is a filter sock necessary

I don't use one, just a protein skimmer and ball of chaeto with serpent stars.

 

still looking to finish my sump. i need to pick up some live rock, need to get an ato, and sometime plumb in a refegium. i like the fact that everyone is so big on pictures on here bc if i can see something it makes it a lot easier to replicate. alos zach how are you liking your light bc i'm looking at one of those mighty hard. i,ve found that 250 watt ballast are usually cheaper than 150 and 175. so if you eventually change the ballast out it's still a good deal.

 

Love the light. I would buy another tomorrow. The stock bulbs were crap but the stock ballast fire Blue Life SPS bulbs without an issue. They fire other bulbs as well but not all, look around on 3reef and you'll see. I see absolutely no reason to pay more for a light unless you custom build your own in a canopy.

 

sounds great zach. been itching to buy ones of those for a while and really figured what the heck. you just give me a reason to buy one. anyhow i assume you had good growth and color. also i've seen a 250 pendent on ebay with t5s and thought about getting two of those since they're $110 a piece. Any heat issues with your light? if so let me know.

 

You don't need a filter sock. I keep one in my sump to catch snails. So it may depend on your sump/fuge design. I wish I had a fuge then I would get rid of the socks and sponges. Although I have tried those fuzzy type socks and they are too much. Mine is more like the free mesh socks that come with carbon or phosban.

 

I never use my filter sock. Only time I do is when I want to run carbon. I don't use a filter sock because whenever I do it seems like I catch as many pods as I do fish waste.

 

well i have the good old fuzzy sock that basically is stopped up to start with. eversince i added to the pipe and run it down in the bottom of the sock my overflow has been super quiet only making a sound every 10 to 15 minutes so the wife likes that as our tank is inwall in our bedroom. the tank gives me a good excuse to lay in the bed and do nothing. i guess this sock thaing is about like everything else with this hobby some do and some don't.