Socks Suck

[Midwater]

I am not having good luck with filter socks. Actually, I have only been using them for a few weeks.

I have got a seven inch wide sock on the main herbie siphon and a four inch wide sock on the herbie durso. The rate of flow is 10,000 litres per hour.

But they all get clogged up and overflow.

I change them every day, but that is not enough. I never know when they will get clogged up. I have tried the thick felt socks and the thinner ones. Both get clogged up too quickly.

The idea of socks is great, but now I am thinking of switching back to layers of foam.

Anyone else had issues with socks?

Am I doing anything wrong?

 

[esoxlucius]

I've never run filter socks, and from what I always read about them, I doubt I ever will, though others swear by them too.

I could be wrong here but I wonder just how many who run fine filter socks successfully do so with a very high turnover and a heavily stocked tank. I believe those two aspects are the enemy of fine filter socks.

But filter socks with a moderate turnover and low to medium stocking density? Do they fare any better?

I think filter socks due to their fine nature are one of those mechanical methods of filtration that would benefit from quite a fine pre filter to take the pressure off the filter sock and therefore prolong the time between sock changes.

It will be interesting to see what other hobbyists say about them.

 

[tlindsey]

I've never run filter socks, and from what I always read about them, I doubt I ever will

I've read about them but never tried them. Most had the same experience that Midwater had with Filter Socks.

 

[duanes]

Years ago, I ran sox.
With my average of only 2 cichlids per 6 ft tank, I found I had to change them at least every other day, so I had 3 per overflow, 1 working.... 1 soaking in bleach.... and one drying (at the ready). So with 5 sumps running, that was a minimum of at least 15 socks, I gave them up for planted sump/refugiums where I let the plants and shrimp take over that job of simply eating the detritus and grunge, ,



Todays sump/refugium as a filter.

Below the ones who now do the work.

 

[Denon]

I am not having good luck with filter socks. Actually, I have only been using them for a few weeks.

I have got a seven inch wide sock on the main herbie siphon and a four inch wide sock on the herbie durso. The rate of flow is 10,000 litres per hour.

But they all get clogged up and overflow.

I change them every day, but that is not enough. I never know when they will get clogged up. I have tried the thick felt socks and the thinner ones. Both get clogged up too quickly.

The idea of socks is great, but now I am thinking of switching back to layers of foam.

Anyone else had issues with socks?

Am I doing anything wrong?

I switched over to filter cups and poly batting. It seems to work fairly well, but you still have to change the batting out fairly often. I do it two times a week, at least you can just toss it though.

 

[Denon]

Years ago, I ran sox.
With my average of only 2 cichlids per 6 ft tank, I found I had to change them at least every other day, so I had 3 per overflow, 1 working.... 1 soaking in bleach.... and one drying (at the ready). So with 5 sumps running, that was a minimum of at least 15 socks, I gave them up for planted sump/refugiums where I let the plants and shrimp take over that job of simply eating the detritus and grunge, ,
View attachment 1500409
View attachment 1500410
View attachment 1500411
Todays sump/refugium as a filter.
View attachment 1500412
Below the ones who now do the work.
View attachment 1500413

This sounds like a neat way of doing things and less costly over time. Do you ever find the shrimps getting sucked up into the pumps?

 

[duanes]

This sounds like a neat way of doing things and less costly over time. Do you ever find the shrimps getting sucked up into the pumps?

Every once in a while I see one transported into the main tank, where it is quickly scarfed up by a cichlids, but not very often.

 

[wednesday13]

What micron are u running? I use 200 micron and go months without changing them or overflowing. 4” socks are useless also lol… i run 7”x16” and 7”x30”… best advice i can give is split ur drains as much as possible for more socks. As many as u can fit in ur sump. 1 drain should be split at least 2-4 times. Sounds like ur just running too much water through 1 sock. Another tip is dont keep them submerged either. Lowering ur sump level if possible may buy u more time between changing.

 

[jjohnwm]

I hate 'em too. It seems as though the guys who like socks tend to have plant-free tanks, whereas naturalistic, overgrown tanks like duanes keeps are just not well-suited to socks. My tanks almost all have a fair amount of vegetation and unless I use foam prefilters, a filter sock will be clogged within a couple days at most. If I do use foam, then I simply don't see any benefits from the socks in terms of water clarity, so why bother?

Okay, on second thought, I guess there is one minor benefit: removing a sock to clean it does not release any trapped particulate matter to cloud your tank, whereas removing foam prefilters usually does. Big deal; the water is back to perfect clarity within a very short time. Not worth the hassle to me.

 

[Damascus]

Every once in a while I see one transported into the main tank, where it is quickly scarfed up by a cichlids, but not very often.

What sp. of shrimp? Do you find they breed readily enough to support their use or do you have to supplement their numbers?