Filter socks?

[polarbear]

I would like to get some opinions regarding using filter socks. I currently use one myself but was thinking about taking it out and not use one. Has anyone changed to not using one after trying them out? What was the difference? Thanks.

[sergiotami]

I have two.. I put one in place when I do my weekly water change.. They'r great for catching the stuff you loosen up off the glass and overflows, but I've noticed that they quickly become clogged after no more than 24 hrs and the water flows out the top rather than through the sock, great for keeping the water clear, but I remove them shortly there after.. I've been told they suspend your waste thus raising your phosphate levels, thats another reason I don't leave them in longer than that.... Hope this helped...

[350gt]

They do catch alot of nasty stuff....

I guess it's better to catch it then it sit on the bottom of the sump... I just bought a second to cycle them out during my weekly cleaning..

[sergiotami]

Yup work great and the I just put them in our washer w bleach, good as new until next time.....

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Do the socks make a good bubble breaker? I guess they would make the bubbles smaller for high flow tanks but I still get bubbles.

I use 3 baffles full of LR rubble and the critters seem to eat all that stuff up.

I took my sock off because I was worried a fish would go exploring and get stuck in the sock.

plus Im lazy. It was something that had to clean often.

I guess it depends what you are using your sock for.

[polarbear]

im using it to catch the big stuff and nasty stuff. I also have to clean mine often but i just pull them out and wash them in the washer. I dont add bleach got water. Should I add bleach when cleaning them?

[BBQHILLBILLY]

wow. bleach. Is that for white cosmetics? lol Turn them inside out and wash with the water hose.

fyi Remember another reason why I took mine off is because your killing all your critters that fall into into the sock.

Those are the critters that filter and clean your tank that you may not see.

[polarbear]

I dont use bleach just plan water in the washer. As for the critters, I turn the sock inside out and take off all of the pods that I find. Most of the time I get around 10 pods off of the sock and put them back into the refugium.

[350gt]

plus Im lazy. It was something that had to clean often.

Dont you have like 3 or 4 tanks setup? theres no way you can be lazy.......

[BBQHILLBILLY]

yes im very lazzzy.Let the critters take care of the tank.