To filter sock or not to filter sock?
 

This topic must have been brought up a thousand times before, but here we go again.

What kind of tank?
Do you run a filter sock?

Full blown mixed reef..... No filter socks.....the little bit of particulate that is in the tank doesn't bother me at all

I have just removed mine(so sick of cleaning them). I am a bit concerned since I have a sps dominate tank, but I guess only time will tell.

Thanks for the reply.:smile:

I finally ditched my 4" felt socks. Clogged so fast and really tough to flip sinide out to clean. I clean mine by hand. I have a massive mesh one from BRS which barely fits in my stand now lol. It will take forever to clog and appears to be much easier to clean (I haven't yet). I read the mesh ones don't filter *quite* as well and that's ok too.

doesn't the frequent cleaning seem to imply that there's lots crud (organic solids) floating around that we would be better off without?

Hate them!! Got rid of them after two weeks.

Actually, they work great (for two weeks^^) if you have cloudy water or an algae bloom but you gotta keep up with them or they will just cause problems (figured that out myself) I have two in my tank and change them both out and wash them every week

SPS food:wink:

I am gonna leave it out for a bit and see if there is any changes. hopefully the sps is gonna like all the extra yum yums. I have a oversize skimmer keeping the doc in check anyways. I will take some pictures tonite on some corals and compare them in a month, and I will try to keep all other variable to a minimum.

Kind of tank: One that would otherwise have a micro bubble problem.
Do you run a filter sock: Unfortunately yes.

I just buy a roll of filter floss every few months and chop it up. Change it 1-2 times a week and toss the old one out while rescuing whatever brittle stars or limpets that found themselves down the chute.

yes 2 socks, 100 micron, changed every 3 days, i tried without but too much floating debris, micro bubbles, and junk in the sump.

90 gal mixed reef, heavily stocked and well fed

I hate my filter socks. But at the same time, i love them. I ran without them for a long time, i can't believe how much cleaner my tank looks in general with them on now. It's worth the maitnence every other day to keep them clean. I hang 2 off my return pipe in my sump and once i have 3 dirty socks i do a laundry load. Beats cleaning hair algae out of a reef :(.