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

 

[Mikelob]

Another question then - UNS R150…. Will “generic” socks (same size) or even Red Sea socks fit ?

In Australia UNS brand socks are much harder to come by - Red Sea are everywhere

 

[Waters]

Switching to a filter mat was one of the best decisions I have made. Not only does it eliminate most of the labor with cleaning and changing socks, it gives you much better control over nutrients. A roller can lower nutrients significantly. If I need to cut back and increase nutrients, I just raise the water level in my overflow to have a small portion of water bypass the main drain and skip the reef mat.

 

[Paul B]

I have never run any socks (except on my feet) But I also never had a sump so there would be no where to put one, (except on my feet)

I don't see what purpose they perform. Everything they filter out is food for corals.

 

[hatfielj]

I don't run any socks, mats, floss at all, unless I'm trying to deal with a specific issue that requires some brief mechanical filtration. Namely, the only time I routinely run them is with newer tanks that are not yet fully stocked with corals just to help catch chunks of algae, diatoms, etc. as the tank cycles. Remember, corals are filter feeders. Filtering all the stuff out of the water takes food away from the corals. Also sponges, which should be present in a mature reef tank, are big filter feeders too. They are helpful in keeping your water nice and clean without filter socks/mats. Not running filters allows sponges to fully grow and mature.
A lot of big successful tanks don't run socks/mats. WWC recently did a couple of feature videos on Underwater Wonders out in Colorado. These guys have probably the most impressive acros on the planet in terms of health and color and they don't run filter socks or roller mats or floss. There are lots of examples like that.
Personally, I think it's an unnecessary expense (both time and money) but to each his/her own;)

 

[ajhudson15]

i have a nuvo fusion pro 40 and i hate the socks it comes with. the plastic hanger built into them makes it hard to clean them. idk if they have mesh replacements as they were always easier. i do have the im midsize fleece roller but i also hate how it looked with that big thing sticking up above the tank. i currently have one media caddy and one sock running but thinking about running caddy's in both. im also very an*l about trying to save all the copepods out of the sock and its much easier to save them from a caddy than a sock.

 

[The Ugly Phase]

i have a roller but i think mine is too big for my tank cause it does not rotate itself i have to do it manually

 

[Rocks reef]

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

You can get a bag of polyfil from Wal-Mart, Joann fabrics, etc for about $6 and it will last WAY longer than the name brand "reef" products and is a lot cheaper

 

[Rocks reef]

Another question then - UNS R150…. Will “generic” socks (same size) or even Red Sea socks fit ?

In Australia UNS brand socks are much harder to come by - Red Sea are everywhere

Absolutely. You don't have to use a name brand. Amazon is your friend mate!

 

[Rocks reef]

I have never run any socks (except on my feet) But I also never had a sump so there would be no where to put one, (except on my feet)

I don't see what purpose they perform. Everything they filter out is food for corals.

 

[1ocean]

When I made my sump for the new tank I just made a grate that I put a piece of felt on that I switch out every few days.
Buy the felt at a fabric store, cut to size and just switch out and toss the dirty one.
The water flows onto the grate after the water intake into the sump.
Grate is 6"x20".
Works great.

 

[backbayreef]

I’ve done socks, no socks, and filter floss. Given my bioload of 60’ish fish, nitrate would climb if I don’t find ways to export. I’m super happy now with the fleece roller - nutrient is under control and I only replace it every 5-6 weeks! On my other tank, I’ve replaced the skimmer with the fleece roller as well. Again, same benefits and I no longer have to clean the cup every weekend.

Overall, I’m very happy with fleece rollers and will never go back to socks/filter floss.