Filter Sock replacement?

Try going 200 micron instead of 100 micron. They won't clog as fast. 100's capture a ton of stuff but require more upkeep.

 

I just simply use one sock instead of two. My tank is slightly uneven or something so most of the water somes through one sock so I can choose if I want majority of it filtered or just a little.

 

Another non-sock user here. Makes maintenance much easier, and I have not seen any negative side effects. I also have snails and a mantis shrimp in my sump that take care of food that does make its way down there.

 

I hate SOCKS!

I think I helped a friend with the same set up. Remove the sock and put a section of 1'' PVC in the bulkhead. You want the end of the pvc to be just under the waters surface as to not create too much back pressure on the drain line. have this right near the skimmer , then to the fuge. We had to switch the pump and drain sides and it's working really well.

 

The point of the filter socks is to get dirty and clogged. Its doing its job. Sure you could do without them, but you wouldnt be removing that floating material. Much of it will get trapped in your sump and will need to be removed manually. Of course you could go with a 200 micron sock instead of a 100, but then you would be missing so much material that would be slipping through. The reason the sock is clogging is because you have lots of tiny waste particles floating in your tank.

Socks are cheap, buy a few and change them every day or two. It only takes a second, and you will have a cleaner healthier system. I have 2 dozen socks and when I remove one it goes into an empty salt pail. I only wash the socks every few weeks, they go right into the machine for a cycle and extra rinse. No soap, no bleach.

 

You are correct in that they do clean the water. This is one of those everyone has their own opinion things and most of them work just fine. You can maintain a reef tank fine with socks and yes, your water may look better but that's all you get, in my opinion. I personally like having some particles floating around. This can and does serve as food for your inverts and coral. Especially coral. They also trap good things like pods. When I used socks, I would pick pods out of my socks by hand. I just prefer to be without.

 

Yeah, what I ended up doing is running a piece of filter material in between my baffle in the sump, not too much restriction but will not let anything through it, working so far.