Sockless sump? Ideas/ experience ?

[NoWaiAma]

As the title hints at. I’ve got a Red Sea 525Xl coming and I’m exploring replacement sump options. I want a larger refugium and a different ato and return set up.

Socks seem like a royal PITA. But maybe the effectiveness is worth it ?

Experience running setups without ? Sumps I should consider ? All are welcome and appreciated. Will be my first system with a sump. Thank you!

 

[KJAG]

Whatever you choose: Under-over-under baffles for superior microbubble elimination

 

[Benga]

Whatever you choose: Under-over-under baffles for superior microbubble elimination

What kind of problems do microbubbles cause as long as they don't reach the DT?

 

[KJAG]

What kind of problems do microbubbles cause as long as they don't reach the DT?

I never suggested they cause any problems

 

[Benga]

I never suggested they cause any problems

Ah okay haha i just assumed since you were suggesting a method to eliminate microbubbles that they might be bad.

 

[mcarroll]

Experience running setups without ?

Just run an open sump with a skimmer and a return pump. Add other features later, as needed. In ten years I added a powerhead for flow and an ATO sensor...haven't needed anything else. But I have lots of room to work in the sump...and could add something else if I wanted.

2¢

 

[User1]

No socks here. Well, in my sump anyway.

Pain is a bit subjective. I think if you set up your sump with socks and maintenance in mind the cleaning and/or management of them could be fine. I mean people do this all the time with great success. On the other hand there are people like me who either know, or in denial, or hate to admit it, or are clueless, or look the other way (you get the idea) and if used wreck the system by being nothing more than a nutrient magnet. What is that saying - the road to hell is paved with good intent? Anyway I guess my point is if you set it up with maintenance in mind (access. spares, cleaning them, etc) I think they can be fine.

My personal preference though since adding a sump is that I know my limits so choose to not use them let alone have a sump that can. To compensate to some degree I do have two filter media canisters plumbed in and drop some floss in time to time, cause a storm in the sump, let the return kick it up, feed the corals, then change the floss in about 2 hours or so after the water is clear. Other than that the sump for me is limited and sock free.

 

[Subsea]

No socks here. Well, in my sump anyway.

Pain is a bit subjective. I think if you set up your sump with socks and maintenance in mind the cleaning and/or management of them could be fine. I mean people do this all the time with great success. On the other hand there are people like me who either know, or in denial, or hate to admit it, or are clueless, or look the other way (you get the idea) and if used wreck the system by being nothing more than a nutrient magnet. What is that saying - the road to hell is paved with good intent? Anyway I guess my point is if you set it up with maintenance in mind (access. spares, cleaning them, etc) I think they can be fine.

My personal preference though since adding a sump is that I know my limits so choose to not use them let alone have a sump that can. To compensate to some degree I do have two filter media canisters plumbed in and drop some floss in time to time, cause a storm in the sump, let the return kick it up, feed the corals, then change the floss in about 2 hours or so after the water is clear. Other than that the sump for me is limited and sock free.

I have a 25 year old mud / macro filter with no sock that increased in depth with detritus. It was crawling with worms. I never messed with it, except to probe it once. It felt spongy to the touch.

 

[dwest]

Just run an open sump with a skimmer and a return pump. Add other features later, as needed. In ten years I added a powerhead for flow and an ATO sensor...haven't needed anything else. But I have lots of room to work in the sump...and could add something else if I wanted.

2¢

Agree. I love my open sump. I also added a drain with a valve from the sump directly to my house waste water for easy water changes and detritus removal.

 

[Mark Gray]

I really don't know much about what will fit under your Red Sea tank but I have 2 Trigger sumps. ! 39 on my 55 that I like a lot I run it with out socks, The other is a Trigger 44 Triton on my new 90, I like it better, larger fuge, but that being said I do have quite a bit of particulates floating in the tank but it's a new tank and I will when I have time get this stuff out.

 

[Midrats]

Continuous duty mechanical filtration is not needed. I run an empty filter cup in the sock holder only to eliminate the small amount of noise that's generated when the holder is empty. If needed I can deploy some floss layered with some carbon, but most of the time it runs empty.

 

[Super Fly]

Red Sea's are nice tanks! Socks are PITA, I dont use them. Instead I use cheap filter floss in my over under microbubble baffle section and just toss/replace the filter floss whenever it gets dirty so I don't have to deal with cleaning dirty socks. I installed egg crate at top of the baffle to hold filter floss like CJ's aquarium did here. fast forward to time mark 5:46 in the video

 

[NS Mike D]

@Randy Holmes-Farley has a number of posts on why he runs sockless (he wears sandals). I'll see if i can link one. If you do use socks, BRS recommends you change them twice a week to be effective, other wise the stuff they catch will start breaking down.


fwiw, I'll run no socks but will put one on for a day or two when I kick up the detritus.

 

[lapin]

Sumps. A place to play with your tank that pretty much only you see. Oh the options. Baffling baffels batman, reactors, fuges, sand beds, mud, skimmers, bio this bio that. Socks hahahahaha. Some do, some dont. It really is a choice on how you maintain your tank. Subsea has a different approach. Socks would hinder his filter system. He needs detritus. Others have issues with detritus, and socks help. Like a skimmer they pull stuff out. There is no rule you have to run a skimmer either. You can go skimmer less. If it was me, I would plan for them and if I found they were not needed then take them out. I would rather have the option than have to MacGyver stuff later.

 

[ReeferBean]

I got rid of my socks and replaced them with the filter media cups with filter floss. Much easier to maintain, just toss the old floss and replace. Plus no more washing socks in the washer so wife approved.

 

[doughboy]

its not the changing of socks that is a pain. on the contrary, it makes things a lot easier, as all detritus is captured and all you need to do is swap the sock instead of vacuuming the sump to get all the crap out, which imho is a lot more PIA. Anyway, it is the washing of the socks that can be a hassle. There is a good diy thread on making disposable socks. If you are a little handy, that makes using socks quite painless. Using filter media cups is sort of the same, you still need to swap out media, but don't have to wash anything. filter media imho will never be as effective filter as socks though, still a whole lot better than no filter at all so is a good option if you don't want to spend time sewing socks.

 

[Devaji]

I got rid of my socks and replaced them with the filter media cups with filter floss. Much easier to maintain, just toss the old floss and replace. Plus no more washing socks in the washer so wife approved.

this it what I do... toss it about every 3 -5 days I try for 3 tho. you can get a bag of Polly fill for like $10. last 6-12 months.

 

[NoWaiAma]

Thanks all for the ideas! A media cup with filter floss sounds like a plan!

I’m not sure what “open” sump means?

 

[NoWaiAma]

this it what I do... toss it about every 3 -5 days I try for 3 tho. you can get a bag of Polly fill for like $10. last 6-12 months.

Poly fill looks great!

 

[Midrats]

Open as in not cramped with a bunch of unnecessary equipment. There's something to be said for simplicity.