Is your filter sock changing schedule helping to reduce nutrients? | BRStv Investigates
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- Опубликовано: 18 окт 2024
- Upgrade your filter socks! brs.li/Filter_S...
How often are you changing out our filter socks? What impact on nutrients is your reef tank maintenance schedule actually providing?
Today on BRStv, we have a brand new episode of our series, BRStv Investigates. In this series, we explore popular reefing theories, products, methods, and what the manuals are missing, with a focus on putting them to the test!
In today's episode, Ryan shares the results from our 8-week filter sock test where we setup identical tanks with various filter sock changing schedules. The results speak for themselves as we discover just how effective filter socks can be at removing nutrients like phosphate and nitrates!
So follow along and see if the results will have you rethinking your filter sock changing schedule! Also, be sure to keep an eye out for future episodes as we investigate everything from ceramic media effectiveness to how long your T5 bulbs actually last; all in our continuing effort to help make reefing a bit more fun and easy for you and your tank!
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I'm no reefer, yet, but this channel gets better with each upload. There's so much info I've collected that when I get into the saltwater side of the hobby, BRStv will be my main go to source!
Great test, I change mine out twice a week and now feel my dedication is soooo worth it, thanks, keep up the good work,
Makes a BIG difference. I clean the skim cup on the same schedule.
While not a reef keeper or even a saltwater aquarist, I'm always looking for ways to improve water quality and clarity in my tank. I'll look pretty much anywhere for inspiration! Your video was really helpful and much appreciated. Thank you for the research, experiment and information.
I have been changing filter sock in my aquarium since you posted this video, the result is astonishing!
And i did not realize all the "mud" they captured in one week untill now!
Thankyou for ths tips!! :D
Ryan, would you be able to do a in depth "how to" video regarding skimmer tuning? Wet skim vs Dry skim?
Thank you for doing this. I was changing mine once a week but now I will be switching to twice a week.
I change my filter socks three times each week. Good to know I'm being effective with this strategy.
Thank you so much for your videos. This series is SO informative and evidence based. Idea for another eposode is in regards to weight of tanks and what's needed to adequately support. There is rumors regarding floors collapsing or hiring an engineer to see what your floor can hold etc. Just wondering more regarding the facts. Maybe it's been asked before but I was wanting to learn more.
Thank you for conducting this great research and putting up videos about it. This is truly a GREAT contribution to the hobby! I cannot thank you enough for conducting this invaluable research and teaching us so much each week!
I love the tests you guys are doing. It's the stuff my OCD mind wonders about and you guys nail these tests week after week. Thanks!
Every 3 days religiously for me. Keeps the stability factor alive in my 120g FOWLR tank. I also clean my skimmer every 3 days too. BIG difference!!!!! The two seem to be linked.
You only have a fish system though, when it comes to corals they would actually enjoy some of that filth lol
Very interesting tests. Now that you have proven the sweet spot to be 3/4 day for changing filter socks, it would be interesting to calculate the levels of nitrates and phosphate between mesh / felt / filter pads / filter floss (in a cup) with the same protocol of changing every 3/4 days. Maybe an idea for a future video?
I really appreciate your process and methods in your video series. Your articulation on the subject is also excellent. Thank you.
All these different test you guys are performing are awesome. Some of the most useful videos out there. Thank you.
Very informative, thanks for taking the time. BRS is the best!
Totally random thought, but I think you should offer supplies and best known practices for live stock shipping. You could promote better practices in shipping by offering a "BRS seal of approval" to suppliers that use and support these best known practices.
Thats why I designed my Roller filter sump, no more filter socks for me ever and your tests really prove that socks are a problem if not changed on a regular schedule,Ray.
Almost Anything can be done, Try me.All i need is size
Interesting results to say the least. Any plans on comparing felt vs mesh filter socks?
Oooooooh, when do we get to see the live rock and MarinePure tests I see also running in the racks? ^_^
This is awesome!!
