Filter sock yes or no?

jimsreeftank

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I am having a phosphate issue. I have thinned out my stock; run gfo; cut way down on feedings; vacuumed my sand and change my filter socks every other day. Should I just forgo the sock and dump it all into a deep sand bed first then go to a skimmer or what?
 
How much GFO are you running and how frequently do you swap it out?
 
2 cups thru BRS gfo / carbon reactor. Changing at 3 wks. Phosphates are OK now @ .3 to .4. Using a hanna checker digital meter.
 
Is this on the 220? High-Cap or regular GFO. Might be on the light side if you're using regular.
 
.2-.3 is not okay.
.02-.03 is.
2 cups should be fine regardless of HC or regular.
Sock is probably not the problem.
Phosphates are absorbed in the LR and LS, it takes a long time to remove once at that level.

Edit Oops, .3-.4 and .03-.04
 
I agree, if you are diligently cleaning and changing them, then it should only be helping.
 
I went sock less for 2-3 weeks recently when I redid my return plumbing to a herbie system. The problem you will have is a noted increase in the amount of particulate in the water column. Did not seem to hurt anything however your sump can get pretty dirty pretty fast. Since I'm a clean freak I could not deal with that and had to take my sump down to parade rest and clean the crap out of it. Felt sock back on experiment over. Give it a go and see what you think for 3-4'weeks. Good luck
 
Jim, the sock does nothing more then the catch small particulates in your tank. These socks need to be cleaned and changed out every 3 or 4 days depending on whether your using a 100 or 200 micron sock, If you don't keep the socks clean your looking at a nitrate and a phosphate trap which can really wreak havoc on your tank. The trapped particles break down in the sock and generate waste nitrates.

So, if you don't change your sock out at least every week then I wouldn't use the sock, your just creating more problems like we talked about.

I have about 16 socks on hand and there a combination of 100 and 200 microns. I use the 200's each and every week unless I stir up the tank during a cleaning spell and then I use the 100's. I'll get 2 maybe 3 days out of the 100's and just over a week with the 200's before I need to change the sock.

Yea, I'm not sure on what you mean by "I just forgo the sock and dump it all into a deep sand bed first then go to a skimmer or what?"

Here's a quick read on what a skimmer does and how important it is in a system with corals and fish...
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Jimsreeftank;932841 wrote: Should I just forgo the sock and dump it all into a deep sand bed first then go to a skimmer or what?

Not sure if i understood the end. Are you running a skimmer?
 
Filter socks are just another method of mechanical filtration. Don't use them and it means you'll have a bit more detritus in the sump, and maybe some more suspended organics in the water column. I run mine for mechanical filtration and for water polishing. Used properly, they are very good at what they do.

But you can be successful using or not using them.
 
Acroholic;933112 wrote: Filter socks are just another method of mechanical filtration. Don't use them and it means you'll have a bit more detritus in the sump, and maybe some more suspended organics in the water column. I run mine for mechanical filtration and for water polishing. Used properly, they are very good at what they do.

But you can be successful using or not using them.

+1 agreed
 
I agree. The key like acro said is if they are used properly. Most people don't change them often enough and that defeats the purpose.
 
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