Filter Socks On Too Long?

[Pazzoman]

Hey,

Just curious since the start of my grow out tank...even though I have about 30 fish in the tank (inch or under) I noticed that my sock last a little more then a week before it started to over flow...would haveing the sock in their that long cause problems with tank parameters?

Tanks had gone thru a fish less cycle, that at the time before adding fish was capable of bringing 4ppm ammonia down to 0 in less then 12 hours. Which is why Im not to worried and enjoying the fact that I don't have to wash socks every few days compared to when I had this tank running with reef fish.

 

[KAWAMIKIE]

It's better to clean or change the socks sooner than later. Leaving them go too long and over flowing you are dumping the gunk that the sock would collect into your sump and bio. Changing or cleaning them more often will keep your water sparkling.

 

[Drstrangelove]

Exactly. The material clogging the socks is uneaten food, fish poop, and even smaller particles (some inert, some not.) Unfortunately, a lot is 'food' for heterotrophic bacteria and it's good to not feed those guys. If you can clean it before it clogs, it will be better, as (in theory) if they proliferate you can have a serious issue as they consume oxygen and can double populations every 20 minutes.

 

[Pazzoman]

I see what you guys are saying, how many days do you think would be ok to change it? Once every three days?


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[dxdx]

I change mine every 5 days because they clog, but I really don't see an issue if you change them weekly. My tanks have been fine doing this, and the same with an HOB filter pad, sometimes I don't change them for a couple weeks and have had no issues.

 

[Miguel]

I clean them when i see the water level rising too high inside of the, and / or when their sides start turnimg browm....

 

[Pazzoman]

I will probably do the same...as it usually takes up to a week for the sock to start gettng close to the top as well as the sides turning brown.

Migul do you feed with nls pellets? I notice especially with my fx5 on my 50 gallon corner...that the foams are always brown compared to thier original white color...and I mean BROWN!