Filter Sock or Not? (Let's Discuss)

[Perry]

For LNS and VLNS I would not use a filter sock as there is already very limited availability of about everything as the skimmer removes part of the DOC and TOC continuously.

What about high nutrient mixed reefs with a lot of filter feeders and fish, some of these systems are based on high input and high output?
To be used in such systems we are investigating the possibility of using BFT (biofloc technology) and the use of a self-cleaning mesh screen instead of a sock. ( no skimmer)

Very interesting indeed,
More information would be greatly appreciated!
Of course, if you could explain in terms most of us could understand, that too would be great, LOL :)
Thank you for posting!
Cheers

 

[Belgian Anthias]

Very interesting indeed,
More information would be greatly appreciated!
Of course, if you could explain in terms most of us could understand, that too would be great, LOL :)
Thank you for posting!
Cheers

Sorry, I thought I used generally accepted abbreviations.
LNS: low nutrient system VLNS : very low nutrient system
DOC: dissolved organic compounds (carbon) TOC: total organic compounds
By using a self-cleaning screen one is able to use a very fine mesh, one side including the waste ( not filtered) is going to the BFT tank, the other side ( filtered) back to the display tank.

 

[Perry]

Sorry, I thought I used generally accepted abbreviations.
LNS: low nutrient system VLNS : very low nutrient system
DOC: dissolved organic compounds (carbon) TOC: total organic compounds
By using a self-cleaning screen one is able to use a very fine mesh, one side including the waste ( not filtered) is going to the BFT tank, the other side ( filtered) back to the display tank.

Lol,
I know all those terms, just anticipating this concept having potential to get quite scientific, should that be the case, just want myself and audience to understand in as simple the terms as possible. The concept seems intriguing, your input is greatly appreciated :)

 

[1stNoel]

What is the definition of "detritus"?
As far as I know, detritus is the organic waste that can not further be remineralized within the present conditions. Some animals may use it as a food source by which the "conditions" change.
Detritus is what is left over after organic matter ( waste) is remineralized in the present conditions and may accumulate. Detritus is considered to be harmless.

I recently cleaned all the detritus out of my sump. It didn't smell harmless. :)

 

[Belgian Anthias]

I recently cleaned all the detritus out of my sump. It didn't smell harmless. :)

In that case, it was mixed organic waste. It is just about how to define "detritus". If all organic waste is defined as "detritus" it is not possible to make a difference between organic waste and waste left over after remineralization normally defined as "detritus".

 

[Roger D]

I run both socks and skimmer. If I use the 100 micron mesh socks my skimmer has to be emptied every other day but when I use the polyester felt socks the skimmer only needs cleaned out twice a month and it's not that dark as with the mesh. I have two systems right now one has three tanks about 40 gallons each into a 100 gal stock tank as sump. The other is a 180 with a 55 gallon sump. The big sump for the three small tanks is for larger water volume. The smaller tanks are for those that don't mix well with others.

 

[Clownreef]

I use mesh socks and I fill them with that blue/white filter media. I change them once a week and I use the kitchen sprayer to clean the socks. Works flawlessly. The filter media catches a ton of stuff. I use a big powerhead to stir the sump. It's crystal clean.

 

[Terrp]

ClariSea SK-5000 with the XL roll for me. One roll lasts about 2 months on my 750 XXL (though I also have a skimmer and an algae scrubber sharing the load).

I think a tank can thrive with any of the methods (socks, floss, roller, manual siphoning, nothing), but for me the priority is having the tank look good with the least amount of work and the least likelihood of a problem. A roller provides 90% of the benefits of socks but only 1% of the pain. It's only 90% of the benefit, since some particles get past it. On the other hand, that allows an additional benefit in that pods can get past it.

 

[Cory]

What is the definition of "detritus"?
As far as I know, detritus is the organic waste that can not further be remineralized within the present conditions. Some animals may use it as a food source by which the "conditions" change.
Detritus is what is left over after organic matter ( waste) is remineralized in the present conditions and may accumulate. Detritus is considered to be harmless.

I think aquarists call detritus organics that sit and rot. When i leave my filter bags sitting a few weeks they turn black in areas supposedly from decompoistion. Just like a deep sand bed.

 

[Belgian Anthias]

I think aquarists call detritus organics that sit and rot.

You can be right.

The word " detritus" has found its way to most languages, it is international, and used for " that what is leftover". Also when talking about organic waste, detritus is what is leftover.

For managing an aquarium, I think it is important to know the difference between organic waste that may rot and organic waste that is stable. "Detritus" is considered to be organic waste that will not further be broken down, it is what is left over after decomposition in the present circumstances. In that context waste collected by a filter sock is not "detritus".

When talking about "detritus" present in an aquarium, for me and others it is about organic waste ( black particles) which may accumulate and is considered to be harmless at that moment.

 

[Murica]

I had gotten rid of mine and instead had a separate chamber that slows water flow so detritus could sink to the bottom while beneficial things could still escape. I’ll probably never use one again after this method

 

[Phildago]

No sock. I've tried both on and off for about two years and I prefer it without. There's a huge difference in my micro fauna and the whole tank benefits.

I cant say that I have zero mechanical filtration because all my water must pass through a bunch of tightly packed ceramic noodles. Hundred if not thousands of starfish live in the noodles, copepods and amphipods, hundred of snails, and sponges grow in the outskirts. The only thing I can see a filter sock doing is killing my micro fauna and having downstream effe ta in the dt