Why do socks get a bad rap?

[Reef GE]

I use socks to make the water clear, but don't swap them out on a regular basis. The reason is to preserve clarity of the water column while also preserving the nutrients my refugium needs for algae growth.

IMO, this method gives the best of both worlds. I get clarity and low detritus, and I have low maintenance. Nutrients stay in the water allowing algae growth.

Question: what is the effect of using socks on my pods?

Question #2: Does anyone use socks on an on/off rotation? Two days on, Three days off? Just to "touch up" the water.

 

[ReefHomieJon]

I don’t think you’re suppose to wash them that often

I only own 4 socks and I. Wash them once every 2 weeks cuz I only change them every few days. My tank is doing great. What’s the harm supposed to be?

 

[ryeguyy84]

I love my socks, they are a pain to clean but I recently went to mesh and it's a trade off. The felt ones capture so much but are a pain to clean. The mesh socks don't catch quite as much but a quick rinse gets them clean.

I get them in a 10 pack from my local store

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Thanks for the tip nice socks, good price (i went with felt). I bought a 10 pack and can now go a month without washing them. I'm just tossing them in a bucket with a lid after I rinse them out. is that how everyone else is holding socks until wash day?

Before I only had 4 so storing was short term, now with more i'm worried about the month long storage, i've only done it once so far and everything held up.