No filter sock but

[Fishingandreefing]

So I am tired of cleaning my filter sock, so I took it off but the foam filter in the baffle clogged up after about 3-5 days. Once it’s clogged the ATO started to fill more than usual. I typically do water change and Maintenance every 7 days.

how dirty is my tank? Am I the only one?

120g with about 20 fish. Feed 1.5 cube mysis daily.

 

[Fred2482]

Ive ran without socks for a week and no issue, but not nearly as stocked as your tank. 100 gallon with 5 fish and some lps, softies.

 

[Perthegallon]

So I am tired of cleaning my filter sock, so I took it off but the foam filter in the baffle clogged up after about 3-5 days. Once it’s clogged the ATO started to fill more than usual. I typically do water change and Maintenance every 7 days.

how dirty is my tank? Am I the only one?

120g with about 20 fish. Feed 1.5 cube mysis daily.

I change my filter socks out every two days or three

 

[Crustaceon]

I drilled a bypass hole in my sump for this reason. When I was seriously carbon dosing, my socks would fully clog with bacteria on a daily basis.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

I guess I'm in the minority. I stopped running socks a year ago. About every 9 months or so I pull my chaeto and the little bit of live rock in the refugium and use a small shop vac to clean detritus.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

I change my filter socks out every two days or three

I used to but then too much hassle. I

I drilled a bypass hole in my sump for this reason. When I was seriously carbon dosing, my socks would fully clog with bacteria on a daily basis.

I have been dosing microbacter7 for the past two weeks, maybe that’s why it clogged up so quickly.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

I guess I'm in the minority. I stopped running socks a year ago. About every 9 months or so I pull my chaeto and the little bit of live rock in the refugium and use a small shop vac to clean detritus.

I clean my refugium/sump weekly. I use a powerhead blow up the detritus while the pump is sucking out the water. 20g weekly on my 120.

 

[Spieg]

Why not just remove the sponge? If your going to run dirty, may as well go all the way!

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Why not just remove the sponge? If your going free willy, may as well go all the way!

Prob not as I don’t want my detritus going back up to my display or possibly clog my return. Overall, dealing with the filter foam in the baffle is way easier.

 

[Squidward]

I clean my refugium/sump weekly. I use a powerhead blow up the detritus while the pump is sucking out the water. 20g weekly on my 120.

That sounds like more work than just changing the socks.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

That sounds like more work than just changing the socks.

I don’t throw away my sock so I have to power wash then dry vs wash the sponge in the bucket with tank water during wc, takes about 5 mins.

 

[Spieg]

I just have a collection of socks and as i run low on clean supply, I run them though the washing machine with some bleach (about once a month). Doesn't get much easier than that.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

I just have a collection of socks and as i run low on clean supply, I run them though the washing machine with some bleach (about once a month). Doesn't get much easier than that.

I have heard lots of people do that but always nervous to do it. The word “bleach” and washing machine kinda got me since there are detergent residues left from daily washing? For almost a year I have been power wash them once a month.

I might diy a filter cup and toss some floss in there to see in the future.

 

[Spieg]

The word “bleach” and washing machine kinda got me since there are detergent residues left from daily washing?

Been doing it for years and year and years... Use pain bleach and let them air dry for a few days and there is no trace of bleach left at all.

 

[Murica]

I went sock less and instead put a baffle in to slow down water movement, so that the detritus sinks to the bottom. Once or so a month i just pump out the detritus

 

[PhilSD211]

I'd love to not run socks... my problem is w/out socks, vermetid snails starts to grow all over the walls of the return area. =/