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Post by maineultraclassic on Apr 9, 2014 19:19:59 GMT -5
Since I finally have room in my sump, I picked up a filter sock setup.
It only took less then a week and it was dirty brown, and if I didn't keep an eye on it I could see it being a nitrate producer for sure. Having to replace and clean every 5 days or so, I'm going to have to get more. I didn't have one on my tank with the other sump, and things were fine. But I hear good things and bad about them, but in reality they are just mechanical filtration which is what I had in my 35.
What's the consensus on filter socks............stay or go?
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Apr 9, 2014 19:25:56 GMT -5
I only use them during a water change. Otherwise they can become nitrate traps.
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Apr 9, 2014 19:53:55 GMT -5
I tried one briefly, I wouldn't recommend.
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Post by Lance on Apr 9, 2014 21:22:04 GMT -5
I really like them but they aren't required. Like any mechanical filter they need to be cleaned frequently, read weekly or better.
I have 4 sets so that I always have clean ones handy.
If you don't trap detritus in a filter sock (or other mechanical filter) the detritus is still in your tank, not magically gone. I don't know how the sock itself becomes more of a "nitrate trap" than if that detritus was laying on the bottom of your sump or trapped in your sand or rock work. It's just a convenient way of capturing it and allowing you to easily remove it from your water.
BTW - to clean I turn inside-out, rinse with fresh water (to get the salt and any sand/grit out), then throw them in my clothes washer with a cup of bleach. Haven't had to replace a sock yet in over 2 years.
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Post by doverdoug on Apr 9, 2014 22:34:15 GMT -5
I put one in my sump and siphon the detritus from the bottom of tank into it, other than that I dont use them.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Apr 10, 2014 3:37:56 GMT -5
+1 to lance I use them but I have multiple filter socks so I can continually switch them out. I switch mine every 4 days and it's as easy as rinse and wash.
Idk how it can be that bad to remove that much gunk every 4-7 days? It's better then it staying in your tank and getting trapped under everything.
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Post by gotareef on Apr 10, 2014 6:14:53 GMT -5
wish I would have used them in my big tank, I wouldnt be having the problems I am having now!!
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Post by maineultraclassic on Apr 10, 2014 7:22:09 GMT -5
Yeah, I think I'm definitely going to keep using them. I'm checking the sump every day, so I'll just pick up more socks and keep them ready to go as needed.
If the sock catches all the crap that would normally build up in the sump...........that's good enough for me.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Apr 10, 2014 7:31:21 GMT -5
I'm not saying filter socks are bad. I used them for years on different tanks of mine. It really depends on the tank system, boiload and maintenance schedule. I only say they can become nitrate traps if they aren't maintained often enough. The difference between all the organic matter sitting in a filter sock or being dispersed through your display tank, sump and sandbed is that in a healthy tank that has a good cleanup crew and enough denitrifying bacteria should be able to process the organic matter through the nitrogen cycle. Any organic waste that gets left in a filter sock for too long just rots, becomes dissolved organics, skips the nitrogen cycle and goes back into the water and doesn't get exposed to the same anoxic bacteria that lives deep within the sand and rock. It's the same princible behind why bio balls and filter mesh were phased out of the hobby. The main reason I only use filter socks during water changes now is because I vacuume my sandbed every week or so to physically remove all the solid organics. I leave my tank running and siphon all the waste to a filter sock in my sump. Then I remove the sock while I do my water change. For me leaving a filter sock in my sump beyond that doesn't accomplish anything.
There are tanks that do require filter socks though. Bare bottom tanks almost can't stay clean without them in my experience. Every bare bottom tank I've had I've had to use a filter sock to keep detritus from building up in the display. Like everyone else has said though, if you clean the filter socks every couple days you shouldn't ever have a problem.
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stephen
Full Member
"Slow is Pro"
Posts: 292
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Post by stephen on Apr 10, 2014 8:53:43 GMT -5
I agree with most of what Ryan and Lance say. To have a successful reef u need the 3 filter types typically biological, chemical and mechanical. Picking how u achieve each one can be a challenge and if depend on the system and the level of maintenance. For me, being an aquarium service provider I look after lots of different aquarium with/without deep sand beds and with/without filter socks and filter pads. For me I like using filter pads or socks, u end up with a lot less detritus in the aquarium however its more work.
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Post by BriMc on Apr 10, 2014 8:59:04 GMT -5
I have been using filter socks for ten years in my sump, I don't use them for my refugium. My sump has never been cleaned since day one and it is very clean with all sorts of feather dusters, sponges, bivalves etc living in it. My Refugium as had no filter socks used and it is a swamp. I have to completely rebuild the refugium every year. The key is to use the correct micron filter sock. You want something coarse enough to let small particles through but keep the large pieces of food and crud out. I would also recommend not using the cloth style filter socks.
I did a poll over on R/C last week and 41 people use filter socks and 15 do not. Some people use them just when they clean the tank.
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Post by BriMc on Apr 10, 2014 9:09:54 GMT -5
I agree with most of what Ryan and Lance say. To have a successful reef u need the 3 filter types typically biological, chemical and mechanical. Picking how u achieve each one can be a challenge and if depend on the system and the level of maintenance. For me, being an aquarium service provider I look after lots of different aquarium with/without deep sand beds and with/without filter socks and filter pads. For me I like using filter pads or socks, u end up with a lot less detritus in the aquarium however its more work. I have never used chemical filtration in this Reef tank in 10 years and as for mechanical filtration I would have to challenge that also. I know of a few tanks set up with no chemical and mechanical filtration ( no socks, filter pads, sponges or skimmer) that have been running well over 5+ years with great success. I do agree that those tanks do require a bit more work. |
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Post by gotareef on Apr 10, 2014 9:15:38 GMT -5
I agree with most of what Ryan and Lance say. To have a successful reef u need the 3 filter types typically biological, chemical and mechanical. Picking how u achieve each one can be a challenge and if depend on the system and the level of maintenance. For me, being an aquarium service provider I look after lots of different aquarium with/without deep sand beds and with/without filter socks and filter pads. For me I like using filter pads or socks, u end up with a lot less detritus in the aquarium however its more work. I have never used chemical filtration in this Reef tank in 10 years and as for mechanical filtration I would have to challenge that also. I know of a few tanks set up with no chemical and mechanical filtration ( no socks, filter pads, sponges or skimmer) that have been running well over 5+ years with great success. I do agree that those tanks do require a bit more work. lol I thought the same way till a week or so ago... my tang died setting off a massive chain of events. now after trying to save a crashing tank I am going to give my driveway a new coat of hydrogen sulfide soaked sand!! it sux watching $100'sssss die the tank has been running perfect for 5 years |
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Post by BriMc on Apr 10, 2014 9:24:59 GMT -5
I am sorry for Your losses but what do you think would have saved your tank?
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Post by gotareef on Apr 10, 2014 9:32:48 GMT -5
hydrogen sulfide is what you get left after all organic sulfur is gone. basically "old tank syndrome"
what would have saved my tank would have been better cleaning of waste so it wouldnt have made it to that point.
I have a decent skimmer, good amount of sand, decent sump and refugm, I dont overfeed.....
seems to me a couple socks would have removed at least 1/4 of the waste that was eventually converted to hydrogen sulfide and IMO- that would have made a big difference in the course of events my tank has gone threw
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