Halfway down the video I got an idea that may be useful to "BRStv-Investigate-it".
How many nutrients (nitrate/phosphate) are produced by a single cube of frozen food (pe mysid, rod´s, etc), or a specific amount of pellets (in grams), in a 10 gallon tank. How long it takes to break down and produce levels of nutrients?
I just rinse it off, turn it inside out and dump it in washer with 3 rinse.. thanks for video. Now I see a optimal time about 3-4 days thanks
Great Video, any chance you can do a Mesh to Felt sock comparison ?
Thanks, I know I have been seeing a lot of online chatter on the difference between the two but don't have the set up you guys have for the testing. I assume felt would filter better but not sure. I have seen comments that after they are washed they do not stay 200 micron so who knows. You did crush my plumbing job after posting 90 don't restrict as much as people thought. All my 45 just taking up space haha
i've got the trigger systems 20 cube sump on my 60gal cube. I had David from trigger make me a custom plate that fits the 300micron vertex/skimz socks you guys sell, as they are slightly smaller than normal. I also had tried your 300 micron socks from skimz, but i found the vertex ones have bigger holes than the skimz, even though they both were rated 300. I'm using these to be lazy though. not to change it twice a week! Thanks a lot guys.
In all seriousness, the reason i struggle with this and am running these high micron socks is that my cube sump has the sock chamber behind the skimmer, well atleast it does when you don't rotate it 90 degrees. I feel so stupid, but all the product photos show it with the socks behind the skimmer so you just kind of figure oh yeah that's the front. Big mistake. Oh well. It's made worse by the fact I run a herbie and jam a flex hose into the overflow slot of the sock chamber, so I need to pull that out as well before I can change the sock. It's become a damn procedure. I have been tempted to not run them entirely and maybe throw floss above the foam pad in the chamber between the fuge/return pump area....
moral of the story, sometimes changing frequency has nothing to do with nutrient export and entirely everything to do with how difficult it is to actually change the damn thing. Maybe try some 600 - 800 micron socks next? Haha. I'd be curious how this test performs with 100, 200, 300 micron, and the difference between nylon and felt as well.
Thank you! I was wondering if my efforts were worth it. Now I know to keep the socks exchanging twice a week!
Hi, great video. Can't get enough of these videos!
I'd like to know if trace elements are depleted quicker when using socks vs other forms of mechanical filtration.
great video!
how about a tank where you never change the filter sock? I'd be interested in seeing if that would have had a negative effect long term, or if it would balance out and eventually just be a detritus trap and not necessarily a source of nutrient exportation.
see you guys at reefapalooza Orlando and keep up the great videos! 😊
I observed that in my smaller 20g tank, changing them biweekly and inserting clean ones would ultimately cause a bacterial bloom. the problem persisted for months until I switched to media baskets and added marinepure balls and havent had that issue again. Thanks for the video.
I am learning so much from these controlled tests. This would be very hard for normal reefers to accurately pull off, thank you! these information = gold, and the chaeto experiment, thank you!
I've got a nano tank with a h.o.b aqua clear 50 and changing out the pad twice a week does significant ly decrease s nutrients in water ....great test brstv!!!...
You should've also added the rolling mat to this test. Would be interesting to see the results from that given it basically changes the socks continuously.
I'm surprised by results. My sweet spot might be no socks with the facts presented. Thank you so much for everything you guys do. I always remember you guys when its time to buy something.
Great test, good to hear twice a week for optimum benefit
I need to change mine due to using 50 micron size and they block up quite quick, keep up the great work
Great video!! I hate to clean filter socks, that is why I use a filter sponge which is cleaned weekly. I wonder how different will be the results of this test with a sponge.
Hmm.. I'm at once a week and tbh I don't think I'll be changing because my main motivation is water clarity. Good feeding and husbandry in other areas I feel are effective enough at keeping those nitrates down. But this video as always was awesome, love you guys.
