Sump/fuge filters...

[RayAllen]

I am curious how many of you run filter socks, mesh, pump prefilters etc in your sumps/fuges.

I see the benefits especially in my new tank.

My mag pump filter caught a lot of the new sand soot that was running through the system. Just now I took it off to rinse it and of course the slightest squeeze spewed the soot all through the tank again as soon as I touched it. I have also run filter socks in the past and they work really well helping to keep the water very clear removing any detritus, but have to be removed and cleaned often.

The problem I see is they do catch vital nutrients, pods etc that you want to be able to travel freely through our systems. I once removed a sock and it was covered in live pods living in the sock and that was after only a few days.

I am going to continue to run the prefilter for now, just to clear out some of the detritus and soot from setting up a new tank, but after a few days i am going without any type of filter material and will let the rock, sand and macro do its job. Eventually the skimmer I buy will help remove a lot of the gunk also.

I am not looking for advice here, but thought it was a interesting subject.

What are your thoughts, what do you do?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

You answered the question for me why I dont use the socks. Lifeforms exist in the sump/refug that benefit the entire system.
Also food can travel into the sump/refug area for them to eat. I use baffles with LR rubble to prevent a lot gook from getting into the return
and also for the refug. My sump/refug with the biological life thats thriving actually clean it for me.

[zerreissen]

I currently run BRS "FELT" FILTER SOCK 4" X 14" 200 MICRON (W/ PLASTIC RING) on my drain and a prefilter on my Mag 12. I remove and clean the sock each weekend when I do a water change (I have two that I swap out each time). I remove the prefilter and clean every 3 months or so, or as needed, but I remove the whole pump and clean it as well.

I have had a pump prefilter on since I setup the tank in 2006, and have had filter socks for the past 2 years or so.

[Big_Pun]

i use filter socks ive never seen pods in mine just poop, then i have a sponge in media tray after fuge before pumps

[RayAllen]

Cool Chris (zerreissen), I think running the filter sock you have to do a water change once a week which you do mention. The socks work almost a little to well catching everything.

Chris (big_ pun) you guys are making me rethink the sock. One of my problems is in the past I rarely turn off my pump when feeding, but if I did this I would have less decay sitting in the sock if I were to use one. we all know a bit of the food flows into the overflow when we do not turn off the pump.

[Mr Cob]

I can't make up my mind on filter socks from one system to the next... both the 85g and 220g I just came out of ran with filter socks. The 29g is not running filter socks. For me... it's 50/50, I can't seem to weigh the pros and cons one way or the other.

[RayAllen]

I can't make up my mind on filter socks from one system to the next... both the 85g and 220g I just came out of ran with filter socks. The 29g is not running filter socks. For me... it's 50/50, I can't seem to weigh the pros and cons one way or the other.

That's where I am Rob, I have used them on one system and loved them. On another tank it was a problem. I am going to give a go on the 40g and see what happens.

[Rollover]

I use a 60ppi foam block on the return pump for now. My next system I'll plan for a roomier sump so I don't have to.
-John

[Big_Pun]

i would rather have food in sock where there is a ton of flow to wash than it sit in my sump and slowly decay! either way un eaten food goes to sump if pumps are on. if your system is rock solid whats a lil un eaten food, ive had a large angel die behind rocks and had to leave it cuz i didnt want to take out all the rocks my snails and crabs and worms took care of it with no ill results to the tank. i watched it for three days rot away

[BBQHILLBILLY]

I guess Im the only one that actually feed, throw food, im my sump/refug. lol
Im worried I dont get enough gook from the tank. Also the chaeto has all kinds of critters in it.
Sometimes its more fun to watch the lifeforms in the sump/refug than the display tank. I need to work on that. lol

[rrasco]

I've been on the fence about running one to get that last little bit of particulate matter out of the water column, but have been hesitant due to the reasons listed above.

Shane, I also stare at my fuge. It's crazy how many pods there are...and BWs.

[350gt]

I went away with socks and made a little basket out of eggcrate, then use filter floss.

I didn't like that my socks got clogged easily and yes I would find pods in there, not many but some... But that didn't bother me, the fact that I couldn't clean them to good is what bugged me.... And throwing them in the washer was a no go for me...

But the filter floss is alot cheaper and can be swapped in a whole lot easier and doesnt clog as fast... It catches the big stuff though..