To sock or not to sock...

[Holy_makerel]

Consider nylon mesh socks. They catch the big stuff and rinse clean by hand quickly.
I use felt socks only when I clean or stir the sand.

I changed over to the mesh and love them. I have 2 but honestly cleanup is so easy i never use the backup. I have to clean it every 2 days or it will overflow but it literally takes me 3 minutes to clean it in the sink and plop it back into place

 

[BigJohnny]

Let me preface this by saying I hate filter socks. They are a major pain in my behind. I know they have a place in my system because when I pull one out to replace it, they are filthy nasty. But I’m considering taking them out and using that section as a refugium only. I could prolly do both in that chamber but I’m not sure how it would work. Are there any of you that go sockless?

I use brs mesh socks and havent cleaned them in at least 7 months. They keep the water clear of large particles which is all I use them for. Whatever they catch breaks down in the socks and since they are mesh it allows the remains to travel through into my fuge and never cloggs. Obviously they are not contributing to my filtration since I never clean them but that's not why I use them anyway.

I used to use brs felt socks but hated how quickly they clogged and cleaning them. I find the mesh to be a nice middle ground.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I’ve been draining into one of those ‘sell your house’ plastic Information tubes sold by Home Depot and Lowes’. It’s filled with cheap filter floss, and is drilled with holes for the water to drain into the sump. 60-second filter floss change when dirty. Also helps muffle the sound from the drain pipe.

 

[madweazl]

No sock, no floss, no problem. Plenty of detritus under my macro-algae in the refugium but I don't mess with it. When I rip a chunk out I inadvertently kick up some detritus but the only reaction I see from the acropora is to open up and try to grab some. Been like this at least 18 months now and I have no reason to change it. My opinion, that sock is just trapping something the filter feeders and corals could munch on.

 

[Even Further]

I'm setting up a sump for a 37 gallon with a flow over filter pad tray. I'll have to cut the pads to size, but I'll just trash the pads when they build up. A 12 foot roll of the dual density filter media will be 54 pads cut to 4" x 8".

 

[mta_morrow]

I changed over to the mesh and love them. I have 2 but honestly cleanup is so easy i never use the backup. I have to clean it every 2 days or it will overflow but it literally takes me 3 minutes to clean it in the sink and plop it back into place

Yup! Love’em!

 

[siggy]

I turned my sump into a Triton style and regret it, my sump is trashed and now I have to glue a sock holder back. I plan on trying the plastic cup you put floss into

 

[jtl]

I turned my sump into a Triton style and regret it, my sump is trashed and now I have to glue a sock holder back. I plan on trying the plastic cup you put floss into

I have considered going to the Triton method. What don't you like about it.

 

[jtl]

I currently have my overflow draining into a section that has the skimmer with some of my return water diverted to my refugium. I can also divert some of my drain water to the refugium. I am in the process of re-doing the sump and plumbing. I will now have the drain go to the refugium and the water will then go into the skimmer chamber and finally to the return pump chamber. I have ordered the acrylic to build a holder for socks that can also be used for filter pads. I plan on using the pads. Currently I only use a sock when cleaning the DT and I have not found any pods in it. I have a mandarin so I want to preserve my pod population. The way my sump is presently configured it is not growing the chaeto despite having a small amount of NO3 and PO4 and good lighting so I am hoping the new design will help in this regard. If I can get a good pod population going my plan is to occasionally put a cup of water from the refugium into the DT.

 

[siggy]

I have considered going to the Triton method. What don't you like about it.

First I have a 30x15x16 tall sump and with a fair amount of turnover, I get a lot of detritus throughout the sump. I have to do a clean out every 4-6 months. I suppose a larger sump/system with mud/rocks/mangroves ect. would be a natural filter, and sounds awesome btw, but im just a ball of cheato kind of guy.

These new Triton sumps need a floss/filter holder between chamber 1 & 2 ORRRR use filter socks and still incorporate a course filter between 1&2 to prevent micro-algae strands from fowling skimmer and reactor pumps

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I've used them for about 4 years and need to swap them out every 3 days or they overflow. I've seriously considered just pulling them out since they are a pain to clean and swap. When I travel I pull them out and have never noticed any adverse effects.

 

[Jmas4]

I keep filter socks and I love them. Compared to a tank with and without a filter sock, the water is so much more clear. I also clean them out 3 times a week. It's a pain in the butt but I noticed a huge decrease in nitrates and phosphates after doing this because the waste collected doesn't have time to break down. Finding pods in there isn't a problem because if there are that many pods in a filter sock, how many are within my rockwork.

For corals, my sps like the cleaner water and I believe that is more useful for sps than small particles they can pick up (I give them supplements so I'm not that worried)
For lps and softies spot feeding is simple.