Do you use filter socks?

Yeah, I came off wrong with that last comment I apologize. I get a bugg up my butt about mechanical filtration. I really need to get off my soap box about it. There are a ton of methods and if you are keeping a tank that works (and I know you definitely are) then don't rock the boat.

For my system, I keep 0 nitrate and 0 phosphate and am able to keep more food in my water column longer. I also like that I don't have to mess with the socks weekly. I spend huge amounts of $$$ on feeding. To only filter it out for it to break down in a sock rather than circulating my system isn't something I want to do. I have found that with aggressive skimming and lots of macro growth, detritus is simply a food source rather than a worry.

Without aggressive ways to export once the food turns to waste I understand the idea of pulling it out before it breaks down. But, I have to wonder how rotten that food is by the weeks end and if most people are actually seeing benefits for there tanks with one or if they just believe they are.

 

hey thatgrimguy no biggie, we all have our things we feel strongly about. i totally get that, and your way works for you I'm sure if you have 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates. i see your point about things being removed and waste sitting a week, thats food for thought. the sock seems to work for me on this tank. last reef tank, before this one i didn't have a sock or a skimmer on and didn't do water changes but once every 6 months and the reef ran fine, not sps worthy but fine...lol . i think there is a picture of that tank in my photos (58 gallon). its the tank with a lot of blue ric's
this tank now is over stocked and i over feed. so that means more maintenance for me. the sock looks brown when i remove it so I'm guessing thats poo?

 

From all the research I've done, so long as you keep the socks maintained they are beneficial. If I were to go on vacation or the like, I would consider pulling them. I currently have no system to speak first hand, yet as i stated at the beginning, the research points to maintenance being the only reason to steer away from these.

 

nope no socks for me :|