Sockless sump? Ideas/ experience ?
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mcarroll
10K Club member
For me it meant a plain 30 Gallon "Long" tank, into which I placed the skimmer, return pump...and when I built it, also the mcsbb™ (mcarroll's serious bubble buster™) drain silencer from 3" PVC parts. A fun couple of evenings in the plumbing aisle at Lowes working out ideas. 
I added a small amount of live rock one time since I ended up with some extra when I split the display to two tanks (had to make room for coral growth) and haven't found a better use for it. I put up with it since someday I'll have a bigger tank.
I also aded a pair of heaters down there after I upgraded my skimmer to a more efficient model a few years ago. Lack of heat from pumps meant I had to compensate with more heaters.
It's fine, though I normally prefer just to have right-sized heaters in every tank to minimize damage from any one failure (including non-heater failures). We rarely consider the contribution our other gear makes to tank heating....I guess I didn't at all until I switched that skimmer out.
I added a small amount of live rock one time since I ended up with some extra when I split the display to two tanks (had to make room for coral growth) and haven't found a better use for it. I put up with it since someday I'll have a bigger tank.
I also aded a pair of heaters down there after I upgraded my skimmer to a more efficient model a few years ago. Lack of heat from pumps meant I had to compensate with more heaters.
It's fine, though I normally prefer just to have right-sized heaters in every tank to minimize damage from any one failure (including non-heater failures). We rarely consider the contribution our other gear makes to tank heating....I guess I didn't at all until I switched that skimmer out. 
Jessesoto33
Active Member
More info on filter media, like price, where to find them and etc
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
I use to run socks for years. Life would get hectic and I wouldn't get around to change them for a week.
Been sockless for some time now and my water quality hasn't changed since. I do run a UV 24/7 and syphon my return section of the sump once a month.
Going sockless did come with a small issue at my returns, salt creep. Fix that with some DIY:
Someday I will get around to building a box out of acrylic so it looks better! Lol. It does work keeping the salt spray down.
Been sockless for some time now and my water quality hasn't changed since. I do run a UV 24/7 and syphon my return section of the sump once a month.
Going sockless did come with a small issue at my returns, salt creep. Fix that with some DIY:
Someday I will get around to building a box out of acrylic so it looks better! Lol. It does work keeping the salt spray down.
Retro Reefer
Slow and steady wins the race!
Im having issues with my filter sock clogging to quickly on my new tank as my fresh rock cures so I made a drip tray out of a KFC sides container 
drilled a few holes and added a wad of floss, fits and works perfectly..
drilled a few holes and added a wad of floss, fits and works perfectly..
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NoWaiAma
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...I want chicken now.. well mostly potatoes and gravy...Im having issues with my filter sock clogging to quickly on my new tank as my fresh rock cures so I made a drip tray out of a KFC sides container
Retro Reefer
Slow and steady wins the race!
najer
Valuable Member
I have never run socks, tank has been running for 33 months now.
I did run floss for about the first 6 - 9 months until the refugium filled out, now I just leave it alone, except clearing the weir every few months.
No "bits" except what appears from everyday display activity.
The engine room!
DSC07683 by sshipuk, on Flickr
I did run floss for about the first 6 - 9 months until the refugium filled out, now I just leave it alone, except clearing the weir every few months.
No "bits" except what appears from everyday display activity.
The engine room!
DSC07683 by sshipuk, on Flickr
EW_Fish
Valuable Member
I stopped running socks. I just use my first chamber in my sump to catch everything and suck it all out about once a month. My cheato runs after the first chamber so most break down gets sucked up. Never really had problems with to much nutrients because I try and run larger fuges to help with this.
Devaji
7500 Club Member
Here is the media cup I got for the filter floss aka Polly fill change a hand full every 3-5 days takes about 6osec. Depending how you are plumbed.
It fits right in to the sock holder...
I was trying to run my carbon there to but need to drill some holes in the cup the flow was to much.
It fits right in to the sock holder...
I was trying to run my carbon there to but need to drill some holes in the cup the flow was to much.
Here is my DIY substitute for filter sock set up. Cost about $13.
It's 4" PVC ($9 for 2') slid over an all PVC toilet flange ($3.50). The slid in toilet flange creates a support to slide in a 4"round piece of egg crate from the top and creates a shelf in the drain chamber. I then use scissor cut a 4" round piece of extra thick poly fil from Joanns, placed on top of the egg crate shelf in the drain chamber. I change out the poly fill as needed and toss in garbage.
I created an area at the bottom with cut pieces of the 4" that were left over and pvc glued them to the flange bottom. I placed two pouches (made from leftover BRS pond netting sealed with fishing line) of Seachem Pond Matrix for bio media that gets good flow directly from the drain.
Not super attractive, but works great so far
It's 4" PVC ($9 for 2') slid over an all PVC toilet flange ($3.50). The slid in toilet flange creates a support to slide in a 4"round piece of egg crate from the top and creates a shelf in the drain chamber. I then use scissor cut a 4" round piece of extra thick poly fil from Joanns, placed on top of the egg crate shelf in the drain chamber. I change out the poly fill as needed and toss in garbage.
I created an area at the bottom with cut pieces of the 4" that were left over and pvc glued them to the flange bottom. I placed two pouches (made from leftover BRS pond netting sealed with fishing line) of Seachem Pond Matrix for bio media that gets good flow directly from the drain.
Not super attractive, but works great so far
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NoWaiAma
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Nice and clean!
Here is my DIY substitute for filter sock set up. Cost about $13.
It's 4" PVC ($9 for 2') slid over an all PVC toilet flange ($3.50). The slid in toilet flange creates a support to slide in a 4"round piece of egg crate from the top and creates a shelf in the drain chamber. I then use scissor cut a 4" round piece of extra thick poly fil from Joanns, placed on top of the egg crate shelf in the drain chamber. I change out the poly fill as needed and toss in garbage.
I created an area at the bottom with cut pieces of the 4" that were left over and pvc glued them to the flange bottom. I placed two pouches (made from leftover BRS pond netting sealed with fishing line) of Seachem Pond Matrix for bio medea that gets goo flow directly from the drain.
Not super attractive, but works great so far
I've been googling for my first ever set up!.. Needless to say I want to get it right first time and I came across this system (Clearisea fleece filter unit)
which is cheaper than the one you have found. I can't comment on it but take a look.
https://www.theaquariumsolution.com/products/clarisea-fleece-filter-units
