So you don’t use filter socks, look here

[james983]

This is what is removed from my system in 5 days with a filter sock. I️ don’t think I️ need to say anymore.

 

[hybridazn]

Dang! I'd be removing that a lot sooner if mine looked like that haha

What micron sock do you use?

 

[Finhead]

Depends on how you keep your tank, I haven't run filter socks in over 2 years. No water chnages in the last year.

 

[Centurio]

In all fairness what you removed doesn't translate to what anyone else will remove from their systems. Also there's no way of knowing what's in that filter sock and whether taking it out is actually beneficial for other people's system. Some folks may be running their systems in a manner that keeping some nutrients in the tank is beneficial, or they may have other means of mechanical filtration that makes filter socks unnecessary.

 

[DSC reef]

I'm using filter socks as well, to each there own. It removes a lot stuff and keeps the pumps clean.

 

[madweazl]

No filter socks in almost 18 months and have never removed anything from the sump either. SPS still doing great with unmeasurable nitrates and phosphates of 0-.02. So what is it you were trying to say?

 

[LuizW13]

Jeez, that's terrible! I myself prefer filter pads - mostly to keep pumps working well. I wonder what that looks like under a microscope.

 

[DSC reef]

I don't think the OP is stating you can't run a healthy, successful reef without a filter sock. Just showing what can be removed. My socks get nasty in 3 days. I ran the tank sockless for 8 months and everything did fine but I did not like the return pump needing to be cleaned more often and the reactors getting clogged. I prefer socks, there was no notable difference in nutrients with or without.

 

[GnarleyMarley]

I switched to mesh socks about a year ago and have not looked back! Keeps the food and larger particles out, and are super easy to clean!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

This is what is removed from my system in 5 days with a filter sock. I️ don’t think I️ need to say anymore.

lol

I guess you just don’t like particulates. [emoji23]

I do not want to remove it, and I let the detritus mud collect to a thick layer in my sump and refugia.

I think it is less than desirable to take food from the mouths of my filter feeders. [emoji3]

 

[Caseyoidae]

Think you may wanna crank up the skimmer

 

[clownfish chris]

My sps never looked better than just before I switched tanks. Color was just stunning. I had an inch of detritus benieth my rocks. I have been running socks because of the assumption that it is bad to have that build up. Colors now look pale. I’m taking out the socks.

 

[Syntax1235]

What a waste to throw away all that food.

 

[Cory]

This is what is removed from my system in 5 days with a filter sock. I️ don’t think I️ need to say anymore.

Wow, thats bad. Definitley slowing down eutrophication with a sock! How many micron is it?

 

[Rob Rowe]

Wow, thats bad. Definitley slowing down eutrophication with a sock! How many micron is it?

I personally run filter pad. Socks work for some folks but I guess it depends on what it is you want to achieve. It has been said over and over again in the hobby, what works for one guy doesn’t work for another. They may even have the same livestock. I have learned sometimes the hard way. If it works for you, don’t change what your doing. Even if you think you are improving your system sometimes it does the exact opposite. I have two drains and run a pad on one and nothing on the other. My OCD has me pulling pods out of my pad when I change them.....lol... one is enough.

 

[Jeepguy242]

i only run socks when there are a lot of particulates in the water, for a couple of days... then back to no socks.... same with carbon, only when i feel the need...

i actually just put my socks in today because i am doing a large cleaning from a couple of months of neglect.... just to catch the nasties and i stirred up my sand a bit to get some GHA loosened up in a back corner, gonna let the sock get that out for me....

 

[cracker]

I like my dirty socks !

 

[Servillius]

This is what is removed from my system in 5 days with a filter sock. I️ don’t think I️ need to say anymore.

All that lovely coral food. Poor things!

 

[james983]

What I should explain is my tank is running over 10 years. There's plenty micro fauna alive and well in my system. I run an ATB 1050 Skimmer with about 400 gallons altogether which consists of a 180 gallon DT, 200 gallon sump, 60 gallon frag tank. At this stage I feel it's important to minimize detritus. Also, I feed my fish heavily and I blast my rocks regularly which obviously will increase what is removed by my filter socks. I don't believe what I'm removing with my technique is detrimental to my system at all. Many reefers run extremely clean systems, and I would not include mine as one of those.