Sump Socks. Good? Bad? How to use properly?

[Wally.B]

I have a question about SUMP SOCKS.

Hear some folks use them. Other say stay away from mechanical filtration as much as possible.

Questions are:

Should you use a sump sock since it traps your copepods?
I ask this since I breed tiggers, live brine shrimps to feed my Mandarin. I figure by having a sump sock in my return, these adults would get trapped in the sock, rather then circulate through tank. Possibly the baby copepods (Napuli) may pass thru, but I feed adults, so they must be getting trapped.

Should you run a sock continuously?
Wondering if socks should be used continously......or should be run, on/off (ie Use for a week, Stop using for 3 weeks etc).


Two kinds of socks. Material and Nylon Filter (3um). Is any better?

• I have a standard material sock which seems to catch everything, however it does get dirty faster, and could be a nitrate trap if not cleaned properly.

• Recently I found a Nylon Sock filter 3 um (Vertex Brand). Seem to do a good job of catching larger particle. Does yellow. Wondering if anyone has had good or not good results compared to Cloth.

Sock vs Live Rock Sump Filtration
I recently stopped using my socks with the concern about CopePod Tiggers being trapped, and just added a return catch container with holes. I throw my Carbon baggy into it and works like a sock for containment. I also added a wall of live rock into the sump for some mechanical and biological filtration. So is this approach better than a sock?

Thanks for you input.

Wally

[scooter31707]

yes some people use them and some don't. I use them to get them small particles out. I use my sock along with live rock. Yes they can become a nirate factory if you are not paying attention. I change mines every 3-5 days. What I did was purchase 7 of them and when I got up to 3-4 dirtys ones I will stick them in the washing machine with a drop of bleach and let them air dry. Just my 2 cents.

[Chaucer]

I use the material socks as well. I rinse them almost daily to keep them clean for a longer time. It is a great aid in keeping my sump cleaner and cuts down on particles that make it past my overflow sponges. If you don't mind the extra maintenance of the cleaning, they are really helpful. I can blow my rocks clean and really stir things up with no worries.

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by scooter31707

yes some people use them and some don't. I use them to get them small particles out. I use my sock along with live rock. Yes they can become a nirate factory if you are not paying attention. I change mines every 3-5 days. What I did was purchase 7 of them and when I got up to 3-4 dirtys ones I will stick them in the washing machine with a drop of bleach and let them air dry. Just my 2 cents.

Filter socks are not nitrate factories. Whether or not you use filter socks, whatever is in your tank causing nitrates will cause nitrates with or without filter socks. Filter socks just catch the gunk that leads to nitrates. If changed regularly, filter socks can be a minor form of nutrient export.

[slief]

I would suggest doing a search here on "Socks". Select advanced search. Use the term socks and select "Search Titles Only" from the pull down just below the search term. There are over 400 threads on this topic with tons of great info from many of us who use socks as well as those that don't. I use them and have for years and don't worry about pods that get caught in my felt socks.

Here is one such thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ighlight=socks

And here is a search for you to save you some time.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/se...rchid=17117589

[slief]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

Filter socks are not nitrate factories. Whether or not you use filter socks, whatever is in your tank causing nitrates will cause nitrates with or without filter socks. Filter socks just catch the gunk that leads to nitrates. If changed regularly, filter socks can be a minor form of nutrient export.

I agree! well said!