Who here runs a tank with no filter socks or fleece roller?

[vetteguy53081]

I’m curious how many run no mechanical filtration other than a skimmer? I have a 180 gallon that I ran for over a year with a filter fleece roller. I decided to try a sock but remember why I hate them. I just pulled my sock out and am thinking of seeing what happens over the week with just my big skimmer.

Ive been using filter socks at least a decade now.

 

[thedon986]

I’ve always been a refugium first guy, skimmer second, filter pad in bubble trap rack. I think I’ve siphoned some of the sand in the refugium once, and it’s pretty spotless. Pods EVERYWHERE

 

[Pod_01]

I use skimmer and use GAC (40ml per 50 gal change every 4 weeks) in media cup. No fleece, socks, fuge etc… I like it simple.
I have Red Sea Reefer250 so nothing big.

 

[vlangel]

Awesome. So is your ( anyone) water clarity pretty good still?

With the fleece roller, it worked great!! Maybe too great. I pulled it because the clarisea fleece was back ordered and my nitrates were lower than I wanted.

I went with a sock holder and a 7” sock and the cleaning of it every 3 days is horrible but now it’s clogging every 1.5 days. But I do not have multiple socks.

I hear several guys moving to no mechanical filtration other than skimmer and I’m definitely interested.

The clarity is very good in my tank. I do keep about 3 Tbsp of carbon in a filter net passively in the overflow box. That polishes the water.

 

[homer1475]

I do not have bristle worms or such but I do have lots of other things… several conchs, serpent stars, tons of snails and etc.

I always lol when I read things like this. You simply cannot have a reef tank, or SW tank for that matter without bristle worms. No matter how much you think you do not have them, they are in there.

I have not run filter socks in years, you just have to be able to put up with things floating in the water at all times.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I always lol when I read things like this. You simply cannot have a reef tank, or SW tank for that matter without bristle worms. No matter how much you think you do not have them, they are in there.

I have not run filter socks in years, you just have to be able to put up with things floating in the water at all times.

Well I’ve never seen any. I understand they help with cleanup, but I’d prefer not to have anything that gets my fingers when working in the tank. I know I’ve seen some of the micro worms. I can’t recall what they are called. One of my friends is a coral seller and he imports wild stuff constantly. So I’m sure there are plenty of things that come in even though I do dip everything.

 

[mfinn]

Skimmer and live rock only.

 

[VintageReefer]

No mechanical filtration and no skimmer
And.
No water changes

 

[tuscani]

I use polyfil in media cups.

same

 

[Jyeef]

I also don't use mechanical filtration, but a fuge first (sort of mechanical as the chaeto is thick) and then skimmer in the return pump chamber.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm heading down this road now with my new build. Felt socks have been removed and replaced with mesh. The next step is to pull the mesh socks. I'm trying a cryptic zone with an ATS no skimmer. We'll see how it goes once I start moving everything in.
I'm fine with sludge in the bottom of the sump. Its gives these guys place to live.

They wandered into my fish trap last night so I tossed them in the new sump.

I've don't understand the fear of bristle worms. I have hundreds maybe thousands (5 systems currently running) and have never ever been stung working in the tank. The only time I've been stung is holding a big fat one in my hand to take a photo and it was no more of a sting than what I got touching itch weed as a child.

EDIT: I added a roller to one tank last November and I think it is stripping too much so now I turn off the auto advance at night and just let it overflow.

 

[VintageReefer]

I'm heading down this road now with my new build. Felt socks have been removed and replaced with mesh. The next step is to pull the mesh socks. I'm trying a cryptic zone with an ATS no skimmer. We'll see how it goes once I start moving everything in.
I'm fine with sludge in the bottom of the sump. Its gives these guys place to live.

They wandered into my fish trap last night so I tossed them in the new sump.

I've don't understand the fear of bristle worms. I have hundreds maybe thousands (5 systems currently running) and have never ever been stung working in the tank. The only time I've been stung is holding a big fat one in my hand to take a photo and it was no more of a sting than what I got touching itch weed as a child.

Same here! Turf scrubber with cryptic zone. No skimmer. And plenty of sludge

 

[Starbuxxx]

No filter socks/rollers. No filter floss/polyfil. I want all of those particles to feed the coral and algae. I have a skimmer, refugium (caulerpa and chaeto mix) and an algae turf scrubber. Clarity is great. I'll use Calcium Carbonate every other week just to compare clarity.

 

[Alexraptor]

I run my systems without any mechanical filtration, except for during the startup phase.

Although I must confess, I think a permanent filter sock may become necessary for my new 38G tank, as it houses a Tiger Pistol/YWG pair that love turning the tank upside down, on a regular basis. And having all the sediments floating around in the water column simply will not do!!!

 

[herozero]

Trigger Ruby 36s, no socks as I want to keep the pod population up. Skimmer to fuge to return, with GFO reactor running from the return chamber. ~10% water change weekly-ish. Have run many tanks without socks, no problems besides more regular pump cleanings. I do try and keep the skimmer and return section clean from buildup, if it goes anywhere it needs to wind up in the fuge.

 

[Mickey]

No filter socks or fleece for me either. There are some foam pads between baffle areas to cut down on microbubbles getting from the basement sump back to the tank, but I rarely even rinse them (like once a year, if even that). Never had an issue with water clarity. Do run carbon periodically.

 

[vdKroon]

No filter socks or rollers around here either (and I've used both of them in the past). Skimmer, GAC, and ozone for 1 hour every 3 hours

 

[JoJosReef]

Floss and a media caddy with a bag of GAC. The fioss is mostly so the GAC bag doesn't gunk up too quickly. I sometimes change water.

 

[NeedAReef]

say no to socks and rollers lol. no thanks. only ran some poly floss during initial setup as you get a lot of stuff coming off rocks and sand but after than nope, fuge does the work and an occasional skimmer.

 

[00W]

Have run/tried everything over 40 years, sometimes all at the same time.
Never wanted/had a roller.
Little bit ago got rid of everything.
No gfo, carbon, socks pads whatever.
Skimmer and rock.
Tank is going on 10 years, rocks probably 20.
Started a fuge about a month ago.
I'll never look back.
Done one water change in 6 weeks.
Used to do one every week.
This is 2 tanks on one sump.