Filter socks -yes or no?

[Europhyllia]

Do you use filter socks in your sump? Yes? No? Why not?

I've been using them but mine clog up fast and I only change them when I hear that trickle sound from them overflowing (every 3 days or so).

Now I'm getting the new sump ready and am wondering how to put the filter sock in. Or if I can just leave it out?

[technomex]

I have been using 100 micron socks for several years now. It is nice to not have any pump maintenance due to a stray snail and such. I just recently took them off just to experiment. My skimmer has been pulling out some incredibly nasty stuff that would otherwise stay in the socks untill I got around to changing them. Let's see what effects it has......

[justahobby]

Mine gets nasty and clogged after a few days also. I use one to deflect the water (and store my carbon bag). Otherwise I have a bad case of salt creep on my sump, stand, and fuge light. I know people have bubble traps to prevent it. If I had one, I wouldn't use a filter sock. It's a breeding ground for diatoms.

[Kristy]

We use 2 filter socks that we change out for a freshly washed / bleached pair every time we do a water change. They have caught numerous snails and the occasional rogue fish (although not anymore now that we have an improved cover on the overflow). It's a bit of a pain, but good to have that additional filtration, I suppose.

[ErikH]

I just hang them in sump for passive filtration. I make sure the water from the overflow tumbles the media, except for my phosban.

[sampsonndelila]

I don't use one, mostly because I have no place to hang one.

[dmweise]

I used to use them but it was always a pain to clean them out. I ended up spending an extra $20 bucks a month getting new ones. I have been considering getting one recently but haven't bit the bullet yet.

Kristy, how do you clean yours? You mentioned bleaching them. Do they come out like new? I tried tossing one in the washing machine but it came out all pilly.

[sharkboy]

They are as good as you maintain them...

[ReefCube]

dont do it ..

[Paul28]

i use the sock but i cut a small hole in the bottem of it so i dont half to change it but every 2 weeks

[ReefCube]

I don half to chang it but every 2 weks eather

[Jarob]

I dont use one and good thing, my cleaner wrasse always finds a way to jump through the eggcrate top and into the overflow and eventually a few days later I'll see him in the sump