Filter Socks - Need some improvements to my setup?

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malawi500

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 29, 2011
319
12
48
UK
I've quickly set up my old filter socks in my sump as follows:

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It is simply a 7" long 50 micron sock inside a 100 micron sock. I have a few questions....

1. When I had my 100 micron sock in my last setup which had play sand in it, it would clog very very quickly. Would this play sand have rendered this sock useless? I've tried the washing machine and the shower hose but it clogs very fast
2. I need to run the drain pipes submerged to keep noise down. Should they run to the very bottom of the sock or just below the water line?
3. How high should the socks be held out of the water? Best way to hold them up?
4. What is the ideal combo for socks? 50 in a 100? 25 in a 100? Or any other combo?

I'd ideally like minimal maintenance and just do a weekly water change, I understand the idea behind socks is to get rid of the accumulated dirt before it breaks down but is the breakdown really that bad if water changes are kept on top of? My experience with filter socks so far is too much time cleaning them, whereas a sponge the dirt just breaks down into the water colum, so long as water changes are kept on top of what is the issue?

Help appreciated

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you want to reverse that - put the 100 inside the 50... filter big particles first (100) then filter finer particles (50)

A couple other options - are those 2 drain tubes? put each one into it's own sock so they won't clog as fast - 2 socks equals more time between cleanings

I hang my socks from a chain on a hook screwed into the stand. They're maybe an inch above the water line, you just need enough room so if they clog and overflow it won't go out of the sump. Looks like you've got room to hang them 1 inch above the water.

You only need the drain pipe to go into the water, doesn't matter how much it's submerged....
 
^ Mine are the same, about an inch or two above the water. Drain pipe is submerged about 1-2" below the water. Since I'm running a Beananimal drain, submerging the pipes too far below the water's surface will cause purging issues at start up.

I use a single 10 micron sock, 7x16". They need to be changed every 3-5 days, it varies. I just ordered a fresh batch of sock and went with 5 micron. I'll see how these work out.

Only suggestion I have is to suspend the sock and have it a little bit above the surface.
 
sorry my bad it is 100 inside a 50.

There are two drain tubes, the first is the main drain, the second is the emergency and basically has a small trickle. So would I be better off making a T off the main drain and having two socks on the go? Should double the interval I guess...

I'll see what I can knock up
 
I bought 6 50 micron and 6 100 micron when I built my sump. I run 1 of each on either side of my sump and change about every 4-5 days. washing is pretty easy. I throw them in the washing machine with half a cup of bleach and run a wash cycle with and extra rinse cycle afterwards.

I position my socks about 2 inches above the water level in the sump but about an inch below the rim for any spillover when they clog.
 
You guys run 10 micron socks?? Hell I don't think I could even run 50 micron socks with my setup. But I probably have 6 times the water and 10 times the crap. Add more filter socks. Maybe try 2 75 micron socks

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Ya sorry not sure why when on my phone its not. Either more socks or longer socks. Or add a canister filter to take on some of the load so the sock has less work to do.

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