Filter Socks and Foam Blocks

[CastAway]

I had placed a block of coarse foam in my overflow to dampen the sound of falling water, and another in my sump to prevent macro algae from flowing freely into my display.

In discussions elsewhere in the forum, I've been trying to address and understand a consistently low pH in my system, less than my target of 8.3 or 8.4.

In addition to CO2 and gas exchange, and in addition to potential buffering agents, the topic of organics has come up and the tendency of a high organic load to depress pH. I do have a lingering algae problem in my tank.

So, I'm wondering just how much a corse foam block, or for that matter my filter socks, might be contributing to higher nitrates in my system. They "look" relatively clean to me; I mean I can still see through them. They don't clog.

What the consensus of SPS keepers? Socks, or no? Foam blocks, or no? Are they really "nitrate factories"?

 

[Trex]

I have always used some sort of mechanical filtration in my tanks.

If you clean them regularly, they can be a great benefit (( IMO/E )), but the key is to keep them clean. Each tank will be different, but in general wouldn't want to go more than a week between cleanings/replacement.

 

[CastAway]

The filter socks I clean weekly, when they overflow. The foam, well, I never clean it. But I'm wondering if it may be doing more good in removing nitrates than is is contributing to them.....