The heck with it, im going sockless!!

shuford1 · Jul 12, 2017

Call me crazy but all my coral looks better now that I stopped using them. Think between the socks and the skimmer I was pulling to many nutrients from the water.

pelphrey · Jul 12, 2017

I'll be pulling the socks off of my system tomorrow when my order from algae barn comes in. Actually looking forward to it! I have a large collection of socks I have collected so replacing and cleaning never has been a big deal.

rich nyc · Jul 12, 2017

I wonder if i could just buy cheap white socks on sale at the dollar store

seamonster · Jul 12, 2017

seamonster said:
I use filters socks that I can wash in the sink.. I wash it every 4 days or week.. really easy!

The kind I use are the nylon ones, just FYI !

biecacka · Jul 12, 2017

On page 2, I liked the idea of the drain pipes dumping into a bucket in your sump. Pads in the bucket with drilled holes. Water goes into bucket, onto filter pads and rises out of drilled holes. Then you just pull out the bucket when water changes are done, with all the debris in the bucket.
A friend I know drains his lines into a 40 gallon tank that he took apart, drilled and re assembled with the holes on the bottom of the tank. It then drains into his main sump, when he does water changes he closes off he drain lines to the 40 via ball valves and rerouted the water straight to the main sump. He then empties the 40 gallon and shop vacuums the debris out of the 40 gallon. Sort of like a settling tank...

Anyone else use anything similar?

Corey

snappa1953 · Jul 13, 2017

Sort of like fitting an external canister filter filled with sponges and filter pads?

biecacka · Jul 13, 2017

I believe so! Pretty simple. Just pull out the bucket and rinse the debris out. Easy peasy

Corey

oceanslide · Jul 24, 2017

Took out my filter sock a few days ago! So far, so good! Only thing is the sock would catch all the bubbles, but either way, they don't make it back to the display

lou dog420 · Aug 30, 2017

I am happy to report that it has been 3 months since I quit running socks, and I am loving it!! My corals and fish seem to love it as well!!

atoll · Aug 30, 2017

lou dog420 said:
I am happy to report that it has been 3 months since I quit running socks, and I am loving it!! My corals and fish seem to love it as well!!

Been sockless and pre-filterless since setting up my new tank about 17 months ago. Who needs them

karo25 · Nov 3, 2017

Stugots said:
Sockless, topless and bare bottom is my preference.

That should be a Reef2Reef bumper sticker. ;Woot

Doubbler · Nov 3, 2017

I've never used a sock.

aabjones888 · Nov 3, 2017

lol love all the comments, ive never used a sock neither

lou dog420 · Nov 3, 2017

I think quitting socks was one of the best things I've done for my reef!!

Oldreefer44 · Nov 3, 2017

Same here. Everything improved once I removed them.

pdisner · Nov 3, 2017

So I just started using a sock and a baffle padding to get the debris out of the water. Makes my Water ALOT more clear than if nothing was used.

711reefer · Nov 3, 2017

i fought po4 in my system since day one. readings were as high as 3ppm. i changed socks once a week. finally i took the socks off. 2 months later my po4 reading are at .05. i am convinced the socks were a nutrient sink.

Fin · Nov 3, 2017

Now they have these "Filter Media Cups" that fit in most 4" sock holders and you can put whatever media that you want inside (like floss or sponges) and then just toss the media when soiled.

karo25 · Nov 3, 2017

The thoughts of going sockless is stress inducing for me. I've been using them since I set up my reef, changing them every other day. I thought I could go sockless and stopped using them for almost 2 hours until I fed the tank and then I couldn't stop thinking of what went down to the sump and didn't get caught by the socks and back on they went.;Sorry I want to go sockless because it would certainly be less work but, oh my.