? About filter sock

[chewieee]

I have a 75 g reef tank with a 30g Sump with a refugium. The question is should i use a filter sock at the end of my Overflow Pipes to catch crap or not? and how often to clean? Or is there something better out there?

[mr_o98]

I use filter socks and think they work fine. I would buy a few. You need to change them once a week. I wash mine in the washing machine with a little bleach and then soak them in Seachem Prime to remove the chlorine from the bleach. I let them dry thoroughly before using them in the tank.
After they run through the washer with bleach, I let the washer run a cycle empty to remove any bleach residue before washing my clothes.

[chewieee]

what micron size?

[mr_o98]

100

[jnc914]

Depending on your bioload, you may need to change more than once a week. The debris collects quickly and if you don't change it out often your water will degrade quickly. I have a 290 gallon and I change the filter sock daily. I would use either 100 or 150 Micron sock.

[OliverM3]

Wow Daily, That's dedication.

I change mine once a week and some times I think that's overkill.

I've often wondered if you really have to change them that often.

[barbra]

Originally posted by OliverM3
Wow Daily, That's dedication.

I change mine once a week and some times I think that's overkill.

I've often wondered if you really have to change them that often.

They need to be changed every 3 days or so because they breed nitrates.

As far as the bleach goes, try just washing them in hot water. If you do use bleach you can just dry them in the sun and skip the Prime, it's an expense that isn't necessary since bleach disipates when it contacts the air.

[OliverM3]

I'll have to test that theory sometime and let my sock go for a month with normal maintenance and water changes.
And see if my NO3 goes up.

[sjm817]

I change mine about once a week. I always have 0 nitrates. I wash them in the machine with a little bleach on the extra rinse cycle and let them dry before use. No need to use a dechlorinator. Any residual chlorine will evaporate out.

[chewieee]

higher the micron size the finer the mesh?

[sjm817]

smaller = finer