Filter sock or no filter sock?

[Alberta-newb]

I use one on my overflow and another on my skimmer output. Since I'm lazy I bought 6 and swap them out every 4 days, when the last set is dirty they all go into the washing machine with just bleach. I check each one as they're swapped just to make sure I'm not killing too much. Did find that hitchiker crab last week that I've been hunting for the last month...guess he decided to go "over the wall" on his own.

[Patrick1]

I am going to say I am a very firm believer in filter socks.
From what people in the industry have told me filter socks are intended to be used for 1-2 days then replaced with a clean sock. The reason for this is they are mechanically filtering out larger loads of waste (100 micron) then sponges etc. You remove the waste filled sock before Nitrates etc start to emit from the trapped rotting waste.

To make it less of a hassle for myself I have 10 or more socks so I only have to wash them once every 2 weeks with turning them all inside out and rinsing them with Prime it takes me about 5 minutes worth of work.

Since changing to a sock system my skimmer works a tenth as hard as it did before. I have zero Nitrates etc. I have added more live stock to my system with out waste build up. And eliminated the pest algae. I also have no build up of waste residue on my sump bottom and they system runs with a lot less noise.

So that’s how things have been going with my socks. Seems to work for me but I am not you.

[Oscar]

This has been a very enlightening discussion. Other than carbon and Phosban I have only used a sock at the skimmer output to reduce microbubbles. It was of mixed success.

Below is a photo of the back of my tank when it was first being tested for leaks. You can see that there are 2 overflows. From left to right chamber 1 = now full of LR rubble, Chamber 2 = skimmer which empties into Chamber 3, Chamber 3 = refugium, Chamber 3 = return pump and heater.

Any ideas on how to use socks at the overflows? Currently using floss with marginal success.

[Patrick1]

Yes cut a piece of plexi to fit where, (I think thats a filter sponge) is and cut a circle to fit the sock. From the top the sock rim should rest on the plexi.

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by Patrick1

Yes cut a piece of plexi to fit where, (I think thats a filter sponge) is and cut a circle to fit the sock. From the top the sock rim should rest on the plexi.

hmmm...That is probably heading in the right direction. I currently have my LR rubble in that chamber. On top of which are my carbon and Posban bags. And sitting on top of those is a temporary piece of plexiglass drilled with a series of holes. That allows the overflow water to disperse over the media bags.

(Apologies for hi-jacking this thread)

[whatcaneyedo]

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm the same. I only use them for microbubble control and because of all the time I spend picking brittle stars and pods out they add another 30 min to my tank maintenance each week.

[naesco]

Originally Posted by 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.
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.

"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

Great to hear that I am not the only one.

[Atomikk]

Originally Posted by naesco

"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

Great to hear that I am not the only one.

This is why I don't use filter socks. They are high maintenance tool for waste removal from your sump.. and nothing else. If you employ one or two powerheads in the sump, you won't allow the detritus to settle and will be expelled from the sump. Also, you can get hermit crabs to eat the detritius.

[Patrick1]

Originally Posted by Atomikk

This is why I don't use filter socks. They are high maintenance tool for waste removal from your sump.. and nothing else. If you employ one or two powerheads in the sump, you won't allow the detritus to settle and will be expelled from the sump. Also, you can get hermit crabs to eat the detritius.

Huh? I am pretty sure mine removes the waste from my tank before it hits the sump. I am not too keen on swirling waste around to be pumped back in to my tank. Really I am sure the 15 seconds every other day I spend to change mine over isn't that time consuming. Anyways to each there own, but don't hack socks they do a good job if used correctly.

[Doug]

If I expelled my detritus from the sump, it would go back into the tank, where I have mucho current to expell it into the sump. Not sure of the senario here.

Over the years, I have tried having the skimmer remove detritus from the sump. Yea, that works well and I have run some large skimmers. So I guess let it build in the sump with designed baffles to contain it for cleaning or use socks. One way or the other, one has to manually remove the detritus.

So I,m now trying socks, for the first time in 35 yrs. Cleaning them is a pain but no worse than trying to get that crap from one,s sump. For those that use bleach in a washer, {my wife,s going to love that one}. I wonder about using bleach to clean something going back into my tank. However I see some here and many on RC doing such.