Filter Socks...

[mark]

well it's ideal to get the crap out of the system, don't think you need to change the socks daily or every couple of days.

Also to argue this a bit, you're thinking about getting rid of the socks as you believe must change them every couple of days to get the crap out, but then if you got rid of the socks all together you won't be removing what they would collect.

[don.ald]

do the socks remove pods etc?

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by mark

well it's ideal to get the crap out of the system, don't think you need to change the socks daily or every couple of days.

Also to argue this a bit, you're thinking about getting rid of the socks as you believe must change them every couple of days to get the crap out, but then if you got rid of the socks all together you won't be removing what they would collect.

Well no but then what they collect will be used in the system rather than wasting away in a filter sock.

IMO if you are using them, you do need to change them every few days. I personally saw a huge difference in my last tank when I started to change them daily. Nitrates went down.

Anyways, this wasn't suppose to be a debate about what they do...

I was just wondering if I was missing anything before I remove them but so far no reason to keep using them.

[Pescador]

Originally Posted by mark

I try to get to mine weekly, but often wait until the water starts to spill out of them before swapping.

+1

I don't have a sock, but was considering one. So I have to ask, how big is the mesh?
Microns, or like 1/16 in? what?
Thanks

The bags I use are 100 micron polyfelt 7" dia. x 16".
Like this
http://www.fsifilters.com/products.php?prod_id=9

[my2rotties]

I went without them at first, and now that I have them, I would never consider not using them. I feed my fish heavily and have quite a few of them... I change my sock daily and have four on hand. They take out a lot of stuff that now does not have to go through the sump and into the skimmer.

[Delphinus]

I dunno if I really buy into the "it takes away coral food aka fish poop." They poop enough that the filter sock and the skimmer for that matter are not hurting the corals food chains. The copepod removal, I do see that one, but that's one of the reasons I sit there for 5 minutes picking them out of the sock getting my fingertips stinky and putting them back in the tank. And the nitrate factory .. well my tank went from chronic nitrates at >25ppm to 1-2ppm after I started using socks so I'm not sure that's as significant as people say. So yeah, basically it comes down to "use them" or "don't use them" as per whatever one you prefer more. Thanks for the link though GSP, interesting reading.