I would say im not planning on using filter socks at all for primary filtration, I think they should be used if things get bad and only when your babysitting the tank

No filter sock
 

I have never used one. I have no filters and my water is very clear. I figure I lucked out on the correct amount of LR, sand and other organic life. I have been running this for 5 years now and am not about to change a thing. If it is not broke don`t fix it or add or change.

LOL the dude that owns a local fish store could not believe I had no extra filtering and was shocked to here water changes were 6-8 weeks apart.

I do use them either. I do enough laundry.

i used them on my 400 but hated the added maintenance and they clogged up fast. now i have no option to use them and run a little filter floss instead. i actually rinse it out during my weekly changes and make a chunk of it last a few weeks.

I've never bothered to use them.....I'm too lazy to keep on top of cleaning them. I've never wished I did use them either :lol:

No sock, no skimmer. 90g mixed reef.:mrgreen:

I use a 7 inch 200 micron filter sock on my reef. It prevents any leftover food or detritus from building up in my sump or damaging delicate pumps and equipment.

I only use it to keep the bubbles from the downflow contained and not create salt creep everywhere.
If I could find an alternative I would get rid of the sock.
I end up catching lots of pods and baby brittles etc in it =(

Im now running my tank with out filter socks , its skimming nicely and no ill effects

I used to use socks but get really tired of the extra maintenance of cleaning them. Plus, doing a load of laundry for 6 filter socks just seemed wrong to me. I suppose I could have bought more and stretched out the cleaning interval but then I'd have dirty filter socks laying around probably molding. Anyway, now a days I only put on a sock if I've done some aggressive cleaning in the tank like sand stirring or rock scrubbing that kicks up major particulates. Otherwise I run sockless and my tank hasn't crashed yet. :biggrin: