Do you use filter socks or filter floss?

[JumboShrimp]

@MSB123 , we need a photo of your Clown filled tank! :)

 

[MSB123]

@MSB123 , we need a photo of your Clown filled tank! :)

Check my signature for the build thread :)

 

[MSB123]

@MSB123 , we need a photo of your Clown filled tank! :)

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/flashing-orange-an-attempt-at-a-clown-harem-tank.463905/

 

[Roush427R]

Rollermat.

 

[Saveafish]

Build up and use a canister filter.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I have a question. This debate seems to come up every once in a while.

When did socks become come part of the reefkeeping world? When I started in 2000, there was never any mention of using socks and actually any type of sponge media that would collect things was labelled "nitrate factories" at the time, obviously if they aren't cleaned regularly that would make sense.

I can't help with the time that socks became a part of the aquarium world. But I've always rejected the idea that filter floss or socks become nitrate factories. If I'm not collecting the particulate matter out of my water column which is probably food for the most part, then it either settles to the bottom of my refugium, my sump or my DT. And what does it do there? It continues to deteriorate and adds to the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate cycle. But then I have an active refugium with a healthy supply of bacteria and macro algae that removes the nitrates. And every sock I pull out is deep brown with a collection of stuff I'd rather not have in my system.

But I also never run GFO, carbon, phosphate removers and rarely do water changes (about 20g every 2 or 3 months on an 80g system). And my fish, corals, anemones and other odd inverts are all doing very well.

 

[Mr James]

That sounds like a lot of work

That's what I want to avoid, changing something out every two days.

 

[Mr James]

I feel like any food that is not consumed right away has the chance to continue through the tank until it is either eaten or the skimmer gets it. I guess I rather have that one because the fish like a little snack here and there and secondly it isn't sitting in the socking rotting. I was changing socks every 2-3 days. Now I sit back and enjoy the tank at those times I was changing them. Also my tank has actually never been cleaner. I actually had to shut off my skimmer for a bit because it was to clean. I need to get my NO3 and PO4 up. But Im still a newbie and still learning whats best for my tank. Right now no socks and a adding a fuge have been more beneficial.

I'm with you on that line of thinking.

 

[Retro Reefer]

I temporarily run the felt ones when I feel the need or when cleaning the tank to catch debris. I just ordered some mesh socks which I may run full time once I have evaluated how well they will work in my system.

 

[Slicktop]

I only use after water change, remove the following day.

 

[CindyKz]

On and off, depending how things are doing. I seem to have more problems with cyano when I'm sockless.

 

[theMeat]

I gave up socks about 5 years ago. Before that it was floss. Now it’s nothing. Do not miss cleaning socks every 2-3 days. The whole ‘your sump will get dirty’ is a non issue. It gets dirty with or without socks. Without it simply gets a lil dirtier faster. Which is another topic... With socks maybe clean your sump every year. Without maybe 2, or 3 times a year. Certainly better than cleaning socks a few times a week.

The other topic....
The sump is out of sight. The build up in the sump allows for mulm to form. Mulm doesn’t form easily and turn flat unused area into helpful 3 dimensional bioload uptake areas. So I lightly clean my sump, a couple of times a year, no more.

 

[BrianKav]

I use a filter sock and then a sponge inbetween the baffles.

Geebs19, me too, I also have floss on the bottom of each sump compartment and when dirty replace