Cleaning my sock takes about 30-45 seconds. Slip it off, turn it inside out, toss in washing machine. Slip on the alternate. I agree with the above, if you are complaining that it gets gunked up too often, then you probably need one to remove the gunk. Cleaning a sock is a heck of a lot easier than cleaning a sump. I use one for bubbles as well.
To sock or not?
- Thread starter Mangodude
- Start date
brettinteriors
New member
I find it complete necessary to run a sock. When I don't my media reactors clog with gunk.
reeferman1128
New member
Siphoning out my sump takes only 3 minutes and one gallon of water. About the same amount of time as replacing and cleaning socks. All the "gunk" the sock takes out is potential food for corals and pods. As long as you keep your sump on the clean side and your parameters are in line there is no con to not using a sock. I noticed my PE is much better since removing the sock. Again though it is all personal preference and most important the preference of your tank.
Mangodude
The Clown Tang Keeper!
Well this has turned into quite the thread! 
i've decided to scrap the no-sock idea because it is pulling junk out but instead i've switched to only one drain line feeding into it, and the other going into the skimmer/refugium compartment. Working good so far.. skimmers pulling more and sock isnt clogging with sand as fast
i've decided to scrap the no-sock idea because it is pulling junk out but instead i've switched to only one drain line feeding into it, and the other going into the skimmer/refugium compartment. Working good so far.. skimmers pulling more and sock isnt clogging with sand as fast
stevedola
Master of my domain
lets be honest...cleaning filter socks and changing them out IS NOT 45 seconds of work. I used to run filter socks for 6-7 years (still have some of them) and there is NO way that its not a chore IMO to clean and replace them. Having a rotation of them is a MUST but they must be cleaned properly, washed well, rinsed and thoroughly dried inorder to not do more harm than good---all takes time. Removal and replacement isnt difficult but can be messy and a pain. In a perfect world of infinite budget, good sump sock access and plenty of time I would continue to run socks but for the small amount of ditrius that I have to vacuum out every few months its not worth it. I do like them but dont like the hassle.
my question is why do you have sand being drained into the sump? and in my experience, once a sock starts clogging regularly...its time to trash it and buy new.
my question is why do you have sand being drained into the sump? and in my experience, once a sock starts clogging regularly...its time to trash it and buy new.
Mangodude
The Clown Tang Keeper!
I agree with you there. Usually i spend 5 min switching socks then maybe 20min total washing, rewashing and drying the socks. I may end up going that route..
The socks were all purchased used so that cant be helping..
As to the sand, I have fine sand and a sand sifting goby, a burrowing zebra goby, and two wrasses that pick at the sand. The water is usually clear, but if they all go crazy at one time i usually get a little poof of sand that settles quicklky but not fast enough for all to escape the sock..
MedRed
Active member
I'm fairly certain that the dark brown color of my sock after one week isn't "potential food for corals and pods." With that reasoning, you might as well take your skimmer offline too.
All of that detritus wouldn't necessarily end up in the sump. It very well could make several passes through the sump before settling in your pumps and your tank.
Here's some info on detritus as a food source for corals.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/eb/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/eb/index.php
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
In the past I ran felt socks, most sold to our hobby are 100-200 micron. I have since switched to mesh socks at 200-300 micron. They allow beneficial bacteria and some detritus (both food sources) to slip through, but protect your equipment in the sump and help keep splashing down. I pull mine out and rinse under the sink, then place back in sump, which literally take two minutes. Because they are a larger micron mesh they're VERY quick and easy to clean. I purchased ten or so at once, but do not have to cycle them through as with felt socks. Believe I've only used two out of the original purchase.
MedRed
Active member
So in short, corals don't eat the detritus, they eat the particulate organic material made from decomposed detritus. I imagine that process occurs at an accelerated rate and is easily dispersed into the water column in a sock as opposed to just floating around or settling in the tank.
I would also wager that if a 60 gallon (clean) tank + sump is able to feed NPS + 6 almost 2 year old filter feeding crabs (I said 4 earlier sorry) + SPS while running a regularly changed sock + an oversized skimmer + weekly water changes that its likely the argument against socks is more theoretical than anything.
