I have had an ongoing informal debate with another ARC Member for several years about which is better, mesh or felt, and that continued a couple days ago, and I think I finally got my reasoning for why I have chosen mesh over felt for several years.
I think it has to do with what is your purpose for using a mesh sock in the first place? The obvious answer for most, I think, is mechanical filtration. But ask yourself one further question: regardless of type of sock, do you only replace your socks when they overflow or need to be replaced, or are you proactive and rinse/replace every couple days?
I started keeping SPS tanks shortly after getting into reefing, and the "keep the tank as clean as possible" mantra was always there. You know, get as many organics out of the tank as possible before they decay, so that led me to the practice of every other day rinse/replacing of filter socks. Mesh socks lend themselves to that easier than felt socks do. Whereas mesh socks just need to be rinsed out with water, a 2-3 minute procedure, felt socks require machine washing. Every 2-3 months I do a bleach soak on my mesh socks or a couple hours, and they are ready to go again.
That single difference is why I prefer mesh socks. They suit my style of maintenance practice, which is removal of filtered organics every couple days.
If someone lets their felt socks accumulate organics for many days before they change or wash them, then the socks are basically nitrate factories. They get mechanical filtration, but not the benefit of organics removal prior to decay to nitrate. Not a problem at all if that is not a concern to the person using them.
So I think if you are the type that waits many days between filter sock changes and only changes socks when you have to, there may not be any reason to use felt over mesh, or mesh over felt. But if you rinse/replace every couple days, mesh may be easier to use than felt.
I think it has to do with what is your purpose for using a mesh sock in the first place? The obvious answer for most, I think, is mechanical filtration. But ask yourself one further question: regardless of type of sock, do you only replace your socks when they overflow or need to be replaced, or are you proactive and rinse/replace every couple days?
I started keeping SPS tanks shortly after getting into reefing, and the "keep the tank as clean as possible" mantra was always there. You know, get as many organics out of the tank as possible before they decay, so that led me to the practice of every other day rinse/replacing of filter socks. Mesh socks lend themselves to that easier than felt socks do. Whereas mesh socks just need to be rinsed out with water, a 2-3 minute procedure, felt socks require machine washing. Every 2-3 months I do a bleach soak on my mesh socks or a couple hours, and they are ready to go again.
That single difference is why I prefer mesh socks. They suit my style of maintenance practice, which is removal of filtered organics every couple days.
If someone lets their felt socks accumulate organics for many days before they change or wash them, then the socks are basically nitrate factories. They get mechanical filtration, but not the benefit of organics removal prior to decay to nitrate. Not a problem at all if that is not a concern to the person using them.
So I think if you are the type that waits many days between filter sock changes and only changes socks when you have to, there may not be any reason to use felt over mesh, or mesh over felt. But if you rinse/replace every couple days, mesh may be easier to use than felt.
Can I find "mesh" filter socks just anywhere? Also, I assume the mesh is a non-corrosive metal?