Wow great info.... I really appreciate the work you guys are doing!!
As my socks get dirty it makes my overflow gurgle (go down emergency pipe) . So if I forget or get lazy my tank reminds me. It will go about 5 days before it affects the overflow, I try to change twice a week, so that works perfect for me.
Thank you so much ! i wanted to remove my nylon socks from my Reefer 250 sump, but after watching that video i'm certainly going to let them and clean them at less, one or two times per week. Have a good day. Marc from Normandy - France
Another killer real world real info video we need to make better decisions.
Although you sold me on that roller filter a long time ago. Although rice seen people give it low marks for motor breaking down as the roller gets weighed down with weight from water absorption.
Have you guys had any issues with your setup on that? Hoping they beef up the components a bit before I am ready to buy my dream system.
Yeah that's not an issue at all, basically just a maintenance cost that's really low amortized out. Some seemed to indicate they fail like every couple months. But if you can get 1 year or more out of it, not a big deal.
This is a great video, I actually just stopped using filter socks because I was only able/willing to change them out once a month.
BulkReefSupplyCom
I have that same 93 cube running also. What did you use instead for mechanical filtration?
I have a Trigger systems sapphire 34 sump that has a foam block that I rinse out every week. I also have a Vertex Omega 150 that pulls out a ton of junk!
I like your approach to these issues, I have seen a few of your videos, I am not a reefer but this scientific approach sheds valuable light that us freshwater folks can use too,
Hey, I found that I feed once a week and change the filter sock the next day. That seems to help. But then again, as long as you’re consistent the tank thrives
Filter sock maintenance is killing me. Trigger emerald 39 Refugium for my 125g American Freshwater display. I am thinking of creating some sort of system that will reduce the maintenance on my system. Maybe just something that would fit inside the first sock to catch the larger debris. Trial and error I suppose. Thanks for your awesome videos, I'm not a reefer but the knowledge you guys share can be beneficial on all sides of the hobby. Thanks again Brian keep up the outstanding work.
yeah this just made reading a little more complicated for me I only change mine once a month. corals look great but oh my. Ima diy my filter socks and try this 4 days or deal. Good investigation vid..
I would also like to see how much or if any of the detritus a settling tank would remove? I have seen people use a cone shaped tank and just open a drain once a day. You also see these used alot in different commercial application.
Interested if we can get a rollermat filter comparison, building on this experiment.
I change both my socks every two days. Running 150 micro mesh. I do it, because i like the super polished water.
One thing that I immediately thought of was that roller mat that you guys put on your tank. However you saying that it should do better than socks because it "removes it more than once a day" was an odd response, especially after you just got through showing that there literally is no benefit to changing socks once a day versus 3-4 times a week.
Some other things that would be nice to know, is whether or not those mesh filter socks do much of anything. Also would be nice to know exactly how long until food starts breaking down in the tank.
Just theorycrafting without proof: if some protein component will break down between 6 hours to a day, and rollermat is able to remove them within like 4 hours, then it will improve from daily socks change while twice a week change make no difference. But just guess until proven right or wrong.
I have socks on my sump for freshwater tank, and I change them every 2 days [the even ones] I change the filter on the wet/dry on the odd days.
Another great test. I change weekly and use a mesh type sock as opposed to the felt type. Makes me feel better that if Im away and miss a few days that its making little difference.
I would be interested in a test with regard to the difference vacuuming the snd bed makes. Im a vacuum exponent and do that along with blowing the live rock once a week. Leaving the return and gyres on so that all the much gets suspended and filtered. The much that comes up from under the rocks with the turkey baster when i blow is crazy sometimes!
Great info!!!! Thanx!!
This is why I use filter floss. Takes me all of 10 seconds to change out. Super cheap and I just toss it in the trash. It gives me a lever to pull if I want higher or lower nutrients.
