How often to change filter socks

[Brew12]

Grr Brew you just beat me to the joke that I was very surprised no one made yet

Low hanging fruit!

I had to double check as I was shocked no one went there. I should probably be ashamed that I did....

 

[Rakie]

So my answer is a little more complicated here.

In general, I don't use socks... HOWEVER, when stirring sand, or blowing off rocks, or anything of the like.. I'll put in a sock for sure. Otherwise, I'll use a sock when running GFO, GAC. I may run GAC for a week or two once every other month -- during that one or two weeks, I'll change the sock every 2-3 days.

 

[RobertP]

Was changing weekly but could not keep nitrates above 1 so removed them. Seems my fuge does it's job. Now I use one mesh sock to catch giant debris or algae clumps and leave the other one open. Yeah there is a bunch of detritus in the bottom of my sump but my tank seems to need it. Nitrates at 4 and Phos as .02 so happy about that.

 

[mitch91175]

So I have been changing my filter socks every 2-3 days. Is this too often?
How long would it take solids stuck in the sock to start breaking down and affect the water chemistry?

I change mine once I notice they are clogged enough to not have good flow through them. Usually every 3 days.

 

[mitch91175]

Sorry. Biopellets

I never use them either. Enough with attempting to keep up with change the socks, GFO and carbon (the last 2 I don't keep up with changing at all).

 

[Dom]

I would think frequency will depend on the load in the tank.

 

[dewy]

I change mine once a week unless it starts over flowing.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Change them 3-4 days.

I Also run bio pellets.

I kept 2 small salt buckets(6.6kg) i use to hold them, old ones go in one, clean ones in another. Keeps all the smell in the bucket wash them when i put my last one on, about every 21-30 days.

 

[waterbox100.3aus]

My skimmer stops skimming when change the socks ? Do I change them too often I feel like the corals seem happier when the socks are slightly dirty ? Any thoughts ?

 

[Fish & Coral]

So I have been changing my filter socks every 2-3 days. Is this too often?
How long would it take solids stuck in the sock to start breaking down and affect the water chemistry?

Changing the filter socks every 2-3 days is not too often but it's all depends on your live stock and feeding as well as the amount of detritus build up in the tank.

 

[rmay6850]

Somewhat of a pain, every 3 days
Going to a Clarisea 5000 next week

 

[Pistondog]

How did you guys determine you could get away without any mechanical filtration?

Corals and pods eat the stuff the sox trap.
If you don't change sox every few days, they become a nutrient source since sox don't have bacteria or CUC.
Everything gets eaten in tanks, or grows into an inedible something.