Getting rid of filter socks

Angler and Eels · Feb 28, 2016

I am getting rid of my filter socks. What critters should I put in to remove the stuff my filter socks removed?

Angler and Eels · Feb 29, 2016

@Dtackett @melypr1985 or anyone else.

cb684 · Feb 29, 2016

I would think filter-feeding animals like clams, sponges, feather-dusters, filter-feeding crabs... But how many of those to achieve the same level of particles-removal it would depend on your system.

hybridazn · Feb 29, 2016

Any reason why you are ditching the filter socks?

James605 · Mar 5, 2016

I use socks to get the big stuff, not sure what would take place of them for you

glb · Apr 21, 2016

Following. I'm trying to decide whether I want a filter sock in my new build.

Addicted2ACRO's · Apr 21, 2016

IMHO, I like filter socks because it helps remove particles that a protein skimmer can't and helps to minimize micro bubbles

glb · Apr 21, 2016

Do you use mesh or felt? I'm leaning towards mesh.

Duke4Life · Apr 21, 2016

I use felt and just added a few weeks ago. The stuff that's removed before entering my sump is crazy, my water seems more clear than before. I wouldn't do without at this point, month or months down the road this could change but not yet.

saltyfilmfolks · Apr 21, 2016

seems like youll want pods, bristle worms, feather dusters , bacteria and a refugium. Whatever the skimmer doesnt get winds up settling in the sump and refugium. the food/poo naturally break down the foodstuff on the LR and sand and the bugs eat the food too further breaking down the organics for the bacteria. some folks have fish crabs and shrimp in the fuge, I only have bugs. Iso amphi cope Pods and mysid shrimp, "Sump" dusters, a common white feather duster, stomatella, limpids, probably brown flat worms(no.. they get eaten in the dt so the pop is controlled), I also have several types of macro algaes, LR and a DSB filled with tube worms. no crabs they eat the macros, and no fish as I think thats cruel. My only shrimp are mysid.
In short, I dont think Id pull socks without a fuge really, or you will likely be scrubbing the sump a lot.
In the more new school fugeless bug free style, I wouldn't pull the socks.

btw Im not concerned with clear water as all my bi valves and chili corals would die. So its also a livestock choice as well as a decision on where your tanks "guts" are.

zoomonster · Apr 21, 2016

I generally use 200 micron felt socks and occasionally 300 micron mesh socks that I bought by accident. I think I still have a few 100 micron felts in the mix too. Personally I would not be w/o them even with my fuge. I have a big skimmer that pulls a ton of crud but the filter socks maybe last a week before becoming clogged to the point that water starts overflowing the socks. Plus they act as silencers for the water hitting the sump. Some people do w/o them but I have a heavily populated tank that gets fed well and removing them would likely result in a big nitrate and phosphate spike. When I clean the tank I do vacuum but a significant portion of the detritus still goes to the sump where the socks capture it. Plus sometimes I just use a power head to hose things down putting debris in the water column to be removed by the socks.

I usually accumulate dirty socks in 5g bucket. When its getting full I just add bulk liquid pool chlorine (always have it around and its cheap) and let them soak a couple days, rinse then wash them in machine with extra rinse.

Diesel · Apr 21, 2016

Filtersocks.................... if you get them get the mesh socks they will let through enough nutrients that your corals will be happy with.
If you like the felt sock (I don't know why ppl like them but that's IMO) cut some holes in them about 5" of the bottom, in that case you still collect all the big stuff and let nutrients like bacteria and other stuff through to feed your corals.
If I run felt socks my No3 drops to 0.0