Patrick Schultz
I 100% agree. Amazing what it removes and cheap enough to change every 2 or 3 days
Yeah just watched the video, I don't recommend people clean these thing multiple times a week way too much time over years. Filter floss is the way to go takes seconds vs 5-10 minutes
I don’t even know what filter floss is... I use a water pic & my dentist approved. But never heard of floss. I’m learning!!!!
I run a 200 micron sock..and still have crap floating in tank..even with sock and baffles in sump stuffed with polyfiber..and I change it all every 3 days
Hi brs yet another awesome detailed video thank you. Could you do a video on calibrating a refractomiter? I've read on forums you should use calibration fluid to get a more accurate result but the manufactures say to use ro water. Can you help?
Thanks.
I wish you would've added the roller mat into this experiment versus the filter socks!!! Maybe you could still consider doing that with the same test you just ran and see how much more effective the roller mat is then a filter sock.
as always very impressive results.thanks ryan.
Love these videos!! Keep up the good work!
Here's hoping you guys do a video on the new skimz all in one fuge reactor :) That would be ideal for my built in sump, where there was no room left for a fuge.
ever since i saw this i begin doing the same.thanks ryan
Would be interesting to see what the results would be with the filter sock not sitting in the water, have it suspended somehow.
I have a small bedroom tank. A modded 14gal biocube. I have the inTank filter box in the back and the water passes through filter pad at the top. Do you think filter socks and the pad would have roughly the same results. I usually change mine weekly.
Dumb question - when washing them in the washing machine, just leave the plastic ring on the sock? That's okay? What's the best cycle to use? Rinse only?
Have your controller do automatic sock changes ^___^
you guys kick ass on the videos!!! good work!
I have been and still am very interested in the roller, but after seeing the results of the daily sock change, I'm guessing that the roller will not work any better than changing the sock twice a week, and in fact could work worse, because of how thin the paper is. I hope that it comes back to work miracles, because I love the idea of never changing socks again.
What's a list of maintenance that should be done in the long term aspect? Ex: once every 6 months you should clean your powerheads, replace heaters once a year, etc.
Honestly I would have expected a much bigger difference from the twice a week to the once a week. The radical difference was not there. If socks are your only export method, yeah you gotta change them often.
Thanks for doing this guys, it was very enlightening.
It seems like changing it twice a week is something one can easily accomplish if you have six pair of socks for two sockets.
Basically, put two new ones in. Place the dirty socks outside in a bucket with ventilation holes. Repeat the same the next time. Leading to four dirty socks that you clean over the weekend. Then repeat the process for the next week. That way, you could effectively make time wasted on cleaning filter socks less stressing since you got a 'maintenance/clean' day once a week which is better than several times a week.
The reason for placing the socks outside in a ventilated bucket = To reduce smell that might occur with neglected cleaning and dry it, reducing Fungi expansion. Just make sure bug-screen the holes.
As for the result between every once a week change and once a week. I think this has to do with Bacteria as you discussed early in the video. I reckon it takes around two weeks for the bacteria to kick in and do its own filtration and inhabit the socks.
Especially so if the socks are cleaned in chlorinated water since not everyone is capable of utilizing fresh saltwater to clean their socks. IT is just waste of energy and R/O(?) water. But considering how the fresh water hobby prefer cleaning their sponge filters in already filthy water or in aged water to make sure the bacteria isn't killed. I think the same applies to the socks.
That is just my deduction of your Test.
Good information,as always !! 👍🏻
I have a small 30g and feed a small amount of pellets everyday and only once a week n cube of mysis. I clean my sock out the morning after the mysis cube and it seems to be effective as my nutriants dont get to high since iv been doing it that way.
So I am changing mine out about three times a week. I clean them by running clean hose water through them the soak then in 5 gallons of water with a few capfuls of bleach. Then I rinse them and shake them off. Finally I allow them to air dry for two days to make sure they are dry. Is this ok? More bleach?
