filter sock question

chewbaca5000 · 06/06/2006, 01:32 PM

Heya folks =),
I have a question regarding filter bags (socks). I have a 100 gallon reef setup (2.5 mos old) with a 55g sump. I was looking for a way to filter out the deutritus and stuff before it got to my sump to avoid a mess at the bottom of my first baffle. After a visit to the LFS i put two 180 micron filter socks on both of my overflow pipes as they enter my sump. My question for you guys is will these filter out the plankton swimming in my tank as well? i dont want to steal the food away from the inhabitants that need them hehe. I figured the 180 micron would leave big enough holes for the plankton to pass through while catching the other junk. Are there disadvantages to using these? Im also using sponge prefilters for the two powerheads in my tank as well to catch some of the floating stuff. Will these catch the plankton in my tank as will they mostly pass through it? Should i remove them or leave em on? (cant tell im kinda new at this eh, hehe).

Thanks alot for the input folks =D much appreciated =)

Cheers,
Bryan

Obi-dad · 06/06/2006, 01:38 PM

It will definitely filter some plankton. But that's OK for me, after the filter sock/skimmer/phosban reactors, I have the remainder of the sump as refugium, which has a lot of pods (in big mass of chaeto). When you see all the crap that the socks remove, it iis worth it IMO to use them. I use 100micron socks. I find my skimmer production (Euroreef) is much more consistent when using socks - used to go nuts when I fed certain foods, that doesn't happen anymore.

DaveG99 · 06/06/2006, 02:02 PM

Is the bigger the micron number the bigger the particles it allows through it. In other words.... does a 100 micron bag filter out finer particles than a 200 micron?

CaliforniaDreamer · 06/06/2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveG99
Is the bigger the micron number the bigger the particles it allows through it. In other words.... does a 100 micron bag filter out finer particles than a 200 micron?

Yes.

BTW clean your filter bags often. All the stuff that collects in the high oxygen, high flow of the filter bag makes a great nitrate factory.

smleee · 06/06/2006, 02:28 PM

FWIW DT's phyto uses different types in the 2-20 micron range if I remember correctly. Some types of phyto may be larger, but with a 100 micron or larger bag/sock you shouldn't have much of a problem considering there are many reefers out there who use filter socks in that range.

eee

chewbaca5000 · 06/06/2006, 02:45 PM

Cool thanks for the info =) Keeping with the plankton theme Are sponge prefilters safe to use for powerheads? Or should i take em off? Thanks guys =)

Cheers,
Bryan

smleee · 06/06/2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaliforniaDreamer
BTW clean your filter bags often.

Yes, weekly preferably; forgot to mention that.

eee

RonD · 06/06/2006, 03:38 PM

I use them only when I am cleaning / blowing stuff off of my LR. When I first started using them I ran them 24/7 and boy was my water clear and wonderful... my softies and corals started to starve after while being as the bags were working to well.. If I was you.. you may think of only using the bags part time.

chewbaca5000 · 06/06/2006, 04:10 PM

Ouch, thanks RonD...do you recall what size bags you were using? (microns) Thanks M8

Cheers

RonD · 06/06/2006, 04:20 PM

100 microns... they really work great.. just be careful, to much may end up being harmful.

06/06/2006, 01:32 PM	#1
chewbaca5000 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 17	filter sock question Heya folks =), I have a question regarding filter bags (socks). I have a 100 gallon reef setup (2.5 mos old) with a 55g sump. I was looking for a way to filter out the deutritus and stuff before it got to my sump to avoid a mess at the bottom of my first baffle. After a visit to the LFS i put two 180 micron filter socks on both of my overflow pipes as they enter my sump. My question for you guys is will these filter out the plankton swimming in my tank as well? i dont want to steal the food away from the inhabitants that need them hehe. I figured the 180 micron would leave big enough holes for the plankton to pass through while catching the other junk. Are there disadvantages to using these? Im also using sponge prefilters for the two powerheads in my tank as well to catch some of the floating stuff. Will these catch the plankton in my tank as will they mostly pass through it? Should i remove them or leave em on? (cant tell im kinda new at this eh, hehe). Thanks alot for the input folks =D much appreciated =) Cheers, Bryan

06/06/2006, 01:38 PM	#2
Obi-dad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: CT Posts: 4,314	It will definitely filter some plankton. But that's OK for me, after the filter sock/skimmer/phosban reactors, I have the remainder of the sump as refugium, which has a lot of pods (in big mass of chaeto). When you see all the crap that the socks remove, it iis worth it IMO to use them. I use 100micron socks. I find my skimmer production (Euroreef) is much more consistent when using socks - used to go nuts when I fed certain foods, that doesn't happen anymore. __________________ Greg, member of ARKSC and CTARS Visit our CTARS club website by clicking my RC name then 'visit homepage' - and please support your LFS Current Tank Info: 75g mostly stonies. DIY LEDs (24 CW XP-G, 48 RB XR-E) on dwizum CAT4101 drivers, DIY Hydra controller, SSB, Korallin Ca Reactor, Euroreef skimmer

06/06/2006, 03:38 PM	#8
RonD Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 721	I use them only when I am cleaning / blowing stuff off of my LR. When I first started using them I ran them 24/7 and boy was my water clear and wonderful... my softies and corals started to starve after while being as the bags were working to well.. If I was you.. you may think of only using the bags part time. __________________ If I had a clue... I'd be sitting on the floor playing with it. My vid's http://www.youtube.com/user/rondev Current Tank Info: 210 Gal Display, 220 Gal frag tank, 300 gal sump, Sequence Hammer head Pump, Reeflo Orca 250 Skimmer, 2x400w MH. Tit. Heaters, 200+ lbs Jakarta LR and an empty wallet :)

06/06/2006, 04:20 PM	#10
RonD Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 721	100 microns... they really work great.. just be careful, to much may end up being harmful. __________________ If I had a clue... I'd be sitting on the floor playing with it. My vid's http://www.youtube.com/user/rondev Current Tank Info: 210 Gal Display, 220 Gal frag tank, 300 gal sump, Sequence Hammer head Pump, Reeflo Orca 250 Skimmer, 2x400w MH. Tit. Heaters, 200+ lbs Jakarta LR and an empty wallet :)

06/06/2006, 02:02 PM	#3
DaveG99 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Forney Texas Posts: 1,597	Is the bigger the micron number the bigger the particles it allows through it. In other words.... does a 100 micron bag filter out finer particles than a 200 micron?

06/06/2006, 02:28 PM	#5
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	FWIW DT's phyto uses different types in the 2-20 micron range if I remember correctly. Some types of phyto may be larger, but with a 100 micron or larger bag/sock you shouldn't have much of a problem considering there are many reefers out there who use filter socks in that range. eee

06/06/2006, 02:45 PM	#6
chewbaca5000 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 17	Cool thanks for the info =) Keeping with the plankton theme Are sponge prefilters safe to use for powerheads? Or should i take em off? Thanks guys =) Cheers, Bryan

06/06/2006, 04:10 PM	#9
chewbaca5000 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 17	Ouch, thanks RonD...do you recall what size bags you were using? (microns) Thanks M8 Cheers