrange the display on the sump entry side - but only as long as it takes to clear the water back. TinMan
Good description dover101 , and Welcome to Reef Central !!
As you have seen, filter socks work. Using them continously will filter your water column of everything down to 100 micron.
I use socks when I clean or rearrange the display on the sump entry side - but only as long as it takes to clear the water back. TinMan
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Jetcat that sounds like a lot of work. Why not just turn off the return pump when you feed?
You mention that you have them to stop bubbles in the sump, not for filtration. Again, the amount of work seems large for something that may be fixable by other simple means.
Can you describe your overflow setup?
You mention that you have them to stop bubbles in the sump, not for filtration. Again, the amount of work seems large for something that may be fixable by other simple means.
Can you describe your overflow setup?
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
it's not a biggie at all, takes about 5 seconds to take a sock off or put one on, and the short pipe about another 5 seconds to put on/take off.
turning off the return is not practical it feeds both the tank and the chiller (which also controls the heating), i feed nightly (Bangii and the corals) if the return was off the tank temp would drop considerably.
turning off the return is not practical it feeds both the tank and the chiller (which also controls the heating), i feed nightly (Bangii and the corals) if the return was off the tank temp would drop considerably.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
All the 5 second chores in the day tend to add up. I try to eliminate as much of that stuff as I can 
I turn off the return pump when I feed (push a button and a timer does the rest). It is off for an hour so I don't have any problems with temperature.
I was going to run filter socks, but see no benefit in my setup. I have zero bubbles going into the sump and a very large settling area. I know that changing them and keeping them clean would be something I would not keep up with.
I turn off the return pump when I feed (push a button and a timer does the rest). It is off for an hour so I don't have any problems with temperature.
I was going to run filter socks, but see no benefit in my setup. I have zero bubbles going into the sump and a very large settling area. I know that changing them and keeping them clean would be something I would not keep up with.
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
i don't use them on all of my setups but the ones i do use them on they work great, no loss of micro funa that is significant enough to be worth mentioning. i don't think the less then 30 seconds it takes to swap one is taking away from my day enough to be wroth mentioning either, to each their own.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
It sounds like you may have somehow taken offense to my comments. I was just curious as to your reasoning and your setup as well as mentioning mine. Yes, to each their own. Everyone has a unique way of doing things and of valuing their time and enjoyment of their hobby.
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
no i took no offense at all, I'm just stating that it's no bother to me to do the socks. allot less hassle then turning off the return pump or re-plumbing the sump for the micro bubbles.
I'm sure RichCarnley (sp) will pop in and make a comment before to long that will swear that anyone who uses the socks is dooming their tank but till then I'm hunky dory, i just type things out bluntly and it's often misinterpreted
I'm sure RichCarnley (sp) will pop in and make a comment before to long that will swear that anyone who uses the socks is dooming their tank but till then I'm hunky dory, i just type things out bluntly and it's often misinterpreted
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
That makes two of us (the blunt thing). It gets me in a lot of trouble here I guess.
I think Rich falls right into the same category as well.
I know for sure I would not change them often enough (I have a 2 month old bag of carbon that is begging to be changed).
The silent overflow was one of the most imortant aspects of my enture setup. The is inwall and faces my home theater. The door to the fishroom is in my office. All was good until I used an OR3500 for a skimmer pump. I can hear it in both rooms and I hate it.
I think Rich falls right into the same category as well.
I know for sure I would not change them often enough (I have a 2 month old bag of carbon that is begging to be changed).
The silent overflow was one of the most imortant aspects of my enture setup. The is inwall and faces my home theater. The door to the fishroom is in my office. All was good until I used an OR3500 for a skimmer pump. I can hear it in both rooms and I hate it.
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
they defiantly aren't recommended for the 'lazy' (no offense intended to anyone) who isn't going to swap/clean them regularly, they do quieten falling water considerably though.
and no honestly i don't think Rich is in the same category, he IMO intentionally posts confrontational just to stir the pot. just a few weeks ago he posted how a filter sock would cause a fish that jumped in the overflow to decompose to nothing but a skeleton in a few hours. just to prove he was full of it i stuck some silversides in a sock and took pics every hour.........needless to say they didn't decompose at all and i left them overnight, it was then explained it had to be a live fish, frozen wouldn't work, i used feeder guppies and they too didn't decompose so then it had to be a Royal Garamma, i ain't paying 30 bucks to kill a fish to prove he's not the most truthful in his postings so i left it at that.
and no honestly i don't think Rich is in the same category, he IMO intentionally posts confrontational just to stir the pot. just a few weeks ago he posted how a filter sock would cause a fish that jumped in the overflow to decompose to nothing but a skeleton in a few hours. just to prove he was full of it i stuck some silversides in a sock and took pics every hour.........needless to say they didn't decompose at all and i left them overnight, it was then explained it had to be a live fish, frozen wouldn't work, i used feeder guppies and they too didn't decompose so then it had to be a Royal Garamma, i ain't paying 30 bucks to kill a fish to prove he's not the most truthful in his postings so i left it at that.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
When it comes to tank husbandry... I am lazy.
I would venture to say that they do not harm anything and actually help matters (as long as they are changed frequently enough).
I am also not one that strives for crystal clear water. I run carbon to keep the light penetration high and a skimmer to keep the organics as low as I can (I overfeed a LOT). Other than that, the detritus settles in the sump and I ignore it.
I would venture to say that they do not harm anything and actually help matters (as long as they are changed frequently enough).
I am also not one that strives for crystal clear water. I run carbon to keep the light penetration high and a skimmer to keep the organics as low as I can (I overfeed a LOT). Other than that, the detritus settles in the sump and I ignore it.
sherm71tank
Premium Member
If they are cleaned or replaced regularly what bad can they cause?
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
they cause no harm at all if cleaned/changed regularly, if not they only help to brake down organics they trap quicker (high O2 environment) rather then allowing them to be skimmed out.
sherm71tank
Premium Member
I'm pro sock and use/change them religiously. Just wondering if there is "real" evidence in them doing harm.
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
theres no harm either way, but if you don't change them regularly your NO3 levels are likely to be more elevated then if you didn't use them. they will get to the point they simply overflow they are so stopped up and at that point they are just another form of bubble trap
sherm71tank
Premium Member
I think this will depend on where the detritus goes. If not in the sock then where?
JetCat USA
In Memoriam
if not into the sock some gets skimmed out, if you have a slow flow sump it settles there and just decomposes either way. that's where the 'To each their own' comes into play, in some cases not using one can be worse for your water quality.........
chrismhaase
Active member
I am pro socks. I have 0 problems, 0 nitrates and my tank looks great. I change them every 2 to 3 days depending on the coloring. I then take them and bleach them in the washer and then run a second cycle with water only. Works like a charm for me. I have a routine, I tend to change the filter socks when I refill the Kalk dripper, so the total time is a minute or so, not including kalk mixing.
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