Filter Sock or Not? (Let's Discuss)
- Thread starter Perry
- Start date
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What is the goal you want to reach using filter socks? That's the big question.
1) Use it as a method to pull out nutrients? In that case it only works efficiently if replaced every 3 days. Or works partly when replaced once weekly.
2) Use it as a method to clear the water of floating particles and prevent dirt in the sump.
I use a DIY roller to get both of the above but I'm considering using a bypass too so it would not filter everything out. If it's too clean, it's also a bad thing.
1) Use it as a method to pull out nutrients? In that case it only works efficiently if replaced every 3 days. Or works partly when replaced once weekly.
2) Use it as a method to clear the water of floating particles and prevent dirt in the sump.
I use a DIY roller to get both of the above but I'm considering using a bypass too so it would not filter everything out. If it's too clean, it's also a bad thing.
I ditched both sand and sock and probably will never go back
BeejReef
2500 Club Member
So interesting.. following.
I don't have a skimmer or socks. Once a week during wc, I swish my chaeto blob in water to be discarded. Once every three months, I shop vac out the detritus in the sump. Mixed reef tank is doing well, but I'm quite new and have no real idea if this will work long term. N and P are very low with low to moderate carbon dosing, so we'll see.
I don't have a skimmer or socks. Once a week during wc, I swish my chaeto blob in water to be discarded. Once every three months, I shop vac out the detritus in the sump. Mixed reef tank is doing well, but I'm quite new and have no real idea if this will work long term. N and P are very low with low to moderate carbon dosing, so we'll see.
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
Best thing I ever did for my tank was to remove the socks. I ran them for years and one day just decided to try not using them. My corals grow better, are better color, and I clean the glass less.
Yes I have particulate(floaties) in the water, but have not noticed any clarity issues as I run carbon in a reactor. I do notice more particulate in my sump, but in my eyes thats part of having a "mature" reef. In those detritus piles I have pods, brittle stars, and bristle worms, so I'm assuming those piles are feeding them.
Once a year I remove my sump and wash it out.
Yes I have particulate(floaties) in the water, but have not noticed any clarity issues as I run carbon in a reactor. I do notice more particulate in my sump, but in my eyes thats part of having a "mature" reef. In those detritus piles I have pods, brittle stars, and bristle worms, so I'm assuming those piles are feeding them.
Once a year I remove my sump and wash it out.
OP
OP
Some really awesome responses. Like I said, pretty much knew I would ultimately go sockless, but my sump where I plan on putting additional live rock is going to be challenging for detritus removal. This is why i will run high flow in these chambers, essentially forcing the suspended debris to my skimmer chamber, here I have much easier access. My thoughts are that I will likely see increased pe on sps, this is where I am sceptical of socks, rollers, pads, etc, that perhaps, since sps need smaller particulates, perhaps food sources may in fact be removed. Why do I think this, when my previous system had sand, I had a diamond goby who constantly stirred sandbed, pe on sps was insane, with feeder polyps out 24/7. That all being said, I used a sock, so I believe it really depends on the approach, with sand, I probably wouldn't have posed the question, of course assuming I had fish or inverts turning over the sand.
Keep em coming
Keep em coming
KJoFan
Valuable Member
@Perry what are your thoughts on detritus being inert? I would guess from your responses and plan that you feel it should be removed from the system with the plan for high flow/additional powerheads in the sump. I personally am trying to subscribe to the inert philosophy this time around seeing as the fuge area of my sump is full of live rock with 1/4" layer of detritus at the bottom.
I am trying to resist the urge to siphon it out, as many state it makes no difference but may help feed the microbiology of the tank.
I am trying to resist the urge to siphon it out, as many state it makes no difference but may help feed the microbiology of the tank.
I used to use filter floss (not sock) for several years. Then I removed it and noticed a pretty large increase in nitrate and phosphate levels over the next month (well over 100 ppm nitrate). I left it off anyways, because it was a source of constant work. Eventually the nutrients stabilized, and slowly dropped on their own to a more reasonable level. Skimmer-only for this retro reefer.
OP
OP
Hi,
I don't truly believe that it causes problems, after much discussion with Deborah, and Sever from Aquaforest, and their personal feelings about use or not of socks, they, as well as other Polish reefers fealt socks were unnecessary, and did not in fact use them. At that time, siporax, and of course their biomedia was covered in Christmas worms, pods, sponges, as well as other filter feeders. This was a few years back, so things could have changed with their systems and husbandry. My personal goal is to keep as much as I can in suspension, and if settling occurs, then it happens in a manageable area for removal. I prefer to sort of run those chambers as cryptic, and allowing the live rock in those chambers to grow copious amounts of sponges and diverse micro life to aid in stability and additional bio filtration. That said, I probably won't obsess over a perfectly clean sump
Jimbo662
2500 Club Member
I only use socks when I'm cleaning the tank. My sump has holes for 3 sock. I use felt socks. To clean the sand I put the end of my python hose in one of the socks so it's basically polishing the water. I leave the socks in for 24 hours to collect anything that got stirred up. After that I pull them and throw them in the washer and run the rest of the week with no socks.
MuffinMonster
Active Member
This is interesting. I am currently building a reefer 250 system, its going to be a strict SPS tank, bare bottom, and i plan on running a roller mat. I have been debating about whether to run only a skimmer and fuge, but i think im opting for the roller mat. All the tanks i have read up on and have seen that are SPS dominate with roller mats have been really great. I get the other side of the argument that there is more of a food supply without any filtration, but the water clarity is what i love seeing in tanks with mats and socks.
Entz
Active Member
I hate filter socks, especially the "bucket of death smell" whey they are stored and having to clean them. For me they just build up so fast. Will never use them again.
Currently using filter floss as that is super quick and easy to change without the smell or dirty looks using the washer.
Currently using filter floss as that is super quick and easy to change without the smell or dirty looks using the washer.
Im not sure if you can control detritus that much. Is it good or bad? Dont really know. What is it made of? Well some of it is for sure fish poop. It would be covered in bacteria. Possibly some worms and other microorganisms. Are they good or bad? Dont know. What I do know is if you kept a pile of dirt in the corner of your house and kept pooing in it every day probably you couldnt live in the house from the smell and gasses being made. It might even make you sick. I think its better to remove it than leave it. Corals can eat it too.