Filter socks remove the larger particles. If someone is using food for corals as an argument, it would make more sense to run a sock and take the skimmer offline than to run a skimmer without a sock.
I would add that the sock is not removing 100% of anything and that some detritus remains in the display tank and is further reduced to food for the corals. It is also feasible that some of the detritus captured in the sock is also pulverized and pushed through the sock once it becomes a particle smaller than the micron of the sock.
There is no question that socks can work as people have been using them for many years but they are also not a mandatory piece of equipment. I believe it all boils down to what works for you and how you take care of the tank.
MedRed
Active member
I agree with this. I just think the little bit of hassle is worth it in the long run.
REEF SMAC
New member
You're right, I think I could have mine changed out and already in the washing machine in probably 30 seconds.
And somehow you are vacuuming your sump without any difficulty, mess, and pain?
Is that because your sump is only 5 gallons? Is your sump in another room and not under your DT? Are your just siphoning it directly into a drain?
Please share how you are cleaning the detritus out of your sump in 45 seconds.
Even running a sock, I still have to siphon settled detritus from my sump once in a while. It is such a PITA that I run a sock just so I don't have to do it as often.
Should be able to wash it out. I've run the same socks for years. Maybe if you are running too fine of a sock.
Yours must be really difficult to get to? Do you have to move furniture to get to it? Are you running 5 at a time?
Does this include the commute to the laundromat?
You actually stand there and watch the washing machine run for 20 minutes?
You stand there and watch the washing machine for another 20 minutes?
How long do you stand there and watch them dry exactly?
Mine are pretty much dry from the spin cycle.
I got the 200 Micron, the 7" X 30" ones. They work fine, don't clog nearly as often as the 100s.
I was thinking the same thing.
How about "I don't run a skimmer because it's messy and it takes too much time to empty the collection cup." Lol.
Exactly..
Tickle
New member
You dont wear the same socks for more than a couple days....why should your tank i use to run one and i would change it once a week and i would do it while i waited the 5 minutes for my api test kit to read.
I truly dont see how hard it is to A:lift pipe, B:replace sock, C:lower pipe, D(optional): Have beverage and enjoy tank.
On the flipside of this if the detritus was light enough to get whisked away to my overflow then my skimmer will probably pull it out. Im on the fence as of now.
the phone in my hands
i use to run one and i would change it once a week and i would do it while i waited the 5 minutes for my api test kit to read.I truly dont see how hard it is to A:lift pipe, B:replace sock, C:lower pipe, D(optional): Have beverage and enjoy tank.
On the flipside of this if the detritus was light enough to get whisked away to my overflow then my skimmer will probably pull it out. Im on the fence as of now.
the phone in my hands
MedRed
Active member
You're right, I think I could have mine changed out and already in the washing machine in probably 30 seconds.
And somehow you are vacuuming your sump without any difficulty, mess, and pain?
Is that because your sump is only 5 gallons? Is your sump in another room and not under your DT? Are your just siphoning it directly into a drain?
Please share how you are cleaning the detritus out of your sump in 45 seconds.
Even running a sock, I still have to siphon settled detritus from my sump once in a while. It is such a PITA that I run a sock just so I don't have to do it as often.
Should be able to wash it out. I've run the same socks for years. Maybe if you are running too fine of a sock.
Yours must be really difficult to get to? Do you have to move furniture to get to it? Are you running 5 at a time?
Does this include the commute to the laundromat?
You actually stand there and watch the washing machine run for 20 minutes?
You stand there and watch the washing machine for another 20 minutes?
How long do you stand there and watch them dry exactly?
Mine are pretty much dry from the spin cycle.
I got the 200 Micron, the 7" X 30" ones. They work fine, don't clog nearly as often as the 100s.
I was thinking the same thing.
How about "I don't run a skimmer because it's messy and it takes too much time to empty the collection cup." Lol.
Exactly..
This made me lol... It does take me longer to clean the skimmer collection cup every week than it does to swap socks. I usually accumulate 4-5 socks before I run a wash cycle with them.
