Super dirty sock 2000

celamb89 · 05/03/2012, 06:39 PM

Hi everyone,

my 130gal gets my filter sock dirty in like 12 hrs, so I figured it was just an old sock.. Went to get a new one and it tool about 22hrs to get dirty... There is chaeto in the sump and the lights are on around 12hrs at night...

Does this happen to anyone else? it used to take it 3-4 days to get dirty and needed to be changed now its just dirty all the time..

Thanks for ur help and input!

Alex T. · 05/03/2012, 07:08 PM

Maybe you're:

• feeding more
• have more fish
• corals and fish growing and producing more waste
• don't run carbon as often
• don't do water changes as often

Also, I've heard that people rinse their socks out in the sink or with a hose outside. I've never found that this gets them as free of debris as when I run them vigorously through the washing machine with no detergent. Over time, you may have been clogging them and not getting everything out, and that's the reasoning for the 12 hour overflow of the socks. Conversely, now that the tank is more established and producing more waste byproducts as a result of more life, they are now clogging at 22 hours. I actually get more mileage out of my socks at the end of their life span because they are more porous and start allowing more debris through that would have otherwise been caught. Also, as a tank matures and the corals grow, you will have less water volume with more life because of displacement. I started changing more water volume during maintenance and the tank responded better.

staninct · 05/03/2012, 07:08 PM

Not to sound like a jerk but it sounds like there is more dirt in your tank. Have you changed pumps, rock work, substrate, etc recently? Added new fish? These would all contribute to an increase of debris in your sock. If not, you've got me stumped.

jcw · 05/03/2012, 07:11 PM

better in your socks than in the tank.

at least that's what i tell myself when i'm cleaning them.

celamb89 · 05/03/2012, 07:30 PM

Well no recent changes in the tank, I have added a couple of corals over time but I cant imagine that much waste coming from corals. Feeding has been the same if not less since I have been really busy lately...
I wash my corals in the washer with chlorine and let them dry... here is my bioload:
1x Orangeshoulder tang (the king of the tank)
1x blue scribbled rabbitfish
1x ocellaris
1x mandarin
1x spotted wrasse
6x LPS
4xSPS
x Several softies
x several snails and hermits...

I have chaeto in the sump with live rock, SRO2000 cone skimmer. Last week I completely cleaned my sump, pumps, skimmer and everything... I got a lot of junk out with no results...
I do 20% water changes once a month, params are stable and corals are growing...

6Speed · 05/03/2012, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celamb89

Well no recent changes in the tank, I have added a couple of corals over time but I cant imagine that much waste coming from corals. Feeding has been the same if not less since I have been really busy lately...
I wash my corals in the washer with chlorine and let them dry... here is my bioload:
1x Orangeshoulder tang (the king of the tank)
1x blue scribbled rabbitfish
1x ocellaris
1x mandarin
1x spotted wrasse
6x LPS
4xSPS
x Several softies
x several snails and hermits...

I have chaeto in the sump with live rock, SRO2000 cone skimmer. Last week I completely cleaned my sump, pumps, skimmer and everything... I got a lot of junk out with no results...
I do 20% water changes once a month, params are stable and corals are growing...

I'm surprised you corals are still alive!

celamb89 · 05/03/2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

I'm surprised you corals are still alive!

Why?

I also run Rowaphos but I ran out 2 weeks ago, so Im out for the moment but will be placing it in soon...

sasharotty · 05/03/2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6Speed

I'm surprised you corals are still alive!

Quote:

Originally Posted by celamb89

I wash my corals in the washer with chlorine and let them dry...

Maybe cause of this comment lol.

celamb89 · 05/03/2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Maybe cause of this comment lol.

HAHAHA LMAO!! Im surprised too!

sirreal63 · 05/03/2012, 08:03 PM

What is the micron of the sock?

celamb89 · 05/03/2012, 08:09 PM

100... Just got the new one with the same microns

sirreal63 · 05/03/2012, 08:17 PM

If it were going to run a sock, and I won't, I would use 200 micron ones, especially if 100's were clogging so fast.

celamb89 · 05/03/2012, 08:23 PM

you have a good point! Ill try to get my hands on a 200 micron one! I was also thinking on changing the drop to a fiber held by an acrylic base, thus removing the socks.

sirreal63 · 05/03/2012, 08:30 PM

There is nothing wrong with using socks, I just never found the need, I like to have filter feeders and don't like to filter out their food. I am just old school, but never found the need for mechanical filtration, my water stays crystal clear so it never made sense for me. If I feel the need to polish the tank, I use a canister filter with floss in it. Do what works for you, if it isn't working, like overnight clogs, use a coarser sock.

celamb89 · 05/03/2012, 08:43 PM

I only use the socks to keep the sump clean.. the tank is clean and water is clear but debris gets to the sump and its a hassle to clean... This is why I want to change to fiber since it will be easier to use...

