The Puffer Forum

So I'm thinking of removing my filter sock and replacing it with 25-35 lbs of live rock. Is this an good idea? Does anyone else just use LR instead of a sock?

I hate filter socks! I have the section under my dump opening to the sump, filled with rubble. Eliminates micro bubbles too.

Filter socks are mechanical filters. Sumps w/live rock are biological filters. Apples and oranges, they are different things, performing different tasks.

RTR wrote:Filter socks are mechanical filters. Sumps w/live rock are biological filters. Apples and oranges, they are different things, performing different tasks.

Which one is better?

mechanical takes out the suspended particulate making your water clearer. Bio takes out harmful contaminates that you can't see.

You'll need both to a certain degree.

J-P wrote:mechanical takes out the suspended particulate making your water clearer. Bio takes out harmful contaminates that you can't see.

You'll need both to a certain degree.

Ok...thanks. I'll just run all three then.

Filter socks need to be changed out about every 3 days. PITA.

Pufferpunk wrote:Filter socks need to be changed out about every 3 days. PITA.

I agree...I just wash mine out.

Essentially all my SW tanks have had sumps, and all ave had overflow devices to feed the sumps from the main tank. Those overflows all have sponge filters for gross particulate capture. For SW tanks they are rinsed daily, but that is far simpler than rinsing a filter sock. Daily (or almost daily)* rinsing such prefilters makes quite a difference in the water quality IME.

*If I miss a day it does not bother me. If I check the tanks, I do the SW prefiler rinses. If I skip the checks, it does not spoil my day or the tank's balance.

There is no "better" between mechanical and biological. Both are needed and both are valuable, but they are separate jobs, as already said