Filter socks

Tyke · 10/22/2006, 06:20 AM

I was thinking of adding a filter sock to the drain pipe from my tank to the skimmer compartment of my sump and eliminating the makeshift detritus trap I use now. I was wondering if anyone has used them and what their thoughts were?

sparks56 · 10/22/2006, 06:23 AM

personally i like them, but you need to have at least 2 & change them out about every 3 days

hodsgod · 10/22/2006, 06:40 AM

I use them and change them every week. To be honest I don't know if this frequency is right or not.

Shagsbeard · 10/22/2006, 08:03 AM

I have six... two in use at any one time. They are primarily used to quiet down the splashes and do a great job of that. They also collect quite a bit of crud. I swap out twice a week and wash them in a hot mild bleach solution and let them dry for a week. 100 micron, and fairly large... about 6x11 inches.

conefree · 10/22/2006, 09:10 AM

I use one, take it out once a week and toss it in the washer (NO SOAP!) and it works great to keep crud out of the water column.

homebrewdude · 10/22/2006, 09:13 AM

What is the micron rating on them?

I bought some that were 180micron
They are not working like I thought they would

grahxen · 10/22/2006, 09:44 AM

Just to add my .02 cents in the mattter, I have been using 100-200 micron socks for years until I have found these new filter socks by south ocean 5. Its a felt material that is MUCH easier to clean and doesnt clog quickly like the micron socks do. They come just as a sock only, and does not have the plastic mounting that the normal socks do. SO what i did was cut apart my old socks, and remove the round plastic frame and then ziptie the new felt socks right on to the plastic. (The felt socks come with a ziptie). Been using this new method for over 1 year now and love it. I can now fill my sock with filter media, carbon, phosban etc and not have to worry about clogging. Clean them every few days or weekly as usual with all socks to not build up nitrates. I rinse mine out in my tub, comes clean in a minute. They arent easy to find, but here is a pic.

conefree · 10/22/2006, 10:34 AM

I think mine is 100 micron. Works pretty well and easy to clean.

PatMayo · 10/22/2006, 05:18 PM

I don't use a sock. It traps critters and can be a nitrate sink if not changed frequently. I used to use one but it became too much of a hassle. I use a good skimmer and socks interfere with the efficient use of the skimmer. For those reasons I felt I was better off without it.

But lots of folks use em.

Regards,

Pat

rayjay · 10/23/2006, 10:58 AM

I prefer to NOT loose the natural zooplankton that the sock will capture.
In 13 yrs, I've not found a need for them.

10/22/2006, 06:20 AM	#1
Tyke Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 74	Filter socks I was thinking of adding a filter sock to the drain pipe from my tank to the skimmer compartment of my sump and eliminating the makeshift detritus trap I use now. I was wondering if anyone has used them and what their thoughts were?

10/22/2006, 06:23 AM	#2
sparks56 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: palm coast, fl. Posts: 216	personally i like them, but you need to have at least 2 & change them out about every 3 days __________________ STEVE Current Tank Info: 65 gal. softie tank/ new 120 sps in the works, 40 gal sump/ mag 18 return/ 1/4 delta star/ 25watt uv/ 2x250 ARO 10k ushio's/ 2 - 110 watt reef suns/ 2- 110watt actinics /DELTEC-AP 600 skimmer/ 150 gal. cichlid tank

10/22/2006, 09:10 AM	#5
conefree Gene Pool Lifeguard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 758	I use one, take it out once a week and toss it in the washer (NO SOAP!) and it works great to keep crud out of the water column. __________________ Chris "A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot" - Unknown Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, Ecosystem 3612, 6X54 TEK light, Tunze Osmolator, Lifereef dual overflow all down

10/22/2006, 10:34 AM	#8
conefree Gene Pool Lifeguard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 758	I think mine is 100 micron. Works pretty well and easy to clean. __________________ Chris "A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot" - Unknown Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon, Ecosystem 3612, 6X54 TEK light, Tunze Osmolator, Lifereef dual overflow all down

10/22/2006, 05:18 PM	#9
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	I don't use a sock. It traps critters and can be a nitrate sink if not changed frequently. I used to use one but it became too much of a hassle. I use a good skimmer and socks interfere with the efficient use of the skimmer. For those reasons I felt I was better off without it. But lots of folks use em. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

10/22/2006, 06:40 AM	#3
hodsgod Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 155	I use them and change them every week. To be honest I don't know if this frequency is right or not.

10/22/2006, 08:03 AM	#4
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	I have six... two in use at any one time. They are primarily used to quiet down the splashes and do a great job of that. They also collect quite a bit of crud. I swap out twice a week and wash them in a hot mild bleach solution and let them dry for a week. 100 micron, and fairly large... about 6x11 inches.

10/22/2006, 09:13 AM	#6
homebrewdude Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dyer Posts: 995	What is the micron rating on them? I bought some that were 180micron They are not working like I thought they would

10/22/2006, 09:44 AM	#7
grahxen Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 532	Just to add my .02 cents in the mattter, I have been using 100-200 micron socks for years until I have found these new filter socks by south ocean 5. Its a felt material that is MUCH easier to clean and doesnt clog quickly like the micron socks do. They come just as a sock only, and does not have the plastic mounting that the normal socks do. SO what i did was cut apart my old socks, and remove the round plastic frame and then ziptie the new felt socks right on to the plastic. (The felt socks come with a ziptie). Been using this new method for over 1 year now and love it. I can now fill my sock with filter media, carbon, phosban etc and not have to worry about clogging. Clean them every few days or weekly as usual with all socks to not build up nitrates. I rinse mine out in my tub, comes clean in a minute. They arent easy to find, but here is a pic.

10/23/2006, 10:58 AM	#10
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	I prefer to NOT loose the natural zooplankton that the sock will capture. In 13 yrs, I've not found a need for them. __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses