Filter sock or no filter sock

[RyanCSGO]

Just curious to see who runs one and who doesn't.
I am currently using one, but I'm contemplating removing it and seeing how it goes.

anyone that see specific benefits on either end please share :)

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Never used filter socks. Did however for a short stint when started use floss I would swap out every other day and still had nitrate rise slowly. Felt socks were just gonna do the same so I opted not to use them. So far so good. I would like to snag some socks for Sandbed cleaning purposes though so not having to waste good water when siphon. Then could just return the water to sump through the sock as I vacuum the sand.

 

[RyanCSGO]

Never used filter socks. Did however for a short stint when started use floss I would swap out every other day and still had nitrate rise slowly. Felt socks were just gonna do the same so I opted not to use them. So far so good. I would like to snag some socks for Sandbed cleaning purposes though so not having to waste good water when siphon. Then could just return the water to sump through the sock as I vacuum the sand.

Agreed, so far that's the only thing i found to be quite nice (siphon cleaning). my LFS doesn't run socks on anything, which is was got me thinking about just removing it.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

If I had a holder in my sump, realistically, I would put them in when doing maintenance and stirring up junk for a bit then remove as mechanical filtration. I've seen lots of beautiful setups that run them, but I just personally see another step in upkeep. Maybe long term it's better, really unsure, but will cross that bridge when I reach it.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Let me add I have mainly LPS and softie with a few sps.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

My corals need particulates for food :)
Also, no sock equals "things can break down naturally WITH the possibility of feeding things, instead of just being trapped and then polluting the water".
Since going no mechanical filtration(except for an underpowered skimmer) I've seen an amazing increase in pods to the point I don't feed my nano-fish (and there's 4 feeding on pods non-stop in a 36x15 footprint) and I've also seen tunicates thrive. Also corals have grown faster, and I've been able to keep NPS EASILY.(like, stupid easy)

I only feed reef energy every hour and then 4 times a day (every 6 hours) I feed a combo of nutricell, ultra seafan, reef roids, etc... Doing a phosphate comparison atm on planktonic foods, so my lineup might change.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I agree on pod population as well as particulates feeding coral. Have also read up on one individuals successful reef that he stirs the junk in bottom of sump biweekly in order to reintroduce to column and feed corals.

 

[revhtree]

Yes and no.....lol

 

[RyanCSGO]

well, I went home on lunch today and took mine out. :)

 

[watchguy123]

Prefer not to have detritus in sump. I replace my socks weekly

 

[smiley28]

I use socks but replace them diligently and I hate using old socks so it might get expensive

 

[scottbapilot]

Wow, great topic, this has me thinking........Too remove or not to remove.

 

[edosan]

Another way to see it: Does it bother you to see a bit debris floating arround in your tank?

If it doesn´t bother you, then use nothing as mechanical filtration.
If it bothers you, then use filtersocks and other methods of mechanical filtration, but you will need to replace/clean it soon or you will have a nitrate factory. But the water, should be with lot less debris probably.

 

[oodan]

I use them I clean mine weekly I had bio balls and took them out and put the sock in place I do a swap out with sock every water change I just clean mine and replace it win it gets bad about 2 months I go threw 2 socks I don't know it work for me I have hob refugium to generate pods and have mud and sea grass stuff ? Keeps my guys alive lol

 

[beadlocked450r]

I am running 2 socks, i have my 325 draining into 1 that I change when it is over flowing, generally once a week. I have another on the drain for my frag tank b4 it goes back into my sump, i change that one when i change the other. I currently have 0 nitrates and 0.02 po3.
Im not sure why people claim they cause nitrates to rise? I think if your over feeding that wasted food decaying in the sock will cause a rise in nitrates.
When i first got into this hobby i didnt run any socks or floss. I noticed, as mentioned above i had alot of floating stuff that made the tank look cloudy. I started to use the socks and i was changing them out every 2 days because they were overflowing. Now i am running approx 4500gph through 1-7" sock that i change once a week.

 

[smiley28]

I am running 2 socks, i have my 325 draining into 1 that I change when it is over flowing, generally once a week. I have another on the drain for my frag tank b4 it goes back into my sump, i change that one when i change the other. I currently have 0 nitrates and 0.02 po3.
Im not sure why people claim they cause nitrates to rise? I think if your over feeding that wasted food decaying in the sock will cause a rise in nitrates.
When i first got into this hobby i didnt run any socks or floss. I noticed, as mentioned above i had alot of floating stuff that made the tank look cloudy. I started to use the socks and i was changing them out every 2 days because they were overflowing. Now i am running approx 4500gph through 1-7" sock that i change once a week.

You pretty much summed up why socks should be used

 

[Reefing4eva]

It's kind of a toss up for me.. for awhile I religiously used them as it always kept the water cystal clear but for the last 6-8 I haven't been using them..now my copods and amphipods are running wild

 

[NanaReefer]

When I see what my sock looks like after 4-5 days even though I run an over rated skimmer and it too is filled with nastiness, there's no doubt in my mind I'm doing the right thing. I also do 5g WC bi-weekly.
This without a doubt allows me to feed my fish & corals well. [emoji4]

 

[srad750c]

I use sponges, clean them every week, throw the away every 2-3 months, very cheap

 

[ksanfranfan]

For years I never used filter socks. A couple of years ago I started using them as another means of mechanical filtration, changing them out every few days.
With that being said, I really didn't see a difference in my water quality during as opposed to not using them.
So now I only use them during water changes to catch debris and particles that make it to the overflow and remove them the following day.