Filter Sock or Not? (Let's Discuss)

[Mical]

No socks and the corals have doubled in size.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I only use filter socks during maintenance i.e water changes, blasting rocks, or anything else that might stir up something I might wish to export.

 

[ca1ore]

Too lazy to read 41 posts .... has anyone raised a point that wasn’t also made in the last dozen threads on socks? Inquiring mind wants to know :cool:

 

[Perry]

Too lazy to read 41 posts .... has anyone raised a point that wasn’t also made in the last dozen threads on socks? Inquiring mind wants to know :cool:

Yeah, figured this one has probably been beaten to death, lol. But since you are here, chime in ;) Your input is greatly appreciated :)

 

[madweazl]

This is interesting. I am currently building a reefer 250 system, its going to be a strict SPS tank, bare bottom, and i plan on running a roller mat. I have been debating about whether to run only a skimmer and fuge, but i think im opting for the roller mat. All the tanks i have read up on and have seen that are SPS dominate with roller mats have been really great. I get the other side of the argument that there is more of a food supply without any filtration, but the water clarity is what i love seeing in tanks with mats and socks.

A little particulate in the water wont even be noticed with some carbon; the water remains crystal clear otherwise.

 

[1stNoel]

I started cutting 1" square pieces of filter floss and placing them in the sump right where the water pours in. They last about a day before they're full of crud. Tank has never looked more clear. Chaeto still grows like a weed.

Socks are now used for maintenance when I vacuum detritus out of the main display.

 

[Singspot]

No more socks for me for this reincarnation. Tank has never been better. I find mesh socks easier to clean when needed.

I use filter pads in filter cups and throw the pads every 2 week ... simple for my 240G FOWLR.

 

[Salty Irishman]

Used socks for many years. It’s been about a 1 year without and tank is better than ever! Only use for maintenance now and then, siphoned sump after 6 months, all parameters in check. I do run a skimmer and algae scrubber so those are helping.

 

[ReefGeezer]

Too lazy to read 41 posts .... has anyone raised a point that wasn’t also made in the last dozen threads on socks? Inquiring mind wants to know :cool:

Can a mind be lazy and inquiring at the same time? :cool:

 

[ca1ore]

Can a mind be lazy and inquiring at the same time? :cool:

That piqued my curiosity … but I'm too lazy to research it.

 

[Coronus]

It’s a maintenance thing. I hate them! But have used them for like 10 years. They keep everything out of my sump and display.
all the detritus gets caught in their and I like that.
I recently tried not using them in my frag system and within a couple of weeks my sump was full of detritus. Made everything look dirty and ugly. I don’t like that so I put the filter socks back in.

 

[NeutronMan]

I use filter floss. The mess that gets stuck in it keeps me using it. Just nasty looking stuff!

It’s easy enough to change out that I don’t mind having to do it every other day.

 

[motortrendz]

I don't use mine constantly. I only run them a day or 2 a week to get any excess floating debris

 

[Jon Fishman]

My 150g system runs Ozone gen/reactor with carbon, 75W UV. CW 200 ATS, and a skimmer rated for 400g (and I have 3 fish)

I switched to mesh socks but still run them 24/7

 

[1stNoel]

I use filter pads in filter cups and throw the pads every 2 week ... simple for my 240G FOWLR.

I've thought about doing this, but how do you ensure contact with the entire pad? I had issues because water would just find a path off the pad without using it all, which is why I started cutting it into small pieces.

I'd like to mimic a filter sock, in that the water overflows as pores are blocked, but with the benefit of just throwing the pad away. Are you achieving this, and how?

 

[Mike O.]

I have a Reefer 250. Switched out socks for the media cups. One cup holds a bag of siporax and the other i put "Poly-Fil" in from Walmart (pillow stuffing.) I switch it out about every 2-3 days. Just pull it out and trash it. Some days I don't use it either. Always wondered if it the poly-fil had chemicals or something that would have an effect on the tank. So far, no negative effects. Been using it for 2 months-ish.

 

[Belgian Anthias]

Im not sure if you can control detritus that much. Is it good or bad? Dont really know. What is it made of? Well some of it is for sure fish poop. It would be covered in bacteria. Possibly some worms and other microorganisms. Are they good or bad? Dont know. What I do know is if you kept a pile of dirt in the corner of your house and kept pooing in it every day probably you couldnt live in the house from the smell and gasses being made. It might even make you sick. I think its better to remove it than leave it. Corals can eat it too.

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.

 

[siggy]

I had a diamond goby who constantly stirred sandbed, pe on sps was insane, with feeder polyps out 24/7.

No socks and the corals have doubled in size.

I came away with something to think about ......anyone want to buy a Claisea 300 ;)

 

[Streetdoc77]

I stopped using socks a couple of years ago .... They were a PAIN for myself I just use a sponge in my sump right before my return and it works like a champ pull out rinse replace , It works pretty good for me .

 

[Belgian Anthias]

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)