Reef nutrition

Hyposalinity

When using socks expect to change them every 3 days, more if they are lower micron socks. If you can’t or won't change them roughly every 3 days, it's probably better not to have them at all. As they become a detritus trap and the stuff in them just rots in the tank and increases po4 and no3.


When water rises above the level of socks it means they are full and clogged, only gets worse the more full they are.

Water should pass through but not rise above them a Solid indicator of when to change them, likey 3-4 days for avg tank could be more or less to be fair with different tank conditions.


If you want to use pads or floss that you just toss same 3-4 days applied , water shouldn't rise above them and shouldn't be packed in the cup so tight that water backs up. You can get them for normally under $20 and Neptunes carriers them or maybe a bar member has some laying around. I would offer but I only have two remaining (gave my extra ones away already)as back ups for my own tank should I need to take a break from socks.
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Thanks Michael for the useful information.. thing I didnt understand is that even after I cleaned the socks, it was still overflowing.. Anyhow, I feel I can replace floss every few days so will give it a shot and see how it goes.. if it gets too hectic, will look into plumbing the reefmat
 
spuri87 said:
Thanks Michael for the useful information.. thing I didnt understand is that even after I cleaned the socks, it was still overflowing.. Anyhow, I feel I can replace floss every few days so will give it a shot and see how it goes.. if it gets too hectic, will look into plumbing the reefmat
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Floss is just polyester pillow fill. You can get it from Joann’s, Michael’s, hobby lobby. Etc. it’s cheap there. Some come in sheets. Some come like clouds. A puff ball.

As for the filter socks. They come in different microns. Dunno what you have. Normally it’s like 150-250 micron. If it’s not flowing. You might have 5-10 micron in there. Which would get clogged quickly
 
Turkeysammich said:
Floss is just polyester pillow fill. You can get it from Joann’s, Michael’s, hobby lobby. Etc. it’s cheap there. Some come in sheets. Some come like clouds. A puff ball.

As for the filter socks. They come in different microns. Dunno what you have. Normally it’s like 150-250 micron. If it’s not flowing. You might have 5-10 micron in there. Which would get clogged quickly
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Just make sure it's not fire retarded type of floss. With that chemical addictive
 
200 micron felt socks are great when cleaning stirring stuff up polishes the water relatively quick. But overflow after about four days and pita to clean. I flip inside out spray out with garden hose then toss in washing machine with white vinegar or sometimes bleach if real dirty but never bleach and vinegar together!
Regular basis I use 200-300 Mesh micron socks which are super easy to spray out after a quick vinegar soak! I did glue egg crate in the overflow baffle going into the return chamber making a shelf which I run original Poly-fil from Fairfieldworld witch comes in rolls/ batting or loose stuffing fil..This is useful when cleaning the sump keeping muck debris from clouding up the tank above..
However I take out all filtration socks/ floss when I go outa town.
Like Michael said above other brands use fire retardant chemicals so I stick with the original Poly-fil Fairfieldworld products which Ive spoken to directly confirming no chemicals!
I only toss is the mesh socks four days a week other three days use no mechanical filtration
 
I get the 24 inch wide filter floss then cut down to fit more universal since I use it in hang on back filters (HOB) or other things..
The Poly-fil batting works great for polishing but clogs quicker so I use floss instead or the regular Poly-fil stuffing..


www.michaels.com

The Original Poly-fil® Premium Polyester Fiber Fill Box, 5lb. | Michaels

Purchase The Original Poly-fil® Premium Polyester Fiber Fill Box, 5lb. at Michaels.com. Craft cuddly pals at home using this Poly-fil fiber fill.
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Hypo (Day 30):
Today marks completion of 1 entire month of being in Hypo (day 1 being when I reached 1.009).. Instructions on HF and R2R says keep it in hypo from 30-35 days AFTER last spot was seen.. To keep it safe I will stay at this salinity level for another 10-15 days from now.. There are mixed reviews on how long one can keep the tank hypo, with folks suggesting 45-60 days max but other people saying they were able to keep hypo for as long as 1 year.

I see Blood spot under right fin of one of my yellow tangs. After Convict, now my Blue tang is turning into a bully.. makes me wonder if hypo plays a role in fish's agreesion.. it's not nipping (at least when I am around), but I can see it chasing the yellow tangs anytime they go close to the nori clip.. FWIW, I have 2 clips on my tank.. I see yellow's have reduced diet.. I am not sure if the blood spot is an injury or result of bullying or something else (Uronema, doesnt look like it but maybe?) Cardinal still has 1 cloudy eye, seems to be less bubbly but more like a white patch on the eye. Here is a video of the yellow tang's blood spot under the right fin, let me know if I should think about treating it or just wait & watch.


 
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