first 24 hours of running w/o sock filter

Lucky Lefty · 01/29/2015, 04:02 PM

so, I've decided to try a period of running no sock filters what soever.. I've ran one from day 1, which is now about 8 months in.
the very first thing I've noticed upon walking through the door is the amount of particles or debris is in the water column. There is very small stands and particles, and the water almost looks dirty from the side glass.
Seems to be a lot more copepods present, as I usually don't notice them covering the glass until a couple days after cleaning the glass, but I can see them everywhere right now.
also, quite a bit of those tiny white worms crawling on the glass. Don't know how the sock filter would effect that, but I've never noticed them all over the glass until today. Maybe just coincidence.
my cyanobacteria battle has just about completed.. its finally disappearing on its own, maybe only 10% is remaining, hopefully removing the sock filter doesn't turn that progress around.

cleverbs · 01/29/2015, 04:29 PM

I dont run filter socks but I am thinking about starting it because of the fact that I have a lot of particals or micro bubbles floating around in the tank. However that being said I dont have pods on my glass ever but I do have a mandarin that keeps them in check (220g)

gone fishin · 01/29/2015, 04:32 PM

I have not used them in quite awhile. I found them to be a PITA and as such did not remove them as often as I should have.

vanmo92 · 01/30/2015, 01:16 AM

Every time I try filter socks I end yp flooding my livign room. But if you have a setup when you can run them easily/safely I would do it! I think probably take them off a day or 2 a week for pods to move around a bit, but I think the bennefits are worth it.m

bluecoyote79 · 01/30/2015, 02:11 AM

I didn't like filter socks either but my sump became a sesspool without them. I settled on the nylon mesh variety instead of the felt when I started using them again. The mesh ones are easily rinsed with just a hose or sink, but I soak in a bit of bleach as well. There are places online you can get them for just a few bucks each.

fritzz1111 · 01/30/2015, 07:37 AM

I have a hard time letting the extra filtration go, especially considering the amount of yuck you see it collecting on a daily basis. That being said, I've probably caused more harm than good to my tanks by not being as prudent in replacing them as often as I should - which would obviously add to nitrate issues.

Fortunately I've never experienced a flood due to clogging, but then again I've always used large socks.

Here's what I'm going to do with a new build I'm working on - Socks gone. Use bonded filter floss when doing water changes and siphon dirty water from sump instead of DT. I've got a killer skimmer and lots of LR, DSB and CUC to keep everything else in check.

01/29/2015, 04:02 PM	#1
Lucky Lefty Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 790	first 24 hours of running w/o sock filter so, I've decided to try a period of running no sock filters what soever.. I've ran one from day 1, which is now about 8 months in. the very first thing I've noticed upon walking through the door is the amount of particles or debris is in the water column. There is very small stands and particles, and the water almost looks dirty from the side glass. Seems to be a lot more copepods present, as I usually don't notice them covering the glass until a couple days after cleaning the glass, but I can see them everywhere right now. also, quite a bit of those tiny white worms crawling on the glass. Don't know how the sock filter would effect that, but I've never noticed them all over the glass until today. Maybe just coincidence. my cyanobacteria battle has just about completed.. its finally disappearing on its own, maybe only 10% is remaining, hopefully removing the sock filter doesn't turn that progress around. __________________ 150g NJ Current Tank Info: est.5/9/14

01/29/2015, 04:32 PM	#3
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I have not used them in quite awhile. I found them to be a PITA and as such did not remove them as often as I should have. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/30/2015, 01:16 AM	#4
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	Every time I try filter socks I end yp flooding my livign room. But if you have a setup when you can run them easily/safely I would do it! I think probably take them off a day or 2 a week for pods to move around a bit, but I think the bennefits are worth it.m __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

01/29/2015, 04:29 PM	#2
cleverbs Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,041	I dont run filter socks but I am thinking about starting it because of the fact that I have a lot of particals or micro bubbles floating around in the tank. However that being said I dont have pods on my glass ever but I do have a mandarin that keeps them in check (220g)

01/30/2015, 02:11 AM	#5
bluecoyote79 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 380 Blog Entries: 2	I didn't like filter socks either but my sump became a sesspool without them. I settled on the nylon mesh variety instead of the felt when I started using them again. The mesh ones are easily rinsed with just a hose or sink, but I soak in a bit of bleach as well. There are places online you can get them for just a few bucks each.

01/30/2015, 07:37 AM	#6
fritzz1111 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 69	I have a hard time letting the extra filtration go, especially considering the amount of yuck you see it collecting on a daily basis. That being said, I've probably caused more harm than good to my tanks by not being as prudent in replacing them as often as I should - which would obviously add to nitrate issues. Fortunately I've never experienced a flood due to clogging, but then again I've always used large socks. Here's what I'm going to do with a new build I'm working on - Socks gone. Use bonded filter floss when doing water changes and siphon dirty water from sump instead of DT. I've got a killer skimmer and lots of LR, DSB and CUC to keep everything else in check.