Filter Socks. Yeah or Nah?

SPSFiend

SPSFiend

New member
I have ran filter socks for the last 3 years. I am setting up a new sump however and I am considering getting rid of the filter sock. Micro bubbles are not a concern of mine due to the baffles I will install.

Do filter socks really help in filtering particles out of the water etc? Should I get rid of it? It would be one thing less to change out every week and wash :)

Appreciate the support!
 
If you arent willing to clean them, then no.

but if you have extras/wash them and can replace them weekly, then yes.
 
i used them for 6 months or so and got sick of it pretty quick..the maintenance was a pita (even once a week) - so i decided to take it off and i dont see a difference in my tank in terms of water quality etc..
much happier now :)

I do use them once every month or two for a couple of days just to help clean up some left over dirt/sand, etc...
 
I use them it helps catching all the fish waste and other particals the use to settle in my sump. I have 2 sets rotating them out, for me it works JMO.
 
I like them too, I'm using socks on my new system. My previous system, I did not use socks and regretted it because detritus would build up and spread throughout the system. I replace my socks weekly when I do my 10% water change. I cycle between 4 socks and store the used ones in a bucket of water until they are washed. My sump is nice and clean and I never have to vacuum anything out.

IMO it's just a matter of preference if you use socks or not. For me, it's no trouble at all, takes me 10 secs to replace the sock and 15mins once a month in the washer.
 
Switch to 150 micron for a perfect compromise! ;)
I got tired of rinsing out my 100 micron every 4 days or so when it clogged up. The 150 micron, however, lets smaller particles/critters like phytoplankton, zooplankton, etc. go through the larger weave but still traps detritus and other crap. I rinse it out much less frequently now and the lighter material is easier to deal with.

I'll bring socks to sell at the SCMAS meeting this Friday if anyone wants to try some.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8118256#post8118256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarDaddy
FWIW Calfo says no

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic42862-13-1.aspx
Click to expand...

To add a little more detail, Calfo says no, if you're not going to maintenance the socks frequently. His quote, "serviced near daily, they can be a benefit - especially regarding bubbles and heavy fishloads/waste".

He isn't against socks, he's against anything that can store and build up solid organics. That seems pretty sensible. It could be argued that for a lazy reefkeeper, socks aren't a good option since it only adds to the daily maintenance.

Josh
 
I use them and like them. I think the water is much cleaner and clear. I didn't have them on my bigger setup, but I do on the smaller setup and can see the differents for sure.
I'll keep using them.
JMO
 
i change them out every week.. i use 2 at a time and i have about 10 or so.. they are so nasty when i pull them out i cant imagine not using them. i fill each one with 2 cups of carbon, i even have one attached to the drain of the skimmer.... i would reccomend them
 
Removing them was the best thing I did in my system. Its too much work cleaning them out and it cost too much to replace. After removing them my PO4 dropped to almost zero in a week. Unless you have time to clean them out everyday or two it does more harm the good.
 
Thanks everyone for the great info. So I hear that filiter socks need to be drained practically daily.

I change out my socks when the get clogged up and begin overfilling. Typically this is about every week.

How long does it take for organics to begin decomposing?
 
I use socks, and I don't quite follow his logic in his thread. It seems to me if you use a sock and replace it weekly you are removing all the "waste" that is attached to the sock...soo where is the pitfall in that, and say if that waste DOES manage to break down, attach to the water, ect ect.. Then isn't it suspended and lighter and thus will have an easier time finding it's way into your skimmer. As opposed to the larger particals that without a sock will just end up in the corner of your sump breaking down for ages.

I also keep about 4-5 socks, and I just rotate threw them, when I get to last sock I toss the rest in wash, doesn't really seem like to much hassle to me, much easier then say getting all that grime out the bottom of your sump..

but of course I could be wrong, and I really wouldn't mind getting say 8-10 socks, and swapping them out daily as it should be pretty simple in my new sump setup.

The one big pitfall for me at least, is I do notice alot of pod's get stuck in my sock.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8120973#post8120973 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bebo77
i change them out every week.. i use 2 at a time and i have about 10 or so.. they are so nasty when i pull them out i cant imagine not using them. i fill each one with 2 cups of carbon, i even have one attached to the drain of the skimmer.... i would reccomend them
Click to expand...

Serious...if you dont have the sock on there, then all that crap is still in your tank. If you allow it to decompose, you'll have some problems. But this can be said about any "filter" in your tank. If you let your skimmer cup overflow back into your tank, yes there will be problems. You just have to keep up on your maintenance. I think changing daily is overboard...weekly is good. But then again, I'm no Calfo.
 
Highly recommend them, I use 2 in my system with 2 bags of carbon, 1 in each, they are changed out every 4 days...
I run carbon 24/7, and I have 16 socks, that get washed with bleach in hot water.

My skimmers dont skim that much but it is great for mechanical removal of waste.

I just had a large fish die ( old age ? ) got lost in the system, and instead of tearing the tank out to get him out, I just changed the carbon, socks, and did a water change, and I guess the crabs got him. a little algae growth... but now back to normal, small amm spike .25, but corals and fish are thriving.

F
 
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