Ryan, can you share the specs of the socks you used for this test? Vilt, nylon? How many micron? Thanks!
For this test, we used 200 micron felt filter socks
That's why I use mesh filter socks than felt ones less maintenance and last longer between cleaning only reason I used it to keep snails etc out of my sump and damaging my vertex protein skimmer if it was up to me I would not used filter socks at all
Interesting Test
Keep up the good work!!
How about do the same but with filter pads?
Do you mean changing them to a new sock or just a clean one
brs....I have a mixed nano reef, and I've got it pretty well stocked if not over stocked ,my question is ....is having a lot of lps that get target fed and actually digest food and poop it out, actually the same as having an over stocked reef tank with fish??
Awesome video!
how did you keep the water level stable?
A couple months ago I commented about the chinese 165w led units and you responded that you had ordered them. Are we going to see a video about them? I'm really curious-:p
Another great video!
Hey Ryan. What size tanks do you use in your testing setups as per this video?
Can you share what micron socks you're using in these tests?
Thanks guys, really loving these test videos with the multiple tanks. Keep up the good work!!
You guys are amazing. Thanks
Just not having detritus build up over time is enough reason for me to use a sock. I think the results would be more profound between using one or not as the tank ages and the control no sock tanks gets the detritus build up and nitrate and phosphates build up even higher
What was the micron size of the filter sock used in your test?
Great video this was very interesting! I love filter socks and my main reason for using them is I hate how dirty my sump gets without them and this then leads to clogging of my biological media and in turn a maintenance day on the sump. So for me changing a filter sock is easier and I don't mind doing it. Interesting though on the times socks are changed as I change mine once a week without fail. So I think after watching this I might try every two weeks instead.
Good job thank you 👍🏻
Cheers
JD
if you're not going to change your filter sock twice weekly, I think that really begs the question why use a filter sock at all? According to these results, not changing a filter sock after two weeks is just as good-or bad- as having no filter sock at all?
How about cleaning the filter sock, they are expensive here so buying two and cleaning one with 10% bleach solution seems like a reasonable idea
do you have any protein skimmers for my 35 gallon
Just from skimming through some of the comments, I did not see anyone asking, "Why wasn't live rock or some type of bio media that was seeded from established systems used in the testing tanks?". My hypnosis, with the beneficial bacteria on and in our live filters, adding the live rock or seeded bio media from established tanks to the testing tanks would bring more accurate and realistic results. Honestly, I do not know anyone who doesn't have rock or bio media in their tanks and think this would be a good place to resume the filter sock testing along with running a test tank with the roller mat as well. I think we'd get more accurate results. I know that when I fed heavily, changing the socks every 2-3 days was not as effective as changing them every 5-7 days. Also, most reefers run some type of skimmer. While I believe your filter sock testing showed good results and his merit for the testing, I think more realistic testing would be more beneficial than just some Bio-spira, fish and a pump. Just my 0.02 cents.
I haven't used prefiltration for years on any of my tanks. I just let nature take care of detritus and nuitrents. I do employ a little rowa in a reactor have an ATS and I can't see build up.of detritus on my sand. I do have cuc to help with that.
Use the socks to polish the water, cheato fuge to export nutrients.
3-4 days does not feel practical for me. Once a week.
Saw some marinepure in there. Did you stop zoevit?
Cheato and zoevit work well together?
what's the the more safe and easiest way to clean my filter sucks?
Ryan on filtration . does carbon strip trace elements from the water
Thanks
I'm curious if I could fill a sock with carbon? I have limited space and would rather not add a separate filter just for my carbon.
thank you
how to treat diatoms alge, and brown spots on corals
What lighting would you recommend for a 20 gallon long reef tank for under or around 100
Aight thank you
I change mine about every 2 weeks. I think I'm going to make an effort to do it weekly.
the video stated there wasn't any significant changes between changing them once a week or every two weeks... to see results you should change every 3-4 days