Are filter socks still worth it?

[Gumbies R Us]

For me, I have always been a sock guy. I never invested in a roller or anything other than the standard socks that came with my tank. I felt like I was fine with just a basic sock. Now my question for all of you is are socks still worth it? Is it better to run a roller now? Should reefers go to something like reef diapers over basic socks? Let's hear from everyone!

 

[exnisstech]

I run both. I won't use felt socks only mesh because felt is a pita to clean. Mesh I can clean with a garden hose. I have nosoks also and find them a nice fit between socks & roller.

PS. I ran diapers for a couple of years in my reefer 170 and have no complaints other than cost and it's more waste.

 

[Naturalreef]

It really depends on how busy your lifestyle is. Socks are easily forgotten, and a pain to wash. Mesh were a little easier, but not much. Roller mat, depending on feeding and flow through sump can last anywhere from a week, to almost 6 weeks.

If the roller mat has a good seal to the sock holder, or better yet is made by the same manufacturer as your tank, you will get the most efficiency from it. I have the nanomat on a max nano peninsula, and am getting a little more than a month on a roll. The roll takes less than 30 seconds to swap out.

Another bonus for the rollermat….I was dealing with dino in a new tank, the nanomat kept pulling them out of the water and was a great tool to eradicate them.


The “right” roller mat for your tank is absolutely worth it!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

It really depends on how busy your lifestyle is. Socks are easily forgotten, and a pain to wash. Mesh were a little easier, but not much. Roller mat, depending on feeding and flow through sump can last anywhere from a week, to almost 6 weeks.

If the roller mat has a good seal to the sock holder, or better yet is made by the same manufacturer as your tank, you will get the most efficiency from it. I have the nanomat on a max nano peninsula, and am getting a little more than a month on a roll. The roll takes less than 30 seconds to swap out.

Another bonus for the rollermat….I was dealing with dino in a new tank, the nanomat kept pulling them out of the water and was a great tool to eradicate them.


The “right” roller mat for your tank is absolutely worth it!

That was always my issue with socks: how much of a pain they were to clean. Mine, you had to replace the entire sock. It wasn't like some socks where you could machine wash them and be fine

 

[Baldyreef]

I run both. I won't use felt socks only mesh because felt is a pita to clean. Mesh I can clean with a garden hose. I have nosoks also and find them a nice fit between socks & roller.

PS. I ran diapers for a couple of years in my reefer 170 and have no complaints other than cost and it's more waste.

I use filter socks and filter floss on my systems, I don't prefer filter socks for my smaller builds because I've found floss works better for me in tanks like 5 and 15 gallons but for my 80g and bigger tanks I definitely opt for socks

 

[exnisstech]

I use filter socks and filter floss on my systems, I don't prefer filter socks for my smaller builds because I've found floss works better for me in tanks like 5 and 15 gallons but for my 80g and bigger tanks I definitely opt for socks

I did run floss in my IM20. I guess I've used just about all the options lol.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I use filter socks and filter floss on my systems, I don't prefer filter socks for my smaller builds because I've found floss works better for me in tanks like 5 and 15 gallons but for my 80g and bigger tanks I definitely opt for socks

Which filter floss are you using for your smaller tanks?

 

[Baldyreef]

Which filter floss are you using for your smaller tanks?

I use fluval quick clear floss and another brand that I've forgotten the name of, the quick clear I don't use as frequently because it can get clogged very easy and very fast, I mainly run it when Im cleaning deeper than usual and it clears things up pretty well
edit: I believe the name of the floss I normally use is seapora but I would have to double check to be certain