filter socks in refugium.... yes or no?

[Wiggsy]

okay experts.....what is the majority opinion out there ??

Also if i don't use a sock to i need to add plumbing so my return water just doesn't splash down into my refugium?

And is i do need to add plumbing do i make the drop long enough to the return is underwater in my sump or just about the water line?

Thanks !!!

 

[lmforbis]

I prefer using them. I have two returns, one return goes into a filter sock the other does not. Both of the return pipes go below the water level to prevent splashing.

 

[pegasus]

I tried the fiber socks for awhile, but the constant cleaning/cycling of them grew old in a hurry. Fiber socks clog rather quickly, so I switched to mesh socks, and found I like them much better. They let tiny stuff through, while trapping larger particles. I don't use socks on my 125 at all, as the water's fairly clean. I use a mesh sock on my 40B as it has fine sand and the engineer gobies keep a sand storm in the tank quite regularly. Both tank drains are extended under the water level in the refugium. I used two pieces of 1" tubing to extend from the bulkheads to just below the water surface. It makes a huge difference in the noise level...

 

[silverado61]

I tried putting the over flow tube just below the water line and I kept getting micro bubbles.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I like filter socks personally. Even the mesh ones. Easy to clean, cheap to replace. I feel like they are great for clearing up particulate matter in the tank and since they are so easy to take out and replace with a fresh one, I find myself cleaning them more often than I have in the past on other tanks that I used polyfil quilters batting on.

 

[mandy111]

I run sock on both down pipes. Saves a ton of detritus build up in the sump over time, the horrid job of changing and washing out weighs cleaning the sump every 6 months. Would be without them.

 

[silverado61]

I've noticed since putting my hermits in my sump, I don't have to worry about detritus so much.

 

[snakeblitz33]

There are multiple ways to achieve the same results, as you can see.

 

[seecrabrun]

I've thought about putting mesh to catch big stuff, like inorganic particles.

 

[reefkeeperZ]

well, just my opinion here, splashing (as long as it's not splashing water out of the tank or sump) can be good, it provides more oxygenation/gas exchange.

to sock or not to sock is up to you. I tend not to have a dead end sock (meaning no way for micro fauna to by pass the sock) from the refuge back to the tank, from the tank down to the refuge I'm not so concerned I'll filter the ever loving monkey snot out of that.