Need Help , How To Add Filter Socks To My Sump

[NCHornet]

As the title says I need some help with adding filter socks to the 2 intakes on my sump. The company that made this sump isn't around any more. My problem is that the 2 intakes, coming from the 2 overflows on my 220 Planted Tank empty into the first section of the sump. The water flows over the top of the first baffle and enters a drip tray at the top of the large center section of the sump. The water flows down through several layers of foam going from course to fine. Below these foam pads are large media bags filled with Bio Media of several types. There is a layer of egg crate egg crate below the media bags and under the egg crate is where I have my heaters. Once the water flows through the media it passes under the last baffle in the sump where the return pump is located. I have a block of foam under this second baffle. What is happening is that to much of the very fine waste is passing through the foam pads and this isn't good for the media or the return pump. I tried using a piece of very fine polishing pad at the bottom of the stack of foam but it clogs to fast. I think having filter socks on the two intake lines should help keep the waste from passing through the foam pads which should extend the time between complete sump break down and cleaning. This is my first sump and I cannot figure out how I can install these filter socks around the intake lines. I don't know if using 2 smaller socks instead of one large sock would work best. Any help with this along with links to what I need to buy would be greatly appreciated. Below are some pics and a drawing I made that might help you to visualize how my sump is setup. Thank you ahead of time for your help.
NCH

 

[Tj203]

Just put some of these in

Filter Sock Mount

Filter Socks remove excess food, detritus, organic waste, dust, and other particulates. Filter Socks also help prevent larger objects, such as sand, crabs, snails, etc. from damaging pump motors. Hang-On Filter Sock Mount. Easy installation and removal for tank cleaning or filter sock...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[heffesuita]

Probauly the easyiest way is they sell socks with draw string tops. Not sure were i do not use that kind but i know they do. Simply purchase the right size slip them over your intake pipes and tighten draw strap. The only problem i see with this kind kf sock is if they get clogged so water wont go through or slows the flow to make your tank will over flow. What i would do to be safe is put a 45 degree upward t in the intake pipes so if the socks get cloged it will flow out of there intead. Upward angle t so in general it will still flow nor aly down intill clogeed. I hope that makes sence. Is my 2 cents on how i would aproach it. In this sump looks like u have plenty of room to get your arm in there to install socks this way.

 

[NCHornet]

Thank you both for your help. I have seen the sock holders that hang on the side of the sump but they won't work on mine. The intake pipes go through a 1/4" piece of acrylic that is basically welded to three sides of the sump which means a mount like that won't work. I suppose I could cut the acrylic out but the time to do that was before it was installed. No way to get the sump out unless it comes out the top and that isn't happening, lol!!!! I knew this going in and that is why I used an acrylic sump and not glass.

I have never seen a sock with a draw string. I've been in this hobby for 30 plus years but this is by far the largest tank I have ever had and I love it. The hundreds of tanks that I've had in the past were all filtered by canister filters and even ones I've made, never had a sump so I never learned much about them. When you mentioned the sock getting clogged and allowing the tank to overflow was something I had thought of. I figured that I would use a very long sock as the sump is pretty deep and those intake pipes go down almost near the bottom. They have caps on the ends and then a series of slots cut just above the cap. There is probably 6 or 7 of them about 3/16" wide, so they flow a lot of water. Since the water exits the intakes so far down I figured if the lower area became clogged the water would simply rise up the sock and exit where the flow isn't restricted. With the socks being so deep I would surely notice when they are getting to much waste in them and need to be cleaned. I'm retired and I'm checking my tanks several times a day so I wasn't to worried about an overflow situation. I also don't believe the sump holds enough water to overflow the main tank, actually I know it doesn't. The pump also will shut itself off if they ran dry. I never would have thought about using the 45 degree 3 way couplers. I love it when a problem is fixed by using something simple, cheap and widely available, lol!!!! I knew y'all would help solve this problem and I thank you very much for your time. God Bless
NCH

 

[714car11]

Why not just use some filter floss on top of the drip tray?

 

[Sticky90]

If filter socks fit through that small opening, or even don’t and you can access the underside I would think tightened zip ties would be enough to hold a sock up, even on straight pipe. Then just use side cutters to cut the zip tie off any time you need to change the socks.

 

[duanes]

As you can see, I use zip ties to attach filter socks to outflows to the sump.