why does a micron sock affect skimmer performance?

[afbengochea]

I usually put a micron sock on the output of the skimmer in order to keep microbubbles from going into the showtank. Whenever I put a new sock in the water, the skimmer seems to work alot better. Nice dry foam starts rising up the neck of the skimmer. It usually lasts a couple of minutes but I was curious why this happens. I was thinking that maybe the sock could be sucking up somthing in the water to let the skimmer work better? Any thoughts?

[Little Luey]

I am not sure why the filter sock does that to the skimmer, maybe the skimmer gets more of the smaller stuff in to it when the filter sox catches the big stuff.
But really just about anything we do in the tank, specially when you put your hands in it is going to affect the skimmer somehow. This is why some guys say not to try to adjust the skimmer all the time, because arter whatever we put in the water goes away the skimmer should go back to performing the way it was before.

[Geoff]

the only thing i can think of is the filter sock adds more back pressure to the skimmer. makes it a bit harder for it to work. that does not make a whole lot of sense though. the water level in the skimmer would get higher and cause a nice wet skimmate.

G~

[afbengochea]

thats what I was thinking the first time I put the sock on the output, then I did a little experiment and basically just dunked the sock in the water next to the skimmer and it did the same thing. Im thinking that the sock is probably removing oils or something that might make it easier for the bubbles to form and multiply

[Little Luey]

the sox may have something on it, have you wash the filter sox? if you did, you did not use fabric softener I hope?

[PelagicMagic]

There is something in the sock like Lucey said. I am not sure what but I have the same thing happen when I add a clean sock that I just washed.

[afbengochea]

clean sock, never been used

[Tim224DT]

When you did your experiment was your hand in the tank also?


Tim

[afbengochea]

nope, I made sure just to put the sock in the water and nothing else.

[tashier]

I have the same thing happen every time I put in a freshly washed and bleached sock. It lasts for a couple minutes and then goes away. Probably just some residual poisonous chemical on the sock from the washing machine. Nothing to worry about.