My 90g running sockless for 2 months now, so far no negative effects...

[Texanjordan]

I decided about 2 months ago to go completely sockless on my system due to the hassle of changing the filter socks, and the crazy angles I have to contort my arms just to get the sock out of my sump. I added very small plastic grid covering my overflow pipe to keep my snails out of my sump, very easy to do with fishing line, and craft grid from hobby lobby. My skimmer produces a very large amount of skimmate now. I recently bought a reservour and attached it to my skimmer, and after 2 weeks of skimmer, I have over a gallon of skimmate in it. My glass tends to have a white powder on it, not brown, but wipes off easily. My Paramaters have not changed at all, the salinity and PH are right where they need to be. My conclusion is why use a sock at all when you can just rely more on your skimmer and not have a headache of changing filter socks?

 

[kn240]

I tried a sock for the first time in my reefing life. It gets dirty quick, then I got lazy to clean it out. My nitrate hits the roof while I was on vacation. Corals started brown out and stn. Never again. Maybe for a fowlr tank when livestock could careless about nitrate and to trap detritus. Again, never again.

 

[Texanjordan]

I was using socks for about 2 years, and they worked well, I just got really sick of always changing them out, havign to wash them and air dry them, plus when I would leave it alone to long, it would overflow. It was in a pain in the butt spot to get to, and I always ended up spilling water everywhere. I am really glad that I did it, and I could be wrong, but my corals look happier.

 

[wipe]

Socks are a pain in the but. I dont use them and never will again. Tank is perfect with out them. My skimmer eats the muck just fine.

 

[ali1]

interesting... i have socks now and they are definitely pain.

socks right behind the skimmer which makes it difficult to reach around without knocking sh!t over or putting pressure on the hoses.

 

[ali1]

interesting... i have socks now and they are definitely pain.

socks right behind the skimmer which makes it difficult to reach around without knocking sh!t over or putting pressure on the hoses.

 

[DopeCantWin]

The point of socks is to catch particles too large for the skimmer to take out. Now they're staying in your system. Possibly collecting in your sump, and will cause issues if not cleaned out regularly.

 

[cyruson]

I have been using only Mesh Filter Socks,it's clog less. Basically it catches small floating particles from aquarium water.

 

[DopeCantWin]

I have been using only Mesh Filter Socks,it's clog less. Basically it catches small floating particles from aquarium water.

Give them some time.

 

[reeferlover]

so what can you do then? Im so tired of my socks

 

[jmsalt1]

I have easy access to my filter sock and still go back and forth between running one and going without. Recently, I have been running without a sock but just put one back on the other day. I can't imagine running them thru the laundry, so I clean mine in a 5 gallon salt bucket coordinated with weekly small water changes and rotate two of them. Typically, I only run a sock when doing maintenance that puts debris into the column, for example right after I clean and do a water change from the section in my fuge that has Cheato and some larger rubble in it or dt maintenance such as basting debris from rocks.

 

[Texanjordan]

I am glad I did it, it has saved a lot of maintenance headaches. I can't Imagine ever going back to using a sock.

 

[N3gative Cr33p]

I am glad I did it, it has saved a lot of maintenance headaches. I can't imagine ever going back to using a sock.

Likewise... same here. :thumbsup:

 

[Tank2379]

Never used a Sock, socks tend to trap food which casues Nitrates to build up and help fuel Algea. It is good to help keep your water clean and crystal clear... I am going to attempt to use my first one today on my Frag system since I will not be putting fish in this system and see how it goes....