Sock or no sock

[JosefDevaty]

Recently I took the filter sock out of my sump/refugium. I have been running it with a sock for quite a while now. Ill admit that running sockless was by accident since I just havent washed any of the spares and kept forgetting to do it.
After 4 days of running sockless I have noticed that a lot of my SPS seem to look better as far as color goes. Who else has noticed the same thing? Am I imagining things or could the lack of sock actually be a good thing?

 

[The_Browns]

I don't think a filter sock effects color of coral, But i have been wrong before!

 

[JosefDevaty]

The only thing I could think is that small bits of food and critters dont get trapped as much.... thus offering the coral more food?

 

[firebirdude]

Perhaps you were going too long without cleaning the socks before. Thereby causing more harm than good. Removing the sock altogether for awhile would yield an improvement.

 

[waterfaller1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13392561#post13392561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by firebirdude
Perhaps you were going too long without cleaning the socks before. Thereby causing more harm than good. Removing the sock altogether for awhile would yield an improvement.

Agreed. If you won't clean the sock on a regular basis, then I say do not use one. If you pay close attention to your tank, and are diligent in cleaning things like socks, then they are ok to use. I use them, I have two. I bleach them and dechlorinate them before using.

 

[chrisstie]

I have to agree with fire and waterfaller here. I used to use a sock but when I was going through my last semester of school I didn't have the time to really care for my tank like I should have and began going sockless to keep out the crap trap it creates.

Now what I do is put a sock in and dust down my corals/rock with a turkey baster and wait a few hours.. usually do other tank stuff or chores. Then i'll take the sock out and rinse it again and use it during water changes and what not too. The more silty times my tank has. it helps remove a lot of that stuff and knowing you're using it for a short while keeps you more responsible about it.