I’m a strong believer in using filter socks to capture detris from the water column. As long as you replace them every few days, they shouldn’t be a problem creating nitrates. I’ve been using off-the-shelf filter sock holders in my sump. Although they work OK, they’re not as cleanly designed and simple to use, as I would like. One of the problems is that I’m using a 4″ and a 7″ filter sock holders to handle 3 inlets. That means I need to replace different size filter socks periodically and removing these socks from their holders are a pain in the butt. Recently at MACNA, I saw some custom sumps that had integrated filter socks holders. I’m going to copy these designs into my own in sump filter sock holder. I’ll be building this holder from 1/4″ pvc sheet. Much easier to work w/ than acrylic (but just as expensive!). Here’s the initial design. Water from the display and frag tank will be plumbed into a 18″x 4″x 10″chamber. This should reduce water splashing noise from these returns. The water chamber overflows into the filter sock holding area and into the skimmer area of my sump. What I like about this design is that the socks can be easily removed without moving the plumbing around, unlike existing hang-on filter sock holders. I may add an additional baffle to redirect all the water, coming through the filter socks, directly to my skimmer’s pumps intake nozzle. This should really make my filter system work at it’s optimum potential.
