Hi, I run my system without a sock. If food falls through the overflow, does it stay in the sump and rot? Should I get something to keep the sump clean? Do you guys have socks or not? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
The food and anything else you feed will definitely decompose in your sump or your display if not exported. When I didn't use socks I would suck out all the detritus from my sump with a shop vac almost monthly. I now use socks....:splitspin
I run a filter sock & swap out every few days. With the use of filter socks & a good protein skimmer the sump stays pretty clean. I also have a small refugium with cheato in the sump for nitrate reduction.
I would keep snails & crabs out of the sump - too much equipment they can mess up.
Also when you do a water change - change out the water from the sump instead of the DT.
+1 when i do a water change iremove the water from the sump not the display and i would not put snails in the sump unlesss they were in the fuge section and to big to fit thru baffels
I was going to make the same thread lol. Thanks for the info guys I will start to use a sock now no wonder my sump would look green so quick once again thanks.
i keep about 10 socks on hand and change them about every 3-4 days sometimes a little longer when the last one goes in the tank i throw the used ones in the washing machine with a little bleach only and let them air dry for at least 48 hrs and do it all over again lasts about a month
Arati, how often did you you do your water changes? I was thinking of similar question and then saw this thread. I am going to start doing my water changes from sump. My next sump I am now thinking of putting a drain on side so i can turn a ball valve or similar and simply drain water out. ANy thoughts guys?
I use a filter sock for just two days after a water change then take it off..... Don't like finding dead amphipods & other critters there :-/
And use a small wet vac to suck up the buildup in the pump section.
how do you guys change water out of the sump if the sump is below the tank? you obv cant get a siphon going. i would like to know because i want to start cleaning my sump rather then taking the water out of the DT
Great info everyone. When I had the sock on, the skimmer didn't work that well but once I took it off my skimmer worked very well. I read it's because the sock serves as a skimmer in a way of catching all the loose stuff. I'll prbly go without a sock and clean my sump on a regular basis. To change the water in the sump you can put a pump in the sump and use it to draw water, or split the return with a valve to pump the water out.