Filter bags/socks user survey

I return 1600+ gph through two 200micron socks and can go approx. two weeks without having to clean/swap out. Heres the catch; I have very extensive
pre-filtration in the form of reticulated foam and the socks are 7"x16"...way bigger than need be. Also, I only feed my fish every other day to every second, even third day, so the water isn't getting messed up to often. My feeding schedule is very random, so some weeks I need to address the socks sooner, other weeks less often and I really think thats the key. Feeding frequency, especially if you lack proper prefiltration, could cause socks to clog up sooner.
BTW, I will never go back to conventional filter media. The socks filter much better and more completely than conventional filter media that has a tendency to clog and short circuit.
Also, 100micron is a fairly fine filter and early clogging could just be the price to pay for that level of filtration. My tank is right at about perfect for stock levels, but my Royal Panaque(L190) is a chain saw with gills. The wood fiber it produces is by far the most dominate substance filtered, mostly through the pre filter, but some of which reaches the filter socks. The point is, this fish is my "messy" fish. If that fish was removed, who knows, I might even double the time on the sock maintenance.
The socks are 90% submerged, filled with reticulated foam cylinders cut to fit inside the socks. Tank is 180g/681L

I run around 2400gph through a 50 and 100 on my 300 gallon. Typically I go 3 days on the 50 and about a week on the 100, but I stock pretty lightly so I'm sure that has a pretty large bearing.


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Tank volume: 770G
Stock: moderate
Socks: Three 8"x32" 50 Micron
How far above the water level: 90% submerged
GPH: 2000
Days before overflowing: 7
Any other filtration: None

I have recently been placing a smaller 4" x 14" 200 micron sock inside of my 8"x 32" socks to prefilter the larger crud and it extends the time between clogging to about 10 to 12 days. I know they sell socks that are made of two separate bags where the inside bag traps large particles and then the outside bag traps small particles, but I have found that they are tough to clean...there always seems to be junk stuck between the two bags no matter how hard I try to get it out...so, I prefer buying the socks separately so that I can thoroughly clean them separately.

If your 100 micron socks used to clog after 3 days, I would step up to a larger sock size or use a larger micon rating...cleaning my socks more than once per week would be more than I'm willing to do for my finned friends.

Tank volume: 700G
Stock: moderate
Socks: 2 20" long 200 Micra
How far above the water level: 90% submerged
GPH: ~2000
Days before overflowing: 3-4
Any other filtration: None before the sockets

I think a huge part in this is that all socks are not made the same, some are heat welded together other are sewn and the different matterial that everyone uses. I have a couple different type all 100 microns but I can tell you that one set does a far better job filtering and clogs sooner then the others. I look at them once they have clogged fully and I pick the sock up out of the water and see how long it takes for the water to drain through the sock and junk.

Tank volume: 120G
Stock: heavy
Socks: 1 x 300micron not sure it's size but in the 20" range? fits into a 40B sump
How far above the water level: 90% submerged
GPH: ~950? mag 9.5
Days before overflowing: 2 weeks?
Any other filtration: None before the socks other then your typical sump pipes/strainer

also a heavy predetor tank that gets fed 2x a week give or take. x2 w/ Kevin on what brand ect you go with... not all micron filters are built the same. my sump is also home to live blackworms that escaped the rays/eels attentions. not sure if they help maintain water flow or not tbh. but I always find a bunch when I'm cleaning the socks.