Filter Socks...

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by BC Mosaic

At first I didn't, then I did and now I don't.
The reason I don't is that I had live beneficial critters removed from the tank as well as "food". I changed once a week but seeing the "Dark Matter" I thought too that it was a nitrate factory.
I may be reconsidering my application of its' use. I worry that any crap coming out of the tank ,especially if you're harvesting an algae problem or such, it will eventually plug up the skimmers' pump and cleaning a skimmers' pump is more a PITA than a sock.
So now I'll be going back to the sock during maintenance duty only.

This is kind of where I am at I guess...it does take a lot of stuff out every few days. But take out so much good with the bad. The amount of life I see in mine is crazy.

So if I don't use them, the good stays in the tank and some of the bad. The bad (detritus) will hopefully be used by corals, crabs, ect.

But if I don't use them, that also means cleaning pumps more as you said. I already clean them all once a month but maybe then I would need to clean more???

My sump has a powerhead in it and no baffles, so nothing ever settles.

I could go back to changing them less but everytime I do that, nitrates rise. LOL...no real solution. I guess I just have to decide.