sirreal63 · 05/03/2012, 08:52 PM

Different strokes, I intentionally allow crap to collect in the sump.

celamb89 · 05/03/2012, 09:48 PM

Hahaha ok! sounds yummy

05/03/2012, 06:39 PM	#1
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	Super dirty sock 2000 Hi everyone, my 130gal gets my filter sock dirty in like 12 hrs, so I figured it was just an old sock.. Went to get a new one and it tool about 22hrs to get dirty... There is chaeto in the sump and the lights are on around 12hrs at night... Does this happen to anyone else? it used to take it 3-4 days to get dirty and needed to be changed now its just dirty all the time.. Thanks for ur help and input! __________________ CEL

05/03/2012, 07:08 PM	#2
Alex T. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,803	Maybe you're: • feeding more • have more fish • corals and fish growing and producing more waste • don't run carbon as often • don't do water changes as often Also, I've heard that people rinse their socks out in the sink or with a hose outside. I've never found that this gets them as free of debris as when I run them vigorously through the washing machine with no detergent. Over time, you may have been clogging them and not getting everything out, and that's the reasoning for the 12 hour overflow of the socks. Conversely, now that the tank is more established and producing more waste byproducts as a result of more life, they are now clogging at 22 hours. I actually get more mileage out of my socks at the end of their life span because they are more porous and start allowing more debris through that would have otherwise been caught. Also, as a tank matures and the corals grow, you will have less water volume with more life because of displacement. I started changing more water volume during maintenance and the tank responded better. __________________ 72x26x24, custom sump, BK SM 200, 4 Vortech MP40s, 1 Tunze 6105, (3) 250 Watt Radiums in Lumenmax Elite Reflectors, Galaxy ballasts, (2) 60" Super Actinic VHOs, 2 Kessil a150s, Apex controlled. Current Tank Info: Currently in reboot mode

05/03/2012, 07:08 PM	#3
staninct Zoanthid/SPS Killer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Branford, CT 06405 Posts: 1,660	Not to sound like a jerk but it sounds like there is more dirt in your tank. Have you changed pumps, rock work, substrate, etc recently? Added new fish? These would all contribute to an increase of debris in your sock. If not, you've got me stumped. __________________ Cheers! Stan Current Tank Info: 58g w/ 20g sump/fuge, TX5 T5s, Tunze 6045s and SC150 Skimmer

05/03/2012, 07:11 PM	#4
jcw Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: elmhurst, il Posts: 1,778	better in your socks than in the tank. at least that's what i tell myself when i'm cleaning them. __________________ I don't think Coral can live very long under Sun light. It's too yellow. ...get yourself some LED's. -eznet2u Current Tank Info: 125g DT, custom 30g sump, ATB elegance, eheim 1260, mp40 (too many failed wetsides), gyre 150 (love it)

05/03/2012, 07:30 PM	#5
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	Well no recent changes in the tank, I have added a couple of corals over time but I cant imagine that much waste coming from corals. Feeding has been the same if not less since I have been really busy lately... I wash my corals in the washer with chlorine and let them dry... here is my bioload: 1x Orangeshoulder tang (the king of the tank) 1x blue scribbled rabbitfish 1x ocellaris 1x mandarin 1x spotted wrasse 6x LPS 4xSPS x Several softies x several snails and hermits... I have chaeto in the sump with live rock, SRO2000 cone skimmer. Last week I completely cleaned my sump, pumps, skimmer and everything... I got a lot of junk out with no results... I do 20% water changes once a month, params are stable and corals are growing... __________________ CEL

05/03/2012, 08:03 PM	#10
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	What is the micron of the sock? __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

05/03/2012, 08:09 PM	#11
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	100... Just got the new one with the same microns __________________ CEL

05/03/2012, 08:17 PM	#12
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	If it were going to run a sock, and I won't, I would use 200 micron ones, especially if 100's were clogging so fast. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

05/03/2012, 08:23 PM	#13
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	you have a good point! Ill try to get my hands on a 200 micron one! I was also thinking on changing the drop to a fiber held by an acrylic base, thus removing the socks. __________________ CEL

05/03/2012, 08:30 PM	#14
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	There is nothing wrong with using socks, I just never found the need, I like to have filter feeders and don't like to filter out their food. I am just old school, but never found the need for mechanical filtration, my water stays crystal clear so it never made sense for me. If I feel the need to polish the tank, I use a canister filter with floss in it. Do what works for you, if it isn't working, like overnight clogs, use a coarser sock. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

05/03/2012, 08:43 PM	#15
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	I only use the socks to keep the sump clean.. the tank is clean and water is clear but debris gets to the sump and its a hassle to clean... This is why I want to change to fiber since it will be easier to use... __________________ CEL

05/03/2012, 08:52 PM	#16
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Different strokes, I intentionally allow crap to collect in the sump. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

05/03/2012, 09:48 PM	#17
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	Hahaha ok! sounds yummy __________________ CEL