Filter sock or no filter sock?

[untamed]

Originally Posted by mark

they do collect a lot of gunk, that's a good reason to use them. Figure if the gunk not being taken out by the sock it's just staying in the tank.

That gunk is somebody's food!

I don't use them, but I do rinse out one of my sumps every week. The other sump gets partially vaccuumed every year or two.

[Delphinus]

I use them in one tank but primarily for microbubble control.

I find it a huge pain to remove them and wash them. They are pretty disgusting after a week. And I hate that everytime I take it out, I'm killing about a billion copepods, brittle stars, bristleworms, etc. etc. etc. so I spend a ridiculous amount of time picking those off and tossing them back into tank, all the while cursing myself for caring too dang much.

Not sure whether to vote "yes" or "no" since it's only 1 tank I use them on. I don't really notice a difference in overall water quality. However the tanks I don't use them on, one of them I hose out every few months (it's a 20g tank so easy enough to empty and clean), and the other is a huge brown goo accumulation device and probably *should* be hosed out every few months - been a more yearly occurence in that one - and it's gruesome when it comes time to do it.

So pros and cons for sure.

[wickedfrags]

Have used them for a long time and I have yet to see a "significant" downside.

They keep my beckett cleaner, I pull 2000GPH through a 4' sump without micromubbles and my sump has not the slighest amount of detritous in it after 4 years.

[sphelps]

I don't use filter socks but I do use mechanical filtration before the skimmer. As far as I know a skimmer will remove dissolved organics, so using filter socks or something similar will not hurt the performance of your skimmer, in fact it should improve it since it will stay cleaner longer.

[Reefer Rob]

I've been using a filter sock on one of my overflows for about 9 months now, and I could never go without it now. Love that crystal clear water!

[Oscar]

I voted yes but I actually use floss ahead of the skimmer not a sock. There is not a practical place to attach a sock on this AIO ahead of the skimmer.

I have used a sock on the skimmer output to lessen microbubbles. It sort of worked but I think I will try again with a different sock.

[PoonTang]

I only use one when i know that i am going to create a big dirt storm in the DT by doing some aquascaping or something. I only leave it in for a day or so. Normally i run without one.

[Trigger Man]

I use them and love them, my water stays nice and clean. The only downside is I am kinda lazy and hate having to clean them every 3 to 4 days.

[trilinearmipmap]

It looks like a fairly even split.

For now I will avoid the filter sock and re-direct my sump flow so the overflow spills directly into the skimmer pump intake and the skimmer output goes outside of the skimmer compartment in the sump. Considering putting a filter sock on the skimmer output though.

[Mikee]

I never used a filter sock and hope i never have too. Seems like to much work having to clean it out..