Filter Sock Usage

[super]

Am I the only one that can't get more then 24 hours with a filter sock before it's overflowing?

I'm using 200 Micron socks if that matters...

 

[camellia]

I use 100 Micron most of the time and its never over flowed. I change it every 2 or 3 days but its never full or over flowing.
It shouldn't be over flowing, do you have a heavy bio load or an algae issue?
How often and how much do you feed? Is your food going straight to your overflow?
Do you use a skimmer? What is it pulling?

 

[super]

I do have a fairly stocked tank. I feed a small amount of pellets twice during the day and then RODS at night. The socks have very little visible debris in them, so I don't think its food particles clogging them.

I have about 200g total water and I am using a Reef Octopus Diablo rated for 300g. Its pulling really dark skimmate.

 

[camellia]

Can you feel a white slimy film on the sock?

 

[super]

I haven't looked for that... I assume we're thinking its a bacteria issue? I will investigate the sock in the morning as it will no doubt be overflowing by then.

 

[camellia]

Yes, how long has it been happening? Oh, are you carbon dosing?

 

[super]

It's been happening for at least the last year, which is how long I've been using the socks.
I am using bio pellets.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Felt or mesh socks? I can run my 200 micron mesh socks for 2 weeks without them "overflowing". I don't do that because by then they are full of crap and need to be cleaned. I can make it about 4-5 days before changing. You've got a real issue if you can only make a day.

How deep in the water are your socks? The sump water shouldn't come up more than 2/3 of the sock length otherwise it causes back pressure which would cause overflowing.

 

[dylan j_]

Super;929041 wrote:
I have about 200g total water and I am using a Reef Octopus Diablo rated for 300g. Its pulling really dark skimmate.

This might be your problem, If you are only running one sock and its over flowing then either there is 2 ways to fix it.

One your return rate is to high and then your intake rate is just as high so then your sock cant keep up with that much water, so you could try dialing down your return pump

Or

You can look into getting a duel filter sock to help lightening the load for that poor single sock on the big of a tank.

Edit: Just from all the bigger tank I have came across that you filter socks, they use the 6''? or 8"? not sure of the size of them and they use 2 of them just because there is just a vast quantity of water moving through them

 

[super]

porpoiseaquatics;929053 wrote: Felt or mesh socks? I can run my 200 micron mesh socks for 2 weeks without them "overflowing". I don't do that because by then they are full of crap and need to be cleaned. I can make it about 4-5 days before changing. You've got a real issue if you can only make a day.

How deep in the water are your socks? The sump water shouldn't come up more than 2/3 of the sock length otherwise it causes back pressure which would cause overflowing.

They are 200 micron felt socks and they are about 50% under water.

 

[super]

Dylan J.;929070 wrote: One your return rate is to high and then your intake rate is just as high so then your sock cant keep up with that much water, so you could try dialing down your return pump



Or



You can look into getting a duel filter sock to help lightening the load for that poor single sock on the big of a tank.

Edit: Just from all the bigger tank I have came across that you filter socks, they use the 6''? or 8"? not sure of the size of them and they use 2 of them just because there is just a vast quantity of water moving through them

I'm not sure of the sock size but the LFS is using two of the same sock for a tank well over twice the water volume, so I should be fine in that respect.

As far as my return flow I have adjusted that up and down attempting to test this very theory. The results are that it doesn't make much difference. I can get the flow down to a stupid slow amount and it does indeed take longer to overflow but we are talking 26 hours rather then 23 hours, so I don't think that's the issue.

 

[newbie20]

I was going to post a similar thread soliciting the usage of filter socks while carbon dosing. As you know, I now run bio-pellets as well. I started having the same issue as soon as I did. I'm almost positive it's the "slime coat" resulting from the bio pellets.

I don't yet have an ATO hooked up, so my water level varies, which impacts my skimming. When I'm on top of adjusting my skimmer and/or keeping my water level consistent, I get more life out of the socks. My assumption was that I needed a more efficient skimmer, which I hope to hook up soon, along with an ATO.

I wonder if other people who carbon dose experience the same thing, and if it's just par for the course. I'd love to hear what others have experienced.

 

[skriz]

I go 2 weeks, but they're not overflowing at that point, though. You have some issues. Either not enough being removed via the socks and skimmer, or the socks are spent?

 

[super]

Skriz;929129 wrote: I go 2 weeks, but they're not overflowing at that point, though. You have some issues. Either not enough being removed via the socks and skimmer, or the socks are spent?

I have some newer and some older socks but it doesn't really make a difference.

Newbie20;929127 wrote: I was going to post a similar thread soliciting the usage of filter socks while carbon dosing. As you know, I now run bio-pellets as well. I started having the same issue as soon as I did. I'm almost positive it's the "slime coat" resulting from the bio pellets.

I don't yet have an ATO hooked up, so my water level varies, which impacts my skimming. When I'm on top of adjusting my skimmer and/or keeping my water level consistent, I get more life out of the socks. My assumption was that I needed a more efficient skimmer, which I hope to hook up soon, along with an ATO.

I wonder if other people who carbon dose experience the same thing, and if it's just par for the course. I'd love to hear what others have experienced.

Interesting to hear... I guess there really is something with the bio pellets causing an issue.

I am now running an external skimmer so I could technically plumb my bio pellets output directly into the skimmer, I wonder if that would help the issue?

 

[newbie20]

I've seen that recommended in several forums. When I re-plumb my system and incorporate the new skimmer, that's what I'm going to do.

 

[super]

Newbie20;929133 wrote: I've seen that recommended in several forums. When I re-plumb my system and incorporate the new skimmer, that's what I'm going to do.

I'll go ahead and try and it let you know how it works.

 

[skriz]

Oh, if you're running bio-pellets, the effluent MUST be run into a skimmer.

 

[camellia]

Super;929043 wrote: I haven't looked for that... I assume we're thinking its a bacteria issue? I will investigate the sock in the morning as it will no doubt be overflowing by then.

Was there a slime coat on the sock? How long have you been using pellets?

 

[dylan j_]

what it sounds like now is that the pellets might be having slime coming off and possibly lining the inside of the sock?

Which would mean that the slime wont allows water to pass through then meaning once in the sock it would come back out and just over flow out of the sock instead of passing thru

 

[super]

Skriz;929141 wrote: Oh, if you're running bio-pellets, the effluent MUST be run into a skimmer.

Output has now been changed... bio pellet out goes directly into input of external skimmer. We'll give that a day and see what changes I notice.

Camellia;929142 wrote: Was there a slime coat on the sock? How long have you been using pellets?

Not that I could feel as it wasn't blatantly obvious. I've been using the bio pellets for a little over a year.