Carbon dosing causing my filter socks to clog much faster!!

HiddenUser · Jan 5, 2016

I recently started dosing Red Sea NO3

O4-X with a BRS Doser controlled by my Apex. Prior to dosing my Nitrates were at 25ppm (Salifert). I feed somewhat heavily due to having some Anthias and Wrasses so I wanted to do some sort of Carbon Dosing to bring down the nitrates.

I started with less than the instructed amount of 3ml/25G when NO3 is above 10. I have ~360G of total water volume in my system. Instead I did 2ml/25G so that's 28ml/day for my system. I split the dosing into 2 separate 14ml doses, 12 hours apart.

I had a bacteria bloom which cleared up after a couple of days and I can tell the diatoms (normal for a recently cycled tank) cleared up very quickly. I tested my water again last night and my Nitrates were about 5ppm.

I've cut back the amount I'm dosing ~13ml/Day now as I want to maintain a little bit of nitrate versus running an ULNS.

To the point - How many of you are carbon dosing (pellets, vodka, vinegar, etc) and dealing with your filter socks clogging much quicker. I have 3 socks in my sump and they go about 12 hours before they're clogged. I pull them out of the sump and they're covered in some slimy junk and from my research its a result of carbon dosing.

I've read that this may be either normal or abnormal...but here are some of the solutions I've come across...
- Dosing to much, solution cut back on dosing
- Normal behavior, keep dosing the same amount and the socks won't clog as fast within 8-10 days or so.
- Remove filter socks as the socks will always clog faster when carbon dosing

How many of you have run into this same issue and how are you dealing with it?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 5, 2016

I do not use a sock, but it would not be surprising if it clogged faster due to suspended bacteria.

Bacteria in the water does not necessarily mean too much dosing. It has to be somewhere, and in some tanks, it is more in the water column than on surfaces. I dose vinegar upstream from my refugium to encourage the growth on the rock there rather than elsewhere.

Do you skim?

HiddenUser · Jan 5, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I do not use a sock, but it would not be surprising if it clogged faster due to suspended bacteria.

Bacteria in the water does not necessarily mean too much dosing. It has to be somewhere, and in some tanks, it is more in the water column than on surfaces. I dose vinegar upstream from my refugium to encourage the growth on the rock there rather than elsewhere.

Do you skim?

Yep I skim. I have it set so that it's a bit of a wet skim. I've noticed that it's pulling some really nasty gunk since dosing. I'm just debating going without socks since they only last about 12 hours before clogging. I just like when my sump stays cleaner!

250mixreef · Jan 5, 2016

My skimmer and sock fill up fast since carbon dosing also. I have tried sockless for a week or so I don't really see a difference other than cleaning socks. However I'm sure that stuff will build up in the tank or sump eventually and require maintenance anyway

Reeferdood · Apr 6, 2016

Since dosing, I also saw the slime and clogged socks. I, like Randy, have quit running socks.
If there is enough turnover in your sump and you are running a good skimmer you won't have as much detritus buildup in your sump as most believe. The only difference I have found is a little more maintenance on the needle wheel.... Honestly, it is an area overlooked by a lot of hobbyists..

NanaReefer · Apr 6, 2016

I disagree. I bought a new skimmer. More powerful then the previous one. Decided to remove my sock thinking it would take up the slack. Within 2wks my skimmer body was covered with detritus. Yes some made it into the cup but no where near enough for my peace of mind. I do not want that crap building up anywhere in my tank. Cleaning socks is much easier for me than the alternative of siphoning out my entire sump.

Reeferdood · Apr 6, 2016

NanaReefer said:
I disagree. I bought a new skimmer. More powerful then the previous one. Decided to remove my sock thinking it would take up the slack. Within 2wks my skimmer body was covered with detritus. Yes some made it into the cup but no where near enough for my peace of mind. I do not want that crap building up anywhere in my tank. Cleaning socks is much easier for me than the alternative of siphoning out my entire sump.

What kind of skimmer are you running?

Kungpaoshizi · Apr 6, 2016

Just run a skimmer and GAC. With nopox you're not supposed to use any absorbent resins fyi. But also as things break down in the tank, those microscopic particulates will be food for the corals. So mechanical filtration is a hindrance imo. I only run a skimmer with some gac sponges packed in to prevent bubbles escaping. I used to love my poly-filter but it removed too many doc's that prevented nitrates from being produced, thus I had the imbalance with phosphate creeping up all the time.

And if you're carbon dosing I would highly suggest Reef Energy. Really easy way to feed the tank entirely, and pretty much only introduce nitrates.