PirateLove
New member
Hi RC. I have a 42 gallon with a 16 gallon sump. Should I use a filter sock? I know I have to change them like once or twice a week. Would you use one for this size tank?
Thanks!:bounce3:
Thanks!:bounce3:
Would you use a filter sock?
- Thread starter PirateLove
- Start date
thehammer1985
New member
Yes I love using them just a little bit extra polish. As long as your vigilante about changing em
golferbud101691
New member
I don't use socks in either of my tanks, 46 or 90. I tried it for awhile and they really didn't do anything special. I had to change them 2-3x per week, which wasn't what I wanted to do. Yes, it will help clear water, but if you use rox 0.8 carbon, I couldn't tell a difference.
snulma1
New member
I use them on my 30 gallon display and 10 gallon sump. I didn't initially, but then every 2-3 months I had to drain my sump and clean all the crud at the bottom. Now I only have to do that once a year.
Added bonus is I run by GFO output into the same sock, so all the pieces that escape the sponge in the reactor are caught and don't end up in my display or sump.
If you buy a bunch of them then changing them and cleaning them is a breeze.
I usually set up a bucket with a bunch of water and bleach (and cover with a lid), then after rinsing the dirty socks in the sink I put them in the bucket to soak.
Once I get 10 of them in there, I rinse them all again and place into washing machine with bleach, and run an extra cycle afterwards to rinse thoroughly. Then let them air dry for 2+ days to ensure all the bleach has evaporated.
Added bonus is I run by GFO output into the same sock, so all the pieces that escape the sponge in the reactor are caught and don't end up in my display or sump.
If you buy a bunch of them then changing them and cleaning them is a breeze.
I usually set up a bucket with a bunch of water and bleach (and cover with a lid), then after rinsing the dirty socks in the sink I put them in the bucket to soak.
Once I get 10 of them in there, I rinse them all again and place into washing machine with bleach, and run an extra cycle afterwards to rinse thoroughly. Then let them air dry for 2+ days to ensure all the bleach has evaporated.
davocean
Active member
You know for about $30 you can get a shop/wet vac that would suck out any dietrus w/out having to deal w/ draining your sup, just an idea.
FirstContact
Active member
Using socks for years. They pull so much stuff out of the water column can't imagine going back to not using them. Change them every three days sometimes four. Try filterbag.com.
There are folks with successful tanks that swear by filter socks; and folks with sucessful tanks that never use them. If nothing else, that fact alone suggests strongly that they are at best immaterial to sucess. Decide for yourself which argument makes the most sense to you, with the comfort that whichever approach you pick is unlikely to be the proverbial 'straw'.
CStrickland
New member
Yeah, I never went without so I can't say the socks are the straw. Lol anyway I'm more like one straw away from a tank crash most days hehe.
You'll find that for lots of equipment folks are like "once I saw what it took out of the tank, I can't imagine not using it!" That's how I feel about my socks. And now that I have a skimmer, I feel that way about the skimmer too
People say they trap pods, reducing the fish food in the tank. Idk, I don't see that many pods in my sock but I think my wrasse eats them all off the rocks before they have a chance to fly into the overflow.
Also, I feed reeealy heavy. Like 4-5x a day. I think the sock catches the extra food before it rots into nitrate, cause I never had an issue with that. So I kinda think of it as feeding my fish whole fresh chum, and catching up the leftovers, instead of having a really diverse set of sand animals make a whole ecosystem out of it with eating each other's poop and then growing macro from the manure etc. Like I'm skipping the middleman.
PS you can try it with a CLEAN AND WELL-RINSED pantyhose or thin cotton sock, if you can rig it to your sump inlet. Then if you like it, buy proper ones or do like me and sew them up out of felt from Walmart for like $0.30 a pop
You'll find that for lots of equipment folks are like "once I saw what it took out of the tank, I can't imagine not using it!" That's how I feel about my socks. And now that I have a skimmer, I feel that way about the skimmer too
People say they trap pods, reducing the fish food in the tank. Idk, I don't see that many pods in my sock but I think my wrasse eats them all off the rocks before they have a chance to fly into the overflow.
Also, I feed reeealy heavy. Like 4-5x a day. I think the sock catches the extra food before it rots into nitrate, cause I never had an issue with that. So I kinda think of it as feeding my fish whole fresh chum, and catching up the leftovers, instead of having a really diverse set of sand animals make a whole ecosystem out of it with eating each other's poop and then growing macro from the manure etc. Like I'm skipping the middleman.
PS you can try it with a CLEAN AND WELL-RINSED pantyhose or thin cotton sock, if you can rig it to your sump inlet. Then if you like it, buy proper ones or do like me and sew them up out of felt from Walmart for like $0.30 a pop
snulma1
New member
That is true, but I would have to vacuum it just as frequently as I change filter socks to prevent excess nitrates
Ron Reefman
Active member
I use filter socks on both my 400g system and my 200g system. I bought a lot of socks (30+) so I wouldn't have to wash them as frequently as I would if I only had a few spares. I change mine every 5 to 7 days. As soon as they get ready to start over flowing. I store the dirty socks in a 30g rubbermaid tub with a lid and they only smell in the garage when I open the lid to add more dirty socks. I wash 20+ socks at a time in the washing machine.
I recently got 4 bigger socks (6"x16" thanks Rick) and I love them as they run much longer before they need to be changed. I wish all my socks were the big ones now!
I recently got 4 bigger socks (6"x16" thanks Rick) and I love them as they run much longer before they need to be changed. I wish all my socks were the big ones now!
Dkuhlmann
New member
I don't use filter socks, sure I have them but never use them. IMO the sump is the detrius trap and that is part of its function. Every few months I will do a cleaning on my sump and my system is low in nitrates and phosphates. I also have what most would consider too many fish for my tank and I feed heavy 3x per day.
Oh and if you do use them don't let them soak in bleach, it will end up deteriorating them and their life is much shorter if you do that. Just drop them in the washing machine with no detergent and run them through a cycle then let them air dry.
Oh and if you do use them don't let them soak in bleach, it will end up deteriorating them and their life is much shorter if you do that. Just drop them in the washing machine with no detergent and run them through a cycle then let them air dry.
bearpeidog
Member
If you do use socks take a look at this site: filterbag.com
The quality is spot on and I've never found cheaper prices elsewhere.
The quality is spot on and I've never found cheaper prices elsewhere.
davocean
Active member
Not saying an alternative to socks or anything just a cool tip that makes that chore much easier
snulma1
New member
Ahhhhh, I see. Thanks, ill look into one
davocean
Active member
Home depot also makes what they call a buckethead, attach's straight to a 5g bucket, does the same, heard they are only about $20
Socks are great, but only if you change them frequently enough, if you don't they become bad, nitrate sinks.
Occasionally I forget, and I notice right away film algae suddenly pops up, and it doesn't take long for that to happen, a week or so, and then I'll pull it and all is cool a day or so later, but it's just something people should be aware of.
Socks are great, but only if you change them frequently enough, if you don't they become bad, nitrate sinks.
Occasionally I forget, and I notice right away film algae suddenly pops up, and it doesn't take long for that to happen, a week or so, and then I'll pull it and all is cool a day or so later, but it's just something people should be aware of.
Coelli
New member
I don't use socks because I have a mandarin and don't want the little pod babies getting caught in the sock before they have to run the gauntlet of the skimmer and return. The way my plumbing is set up they are also a pain to change, nevermind having to store dirty ones and then wash everything. 
