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

[Nhjmc]

I have a RSM AIO tank so I run floss in top chamber of media basket purigen in second chamber and run a bag of Clear FX REEF in bottom chamber of media basket.

 

[Rubberfrog]

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.

I'll take a pic when I get home in a few hours.

 

[Bruce60]

Single sock that is fed from a 1-1/2 overflow line (150 gallon display). Until the sock gets clogged, 100% of the water flows through. Then it flows over the top.

 

[Westside Guy]

I just place floss in my 2 cups.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

i voted neither, roller filters all the way.

 

[JimFuller]

I use three 4 inch filter socks. They are 200 Micron rather that the very fine.
They work well for me. They are in a Trigger 39 inch sump.

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

"Filter Sock" is probably winning because most people have yet to try a "Filter Tray" or something where you can easily dispose of the filter material.

After switching from a traditional sock to a tray type with filter floss, I can whole heartedly say I am never ever going back. Just so much easier and so much more convenient.

 

[vetteguy53081]

1. Do you prefer to run a filter sock or a filter tray and why do you choose one over the other?

Ive been running filter socks for several years and could kick myself for running felt. Switched to mesh the beginning of 2020 and maintenance/cleaning could not be easier. My 7" ones, about 2 minutes by hand and 4" one about a minute to fully clean.

2. What filter sock or filter tray set up do you run and a photo would be great!

I have a custom sump on my 660g with triple 7" socks. Pic almost impossible with chiller unit in front of sump

 

[Rubberfrog]

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.

My lovely assistant is holding a typical bag of polyfill. You can find this at any craft store, probably even Walmart. Stuff it in the cups and put them back in.

 

[MartinWaite]

I picked other as I moved out of the 20th century and leaped into the 21st century and did away with the hard work of socks and changing them every 3 days or start getting a raise in nutrient levels. I invested in a Clarisea 5000 and while it kept the nutrient levels down I was spending way more time sorting out little problems and then there was the noise everytime it moved the filter round it sounded like a lamb bleating for its mother. Anyway I upgraded my system and got myself a X-filter 1 and it's heads above the rest I have only once had to do something with it when I changed the filter roll after 9 months of silent trouble free filtering. One of the best things a person can do for their sumps. Think about it a sock is either 100, 150, or 200 micron the X-filter comes with a 32 micron and there is a choice of 4 different size hole in the rolls .9, .17, .25, and .32 micron these make the water so much clearer and without the work.

 

[TanksJB]

I use socks on all my tanks because that is how the sumps were built. I don't really have a preference one way or the other because have never tried a tray. Will be interesting to hear the pros and cons of the trays.

My new Trigger sump has filter socks. I just changed my first sock and I thought it was too much trouble to clean the thing so I ordered filter pads and will cut to fit instead. With that being said, I will try to go without anything when my tank stabilizes to my satisfaction just to see if I my biological filter will handle what the biological load I plan on having, which hopefully will be smaller than those with big fish and so on.

 

[badams.one]

neither.
the darkness creatures in the sump need to eat.

Been thinking of adding said creatures.. any recommendations? Cheers!

 

[nyc reefer]

I do both, I run a 4” Klir fleece filter in one sock holder and the second I run a cup w/Chemi Pure Blue and filter floss on top of the cup.

 

[Buckster]

My sump has 3-12" socks serving the 180g. Filter tray for the bio cube 32

 

[Kfactor]

mesh socks so much better and easier to clean

 

[lapin]

Socks cause a clean sump makes for a happy owner.
Here it is with some shorties i had laying around

 

[BlackGoldReefs]

We are GO for launch on the weekend! YES! But as we move into enjoying the weekend let's begin a discussion on filter socks versus filter trays! I'll reserve the pros and cons for you guys to discuss as I know that I would most assuredly miss something!

1. Do you prefer to run a filter sock or a filter tray and why do you choose one over the other?

2. What filter sock or filter tray set up do you run and a photo would be great!


Homemade filter tray via @G Santana

I actually use both in my hand built sump. The sock is the first stage or baffle right next to the skimmer. I then have the refugium that flows into another baffle that has egg crate cut outs with Bio balls and filter floss from www.pinky filters.com. I replace the floss and change out the sock every three days.

 

[Pntbll687]

Filter socks, 300 microns. Only need to change them once a week.

 

[SPSnut25]

One my 125g... I use an trigger emerald 39 sump. I cut a piece of egg crate to fit the sock box so I can run dual density filter pad in it. Works great! Change every 2-3 days. Easier than bleaching socks and wasting all that water cleaning them. Plus when I pull the pad I can just flick the ampipods off it into the sump. I use the extra room underneath for eshopps bio bricks... doubles as housing for the ampipods.

 

[Rogueaquariums]

I happen to be a lucky dude who won a Clari-Sea SK5000 Roller Filter here on R2R
Shoutout to Triquatics and Reef2Reef

I love this thing!!!
Totally recommend roller filters.
My office tank has filter sock setup, which isn't too bad.
I really love being able to throw that nasty paper away over washing those gross crusty filter socks in my home.
Not sure I have a pic of it running as it used to sit in the back of the sump.
But I am getting ready to set up my 120 very soon.
Here's a shot of my roller filter setup.

Those clarisea filter rollers are great. I have two of the Sk-5000 models but i still use filter socks because of the size of my tank.