socks or no socks

My sump is a ecosystem aquarium and it has no place for socks, I'm thinking about making something to hold 2 4x8 socks in the inlet side of the sump. The guy i bought it from ran it for years without any socks. What should i do?? thanks for any help

 

Depends on your system. Experiment to find what works and what doesn't.

I'm skimmerless with no problems. But if I remove the sock I'll have algae problems within a week.

There is no right answer, your buddy has a method that works for him.

 

Agreed-- there is no right answer, it depends on your system. However, since it's been running for years without socks (and I'm assuming no problems, as well) why add something else to maintain that my also affect the balance of the ecosystem?

Just my opinion.

 

I've run both ways, but I currently run without. Like Mr Bill says, it's an additional maintenance item and one I ultimately decided I wanted to do without.

Pros:

- Free floating particles get caught in sock
- Algae can get reduced because free floating pieces get caught
- These can lead to cleaner looking water
- Sump bottom stays cleaner

Cons:

- You need to have at least a few of them so you can swap them out
- Cleaning them is a maintenance item and I found it to be something I didn't like doing
- If your sump isn't built for it it can be problematic to make a solid build to support a sock
- If you don't keep up with the maintenance they can overflow.

 

Great post, I would add, also a lot of the floating particles that you are removing are food for something.... Whether or not removing them or keeping them is beneficial depends on how well you are able to keep your nutrient levels in check. If your not really overstocked, they shouldn't be a problem.

 

I'm setting mine up to be able to run a sock, but only plan on running it with one when I am having a specific problem. I see more negative than positive in running one full time.

 

Ive been sockless for a year with no ill effects and man I hate cleaning them so its been a bonus for me.;D

 

+1 to rocketmandb's post

i ran a sock for a bit, i keep the socks incase i might need them but now run my tank with a good skimmer ... and a uv ( shhhh m2434 LOL ;D ) and no sock.
boy are socks a pain when you have to crawl into the back of a box threw a small door! well its not that small but seems it when your trying to do something and have pipes hitting you on the head a skimmer in the way. you get the picture ... lol not to mention the keeping the socks till you have enough to wash thats a wonderful smell sitting and fermenting.

 

i just started to run my sump with one once i got my 50 gallon Bow front running it pulls a lot of crap out from floating in the tank its only been going for a week now and already needs cleaned. looks like i might be cleaning it every 3 days or so. i might end up taking it off depends on how lazy i feel lol

 

Also, if you have a chaeto fuge, a sock will keep little pieces of chaeto from fouling your skimmer.