Filter Socks?

[mario4254]

hi i have a question should i use some kind of filter sock? i have a corner overflow that runs down to the sump 75% to the skimmer area and 25% to refiugium. should i put some filter socks on ? if so why ? what kind? what are the + / - when using them? thank you for any info in advance.

 

[J.R.L.]

i find them helpful but only if you can make sure you replace them when needed or else it will just be a place for nitrates to billow out of...but they are good to remove bigger physical impurities

 

[Aquarist007]

Alot of time filter socks are used to control micro bubbling in the display tank. If this is not a problem then you don't need one in your sitution.
I used to run one all the time but now just once a week when I clean the display tank and for 24 hours.

 

[mario4254]

to control the bubbles would you put one on the return pump? cuz i have little bubble problem but i have buffles build into my sump so that stops almost all bubbles entering return pump area

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12648825#post12648825 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mario4254
to control the bubbles would you put one on the return pump? cuz i have little bubble problem but i have buffles build into my sump so that stops almost all bubbles entering return pump area

no, the bubbles are pumped up from the sump in a closed system unless you have a leak in the pump gasket or something similar.

"almost all" indicates where they are coming from

you might want to try the sock and see if it removes them all

 

[zacharytrimble]

Yeah, I don't use sock very often because it allows organics to collect...you really should just clean it often if you use one. Perhaps trying a larger micron one...to catch the bigger particles instead of one of the socks that will get every little bit...

 

[cloak]

Find a way to get around them...

 

[JoeyTheReefer]

i use them on my tank and i change them about every 2 weeks and my tank looks great the bad thing is you need to buy a few and rotate them

 

[fedman]

what is the best way to clean the filter socks?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12650055#post12650055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fedman
what is the best way to clean the filter socks?

the socks should be cleaned every other day--they trap nitrates and phosphates which can be released back into the system

This is what I used to do when I was running the micron socks all the time.(As I stated above I only run them now once a week when cleaning the tank)

I have 5 socks. Every second day I remove the sock and put it in a bucket of 50 per cent bleach and water. The socks sit in the bleach bucket until I have used the last one up.
I rinse out the bucket in the laundry sink and run the socks through the wash.
After the wash I let them dry out so the chlorine evaportes

 

[Laddy]

1:1 ratio of bleach? As in using a 5g bucket with 2 1/2g of bleach and 2 1/2g of water?

I homebrew, and sterilize my equipment prior to the boil and only use a cap full of bleach in a 5g bucket.

Socks are not a must, and do require some attention on a weekly basis (at least in my 60g they do). Aside from cutting down on bubbles entering the sump, they also pull out a ton of detritus which would find its way to the bottom of the sump--I'd rather clean out the sock on a weekly basis, then take out my pump, skimmer, heaters, carbon box, just to get the sump out and clean it.

 

[jimwat]

I use a sock so I do not have to vacuum out my sump (very often). I clean my sock when I vacuum the main tank (once a week). I blast mine clean with a garden hose, let it dry for a week, and rinse it with RO/DI before it goes back in the sump.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12650840#post12650840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Laddy
1:1 ratio of bleach? As in using a 5g bucket with 2 1/2g of bleach and 2 1/2g of water?

I homebrew, and sterilize my equipment prior to the boil and only use a cap full of bleach in a 5g bucket.

Socks are not a must, and do require some attention on a weekly basis (at least in my 60g they do). Aside from cutting down on bubbles entering the sump, they also pull out a ton of detritus which would find its way to the bottom of the sump--I'd rather clean out the sock on a weekly basis, then take out my pump, skimmer, heaters, carbon box, just to get the sump out and clean it.

I only use two gallons---one of bleach and one of water--makes the filter sock nice and white

 

[Laddy]

I bet it does

 

[WLachnit]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12650581#post12650581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
the socks should be cleaned every other day--they trap nitrates and phosphates which can be released back into the system

This is what I used to do when I was running the micron socks all the time.(As I stated above I only run them now once a week when cleaning the tank)

I have 5 socks. Every second day I remove the sock and put it in a bucket of 50 per cent bleach and water. The socks sit in the bleach bucket until I have used the last one up.
I rinse out the bucket in the laundry sink and run the socks through the wash.
After the wash I let them dry out so the chlorine evaportes

Naive question: Chlorine bleach (Na-hypochlorite) is a dissolved solid, right? So, does it evaporate? I was thinking about sticking mine out in the sun for a day to destroy any residual chlorine after going through the wash. Or, am i being a bit too anal about this?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12651368#post12651368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WLachnit
Naive question: Chlorine bleach (Na-hypochlorite) is a dissolved solid, right? So, does it evaporate? I was thinking about sticking mine out in the sun for a day to destroy any residual chlorine after going through the wash. Or, am i being a bit too anal about this?

not at all anal
yes it evaporates and you either do what you said--leave them out in the sun or if you have a winter like we do throw them in the dryer.

 

[widmer]

So people with filter socks aren't all that concerned about trapping pods? That's always been my excuse for not using one.

 

[jimwat]

Flip the sock in a big bucket, wash a couple of cups of tank water over the sock, net the pods out of the bucket.

 

[Laddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12652330#post12652330 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by widmer
So people with filter socks aren't all that concerned about trapping pods? That's always been my excuse for not using one.

Worrying about keeping/supplying the tank with copods is a moot point once they enter the sump--the skimmer alone would remove them even if you didn't have a micron sock. That's why most people who want/need a supply of pods use a refugium flowing into the return area, or better yet, gravity fed into the display tank.

 

[mflamb]

I have 3 drains on my tank. Two go into the skimmer section of the sump, and have socks. The third goes into the fuge with no sock. I have 30 socks and change them every day. I keep a Reef Crystals salt bucket with 2 cups of bleach in it. I put the used socks in the bucket until it's full and then dump them in the washer with just the bleach, no soap. They get a double rinse and then air dry. Then they go to the bottom of the stack to get used again.