Filter Socks

[Reefnoobz90]

Why are filter socks $6.99 each? it seems excessive for what they are. Has anyone found any decent ones on Amazon or Ebay? I bought some from China and they were absolutely garbage, they came out of the washer in a big ball of fuzz.

how many on average are you do you keep on hand? I'm changing them every 2-3 days and i'm thinking of keeping like 10 and just store them in a bucket or something.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Well I would say profit is the main reason. I've bought on eBay and it's hit or miss. I just sold a bunch I picked up from a closing industrial supplier (still have 4x15s if interested)

Also a place called ClearChoiceAquatics.com has them pretty cheap or Amazon but read the reviews

 

[Duffer]

I buy mine on amazon, I have 8 on hand and plan to get a couple more

 

[Hemmdog]

I did them for awhile when my tank first got up and running but it really seems to have an effect on copepod population. So I just run one for 24 hours if I have friends coming over or something. Your tank can keep its self clean a lot better than you think!

 

[ryeguyy84]

I did them for awhile when my tank first got up and running but it really seems to have an effect on copepod population. So I just run one for 24 hours if I have friends coming over or something. Your tank can keep its self clean a lot better than you think!

Do you vacuum your sump? I found the best benefit was a cleaner sump.

 

[Hemmdog]

Do you vacuum your sump? I found the best benefit was a cleaner sump.

I haven’t had to do it yet. How often do you recommend doing that ?

 

[ryeguyy84]

My sump was pretty bad, like a good half inch of crud before I got out the shop vac. Ever since I started using socks it's been significantly cleaner. I have pretty slow flow through the sump so everything settles.

 

[Tonysi]

I buy my filter socks from dudadiesel

 

[Reefnoobz90]

I looked at DudaDiesel.com, thanks for sending that but they didn't have the size I wanted (10 inch) so I ended up going to Ryeguys suggestion of clearchoiceaquatics.com

I got 12, 10 inch socks for $47.

Whats everyones take on welded Vs. Stitched seams on socks? Dudadiesel is welded and Clearchoice is stitched.

 

[ryeguyy84]

glad you got a good deal. I've seen the welded ones but never actually used one. I would think for our application either would work just fine

 

[jtl]

I use a filter pad and toss it at least weekly.

 

[lapin]

Welded vs stitched. I have both and see no difference after 1 year. I change mine every 2 days. 4 per change. I have 30. Keeps my sump clean.

 

[BestMomEver]

Don’t know why... I hate them but, alas, I have eight or more.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Welded vs stitched. I have both and see no difference after 1 year. I change mine every 2 days. 4 per change. I have 30. Keeps my sump clean.

Just read through your build thread. Wow

 

[lapin]

Just read through your build thread. Wow

Thanks. It was a true build thread. I enjoyed making both the sump and the tank.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Thanks. It was a true build thread. I enjoyed making both the sump and the tank.

When you said 4 socks per change I know I had to check that out

 

[jporter17]

Try filterbag.com

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

I wasn’t fond of filter socks and still not fond of them, but here is what’s working on my 240 so far. I painfully have four filter socks, and two main drain pipes. So as odd as this sounds, I have only one on, and I rotate it every week. So one drain pipe is open the other has a sock.

Then before the skimmer I have one of those fine micro pads, then after the skimmer, a phosphate pad, then another fine micro pad, that goes before the return pumps. Now not sure if this decrease my pod population, (Probably but if I use socks or not, the pads may prevent them also). It does keep my tank much cleaner I have found and since my goby drops sand over everything, these pads are kinda necessary.
I have a bare bottom sump and it gets kinda gross. To help with that nasty stuff, I have a small power head in there that keeps the stuff from settling. Now I do rinse the pads once a week in my sink w crazy hot water. (.which after a week they are pretty nasty). But it does give me about 30 days before I have to replace the pads.

 

[Brandon Wilcox]

I've never liked using them in the past. I removed them from my last tank and had a massive refugium with carbon running. I started up a new tank and it started to get really cloudy. I put the socks in a 1 day later the tank looked amazing. They sure work but I can't be a slacker like normal!! I went to a LFS this last Saturday and they were selling them for $12 per sock. I really want to support the LFS but sometimes it really sucks!

 

[Reefnoobz90]

Order came on Sat, they included a free sediment filter to try out with a coupon for 10% off my next order. I'm good with 12 for a while but if anyone wants to use it the code is ebay10 on ClearChoiceAquatics.com

I'll update after the first wash but they fell like every other sock I've used