Filter Sock & Filter Trays: Which do you prefer and why?

[southerntnreefer]

I use a filter cup filled with bio media and filter floss. I pull the floss every couple days.

 

[fishlover1478]

my tank isn't set up but I will most likely use a filter cup

 

[boacvh]

Klir-7 for me. Wish I had purchased it day 1. Just love it.

 

[Ippyroy]

I prefer to filter with a massive mat of chaeto with a healthy detritus eating CUC. I will use a filter pad, Pinky's, right after I harvest. I run a filter sock while deep cleaning sand bed and/or basting the rocks and they are really dirty. I only run the socks while vacuuming and maybe an hour after. If the rocks were particularly dirty and the water gets cloudy, I turn up the flow and run the socks for about an hour or two.
In my Mangrove tank I run a filter pad for 2 days a month. It is too small to have a fuge.

 

[Macbalacano]

I find filter floss is the best balance between convenience and price. It is very easy to take out and put a new one in and costs pennies!

 

[X-37B]

7" 200 micron filter sock on my 120 and 45 frag.
I will never use 4" again.
Looking for 300 micron.
Mesh sock plug up quicker than standard in my systems.
In the process of building a manual filter roller.

 

[Super Fly]

Floss, so much easier to just toss and replace. Socks were too expensive and just a hassle to clean

 

[mvbrandt]

Cheap felt filter socks replaced every couple weeks. I've considered a roller, but it seems both pricey and risks being smelly.

 

[jordan9095]

fleece roller is the way to go if you have the space. the waste gets removed from the water the quickest if you have a good one. IME, the KLIR are not very good for third party sumps (not coralvue).

 

[xrouter]

Why not both?

One standard sock and a 3d printed cup with floss and carbon. Best of both words.....but also twice the cleaning..

 

[CamT223]

Filter sock is my go to. I like being able to throw media bags in the sock rather than just laying in the sump. Filter socks can also be cleaned easily enough and used for a longer period of time, better for our wallets, better for the earth. Like Klong said, hard to watch all the single use plastics we go through.

 

[Isabel’s Hobby]

Running a fleece roller for about 4 month now —— LOVE IT. !!!!
had socks only briefly... to much of a mess with washing them ... no thank you
Had normal filter pads liked them as well but nothing trumps my fleece roll I have now.

 

[Peace River]

Although I would prefer a Klir Fleece Filter, I currently primarily run filter media cups. I do also use filter mesh bags and, for special purpose, filter socks.

 

[s1rk1118]

Filter tray. 1. When I take the pad out I can flick off the amphipods back into my fuge.
2. I can spray wash the pads and reuse.
3. I can put in a new pad every day. I have 9 total and when I have one left in the tray, I clean the others.

 

[Joe Rice]

Socks. Easy to clean in the washer, with a cap full of bleach, air dry. Double 7x12" on a 120 gallon SPS heavy mixed reef. Other options seem far to expensive and wasteful.

I've been using the same 10 filter socks for 5 years now and they're still going strong. I change it every three days so about once a month I have to run a washload. Running without socks (barefoot?) would definitely be one less maintenance chore but I think I'd need to triple the size of my refugium for that to work.

 

[Bededog]

I would run a roller if I had room for one. I don't use traditional socks. I have cups stuffed with polyfill. I just toss it once a week and refill. You can get a HUGE bag at a craft/sewing store for ten bucks. Lasts forever.

Do you have a picture of this? What kind of cup? Thank you in advance. I made my own sump out of a 40 gallon breeder and I was trying to decide on a tray or socks. The cup idea might be an option for me.

 

[54Dutchman]

Filter tray - change once a week. tank has mostly softies.

 

[Robert Riccio]

I prefer filter socks and find it very easy to replace, wash and repeat. My sump stays detritus free with no floating particles in the display tank.

 

[BobT]

I would run a roller if I had room for one. I don't use traditional socks. I have cups stuffed with polyfill. I just toss it once a week and refill. You can get a HUGE bag at a craft/sewing store for ten bucks. Lasts forever.

Same for me - Klir won't fit in my Trigger sump

 

[GeoSquid]

None - don't use any of them.