Sock Change Frequency

[Jon Fishman]

It may be my frequency of cleaning off my rocks and messing with my tank, or maybe my filtration methods themselves, but my filter socks last 4-5 days before they are clogged and I need to clean them because the water starts running over the overflow area of my sump.....

I am running a 140-ish gallon display into a Trigger 39 sump, so 3-filter socks and a pre-filter

Tank is bare bottom and I run a lot of flow, 5x MP40’s at 50%-75%

I have a skimmer (Curve 5 elite, with a Curve 9 elite on the way since the 5 was on my 75 previously)

I run an Algae scrubber, and an Avast Ozone Reactor with a carbon post filter, so I don’t think that takes any of the larger particles out.

The filter socks are whatever micron rating/whatever that came with the Sump

I have tried manual, washing machine etc. doesn’t matter.... 4-5 days.

I did a water change today and cleaned up loose sand created by my fish eating rocks, but it is a bare bottom so there isn’t a ton to worry about

I find a lot of white “wet dandruff” on the bottom where it collects where the powerheads allow it to. Perhaps I am over-feeding? I am worried about warnings that my fish has a big appetite and don’t want to starve him. I never saw him eat Nori so I stopped feeding that over a week ago.

I would like to go sockless and maybe just use them after water changes etc, but I think I need “something “ easier to replace.

Stuff with poly-fill? I don’t know that I want to buy filter cups for fear of just running into the same issue I have now.

Can I just remove the socks and stuff that area with floss and replace monthly?

Bioload is fairly small, 1 Quoyi Parrot that is 7” or so, and. boxfish that is under an inch

CUC is 40 snails and 40 hermits give or take, 10? Emeralds/porcelain and 2 urchins and 2 cleaner shrimp
I have a purple lobster ai am trying to catch too, but no luck, but he was added well after I started having these problems anyways

Any thoughts on a better method to remove the larger floaties vs the socks?

 

[melanotaenia]

4-5 days is pretty good, I use 50 or 100 micron pads and can go maybe 2-3 days tops.

That blue filter padding that Marineland makes lasts longer, as it is not as dense, but may not trap as much fine particulate matter

(http://www.marineland.com/products/replacement-cartridges-and-filter-media/bonded-filter-pad.aspx)

 

[W1ngz]

I was fed up of dealing with replacing, washing, storing and smelling filter socks when I upgraded. I went with the basket and floss padding option. It costs more in the long run, but I just pull out the dirty padding during routine feeding when the pumps are stopped, and put in a new piece of filter floss.

I believe the trigger 39 (assuming emerald?) sumps come with the interchangeable plates, sock or rectangular basket.

 

[Peace River]

You can use a mesh filter bag or a filter media cup instead of the filter sock.

 

[Jon Fishman]

You can use a mesh filter bag or a filter media cup instead of the filter sock.

I think I will go this route. That’s a great idea! I have that mesh bag thing on my Red Sea and it is WAY easier to clean. I just spray it off with the sink sprayer thingy and it gets clean. I can never really tell if the socks are clean. Where can I get those in a 4” and what “fine-ness” would I want?

 

[melanotaenia]

I was fed up of dealing with replacing, washing, storing and smelling filter socks when I upgraded. I went with the basket and floss padding option. It costs more in the long run, but I just pull out the dirty padding during routine feeding when the pumps are stopped, and put in a new piece of filter floss.

I believe the trigger 39 (assuming emerald?) sumps come with the interchangeable plates, sock or rectangular basket.

This is what I also have, baskets in place of socks, and use micron pads after a water change, then the blue pads the rest of the time as they clog slower; the micron pads catch the stuff churned up from water change and blue pads keep stuff out of water column between water changes. Micron pads: 2-3 days top; blue pads can go a week.

 

[CelticReef]

I tend to change mine every 3 days to avoid uneaten food particles breaking down into the water column. Even if I ran pads I would wash or change it every 3 days also but that’s just me I feed my corals heavy and changing socks that often makes for less water changes and $$ saved on salt. Just stock up on enough socks to get you through a month then have a wash day.

 

[Peace River]

I think I will go this route. That’s a great idea! I have that mesh bag thing on my Red Sea and it is WAY easier to clean. I just spray it off with the sink sprayer thingy and it gets clean. I can never really tell if the socks are clean. Where can I get those in a 4” and what “fine-ness” would I want?

BRS carries the mesh filter bags. Still not a bad idea to switch to filter socks occasionally when you want to clarify you’re tank.

 

[Jon Fishman]

BRS carries the mesh filter bags. Still not a bad idea to switch to filter socks occasionally when you want to clarify you’re tank.

Are there any with the plastic ring around the top like a sock? That’s what the other tank came with and it’s great

My ozone keeps the water crystal clear, I just need the larger particles that get kicked up taken care of

 

[Jon Fishman]

Ooh! Found them!

BRS Mesh Filter Sock with Plastic Ring

Filter Socks are used on overflows to remove small floating particles from aquarium water. This can dramatically improve water quality and reduce maintenance on filters that would otherwise become clogged. Mesh: Thin, doesn't clog as easily as felt Felt: Thicker, better at removing particles...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Silent]

You also can get the mesh socks with the draw string and put them inside your felt socks. Mesh will catch the bigger items and the felt will still be there to polish the water. The mesh will make cleaning the felt much easier.