Filter socks are used as an effective first stage of an aquarium’s filtration process. They should be placed so that water coming from the tank filters into the filter sock first, removing uneaten food, detritus, organic waste, dust, and other small particulates from the aquarium water. This dramatically improves water quality and reduces maintenance on pumps, reduced sump cleaning, and less impact on the biological filtration by removing the excessive waste that would otherwise break down in the system. In addition, the routine use and rotation of filter socks will help reduce ammonia and nitrate-producing organic waste from accumulating.