Sump & filter socks - 4 or 7 "
 

I am about to design a new sump for about a 125g tank. I found a Hagen 75g (48x18x21) tank for $50 bucks and am in the process of drafting the insides.

My debate is filter socks... I am gonna try to add in socks for filtering. I dont want to commit so much space for a pair of 7" socks but at the same time with 21" am I better to go with 3x-4x 4" socks across or 2x 7" socks ? the 7" socks will take more space (3" more) across the sump than would a row of 4" socks.

anyone?

I am currently using filter floss as a filter in my 20g sump... it works but is a hassle to get in and out. The socks just dropping in the holes will streamline replacement..... socks seem like a good idea....

It depends on how often and how easy it will be for you to swap the socks for clean ones. How dirty is your system going to be?
I'm running a 7" sock on my 600g and a 4" sock on my 150g. I need to change them both every few days. I would prefer to have 7" socks on both.
Fewer changes. That's the hassle part.
One tip I can suggest for changing the socks is to allow an area where you can hang the dirty sock to let it drain for a day or two. It's a lot less messy to move a dry sock to the washing machine than a wet one.
I use a bungie cord and hang it over the sump until it's dry.

1x 4" sock on a 150g?

How full does it get? for a 125g I am thinking like 3-4 4" socks.....

It would be nice to change it/them once a week.

is your 150 heavily stocked? and would you prefer it had 2x 4" socks?

In the 150 I have an 8" tang, a 4" trigger, 100 heads of euphyllia, branching type. No sand. I've had it set up for a couple weeks now, and have only had to change out the 4" sock once.
I'm only turning over the tank volume 1/hour. That will make a big difference.
I used an old acrylic sump I had laying around, so that's all I had room for.

The 150 is a fairly new setup, so I plan on feeding heavier as the system matures. I've been feeding lightly to start.

anyone else running filter socks on a 125 +/- gallon?

If so what size and how many ? heavily stocked ? lots of water turning over ?

My new 300 is going to have 3 - 7" poly mesh sock not the felt type of sock. These are much easier to clean & don't plug up as fast. Also a friend of mine is also running 2 - 7" poly mesh socks on his 300 gal.

If you can just use 1 - 7" sock versus 3 or 4 of the 4" socks it might just be easier to handle.

I run one 4" filter sock on my 110g . I change it every day and a half

I would like to redesign my sump to accomadate a 3 sock system.. I hate haveing to slip the sock under my return pipe..

I have a 180g and just switch over to filter socks from floss last week, I ended up going with one 7" sock for both overflow lines (limited space in sump) been changing it out every two days, so far so good, super easy to swap out! Ps Vertex makes really nice acrylic holders good price too

your 7" when you change it is it really dirty???

and is your 180 light med heavy stock?

If you do some math ...
I'm no math whiz, but the last time I checked, one 7" sock is equal to 3 x 4" socks, give or take

My tank is med-heavily stocked, I'd say it's fairly dirty when I change it out pretty brown in colour but not to the point that the sock is overflowing

Yes I think it's +\- 3:1 generally but the space for a 7" is more than a 4" so my question is if 2x,3x,4x of the 4" is enough for a 125g, not simpler....

Yes it would be enough so if you want to go with 4" try to find the poly mesh socks versus the felt as they dont clog up as fast, easier to clean and still do the same job as the felt.

I'm running two 7" socks on a heavily stocked 180. I have a 6' sump so I have plenty of space.

Of course there is something no one has mentioned yet. Those damn 4" socks are a pain to turn inside out to clean or maybe I have fat hands lol. I find the 7" sock on my 60 gallon so much easier to clean!

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WORD !

i cut the plastic inner brace thingy off mmake it much easier . but still a pain.
and the long version of the 4" model is really hard to turn inside out

The 7" mesh socks from BRS are awesome!

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I don't turn my filter socks inside out anymore. I found it made no difference.
Once they're dried, they go in as is.

Stated it twice that the 7" poly mesh are WAY easier to clean, just rinse under a tap and throw it back in.

Ok so my plan is 3-4 4" socks....

Next question, should they be in the water or out? Or half in & half out?

Top rim of sock slightly above water level so that when it get plugged up water can just run over the edge into your sump.

The 200M rectangular filter sock by Eshopps will last about a week before needing to be swapped and it's synthetic so it's strong. But because I've learned to allow microorganisms to flow right through the sump 20hrs a day to feed the dt's sponges and gorgs, I have a tee that's directed both to the sock and the skimmer chamber. During feeding, I close a valve and all the flow is directed to the sock and keeps the sump clean...great DT polisher too.

My plan is to have the tank water empty into an area thats baffold is 2 inches from the top of the sump, this chamber will have chaeto in it. I am planning for the returning water to stir and swirl the chaeto...

Then when it over flows that baffold there is a flat shelf that's about 6" long with a 1 cm high water stop at the end. In that flat shelf I will set the 3-4 4" holes for socks so water can just flow down into the sock into the next chamber. If it over flows it needs the 1 cm of flow to go over the water stop and overflow into the next chamber unfiltered....