To filter sock, or not to filter sock
- Thread starter DaddyJax
- Start date
Glad to see this topic, this could yield some good stuff.
I've got a 90 with an ER 8-2 and I run carbon.
I ran a sock 24-7 changing about every 4 days, and had slightly detectable nitrates and a bit of algae. Now that I've removed it I notice I get no algae or nitrates. I still run it from time to time, and one of the best ideas I've heard is when you syphon to clean, just syphon into the sock, its very convenient. As it stands now I don't run them, only if there is some 'other issue' that I think deserves stepped up mechanical filtration.
I've got a 90 with an ER 8-2 and I run carbon.
I ran a sock 24-7 changing about every 4 days, and had slightly detectable nitrates and a bit of algae. Now that I've removed it I notice I get no algae or nitrates. I still run it from time to time, and one of the best ideas I've heard is when you syphon to clean, just syphon into the sock, its very convenient. As it stands now I don't run them, only if there is some 'other issue' that I think deserves stepped up mechanical filtration.
jackson6745
Yeah Yeah
Your SPS don't need plankton to thrive. If that was the case, most of out sterile looking BB tanks would be full of dead acros.
jdieck
New member
For what research I have done it is my understanding that they do. Not pythoplankton but zooplankton. In any case corals are different, we have those that can not survive without it like dendronepthias, fether dusters and some clams then we have the ones in between like alveoporas, euphilias, mushrooms, and such and then we have the ones with less needs but still needs the small polyped acros and the photosynthetic clams. Some may survive years with light alone but eventually they will need some.
But all of them have something in common. suspended food is carried to them via the water column.
rutz81
New member
jdieck: Would you possivly be able to post a link with the "research"you are referring to? I am only questioning your statement because I have read so many different opinions on this topic and have been on the "to use a sock" side for a while now. My tank has been overall cleaner(less particle matter,etc)
That being said, I run a BB system with with extreme amount of flow(IMO). If you are running a DSB or even a SSB you could not have the amount of flow I do; or would have sandstorms. Therefore, I would have more particle matter in my water than that of a person who is just letting the detrtitus/extra food "settle" into their sand, considering all of my water is churning, no dead spots, where a person with a DSB *MUST* have less flow towards the bottom so there sand(detritus,extra food) does not fly away.
I am by no means starting a BB v. DSB thread, just simply stating that it seems that people running a BB seem to have more of a need to run filter socks and remove that stuff; where people who are running a DSB do not use this method primarily as a way of removing everything.
That being said, I run a BB system with with extreme amount of flow(IMO). If you are running a DSB or even a SSB you could not have the amount of flow I do; or would have sandstorms. Therefore, I would have more particle matter in my water than that of a person who is just letting the detrtitus/extra food "settle" into their sand, considering all of my water is churning, no dead spots, where a person with a DSB *MUST* have less flow towards the bottom so there sand(detritus,extra food) does not fly away.
I am by no means starting a BB v. DSB thread, just simply stating that it seems that people running a BB seem to have more of a need to run filter socks and remove that stuff; where people who are running a DSB do not use this method primarily as a way of removing everything.
)
jdieck
New member
Sure I do not want to go the BB vs DSB debate either :lol:
There is so much information on coral feeding. Here are some:
From Eric Borneman:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/eb/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/eb/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-10/eb/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/eb/index.php
Anthony Calfo in his "Book of Coral Propagation" Vol one Ver 1.0
"Reading Trees Publication" Monroeville Pa.
Pages Pages 209 to 222 Tony discuss and reviews the different foods and feeding strategies for corals in general and in the second half of the book starting page 235 "Coral Selection & General Requirments" he revises by Coral Families and species the detail feeding requirments.
Regarding Acroporas I quote Page 241:
"Regarding the feeding of Acroporids, it is necessary to embrace some kind of nutritive supplementation. While many species have their need for carbon satisfiedmostly through photosynthesis, few will grow and reproduce naturally without feeding. It is important to point out that Acroporids maintained in fishless systems and without supplementation are likely to starve"
Other references:
Julian Sprung and J. C. Delbeck on "The Reef Aquarium" Vol 1
Ricordea Publishing
Also look for articles written by M. Paletta 1989 Seascope Vol 6;
A. Thiel 1988 The Marine Fish and Invert Aquarium Aardvak Press, Bridgeport, CT
Non related to aquarium or propagation but coral requirments and feeding strategiestake a look at:
Sorokin, Y. 1973. On the feeding of some scleractinian corals with bacteria and dissolved organic matter. Limnol.
Sebens, KP and AS Johnson 1991. Effects of water movement on prey cacapture and distribution of reef corals
Schiller, C and GJ Herndl 1989. Evidence of enhanced microbial activity in the intersticial space of branched corals: possible implications for coral metabolism.
Jen Veron "Corals of the World"
What about feeding your overflow directly into your skimmer, if you have a recirculating model.. This way you can get the mechanical aspect without the sock, and the skimmer will take most of the solid debris out.
I switched to this method a few months ago and love it..
Mike
I switched to this method a few months ago and love it..
Mike
jdieck
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6421228#post6421228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rutz81
Thanks jdieck!
Gives me something to do for a little bit
I hope it helps. In overall what IMO transpires is that photosynthetic corals can get most of their energy requirments from the lighting in the form of glucose/sugars by the zooxhantelae but the rest of their nutritional requirments they need to acquire some other way.
Enjoy!
REEF-DADDY
New member
Alright guys I've been runing socks 24/7 for a week or 2. I change them everyday if not 2x per day. It seems that my nitrates are on the rise. So I took a sock and ran some r/o water through it, and tested the results. It came back 10 ppm, which is about where the tank is. Has anyone else tried this, is it just the water that was trapped in the sock? Is the sock leaching nitrates into the system?
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