What to use to filter the drain pipe into sump?

[CIMulation]

My sump is getting dirty from misc. particles from my main tank. Do you guys use anything to catch all the particles that drain from your main tank into your sump?

[6Speed]

I have seen people use a filter sock, but I've been told that you have to clean it out fairly often to be sure you don't have any problems with nitrates...

[CIMulation]

A filter sock as in the cotton mesh used for mechanical filters or just a sock? lol

[Agu]

There are actual filter socks designed for aquariums. They have very fine mesh and will clean your water. They also get dirty really fast and need to be cleaned a couple of times a week.

You could just buy polyester batting at a craft store and throw it away when it gets dirty.

[TekCat]

Will the carbon filter help? or it's a bad idea?

[Agu]

The carbon isn't a good idea, the carbon will become a biological filter quickly. In addition depending on the water flow it could pulverise and put more crud in your sump.

The polyester batting is cheap and effective.

[6Speed]

Just go to walmart and get you some knee high socks...you know, the ones with the red and blue stripes at the top. ;)

:p

[hopper]

I just switched over to a durso standpipe in my overflow. (It works great.) My tank is a Oceanic and the intake in the overflow was made of a perforated plastic tube. I am going to take this tube, since I am no longer using it for the intake and attach it to the intake (elbow) of the standpipe. I then am going to get a piece of foam filter that goes around this and I will have filtration in the sump also. Saw a pic of this on the durostandpipe webpage and they were using it to keep the intake from being clogged by snails, etc. http://www.dursostandpipes.com Click under intake strainers and then perforated pipe. Shows a pic without the foam filter. Oceanic makes this filter, I just need to find out where to get it.