Filter socks,should I or shouldn't I?????

[jason sartain]

OK how much of a difference did you see after installing filter socks on your systems?
Did the corals or fish seem different,or just cleaner looking water?
I'm thinking of doing it just because,and I would have to re plumb my sump to do it,which is a different issue all together.
I don't have any kind of param issue's but I think it will help get some of the "bad junk" out of the water,but will it also get all the "good junk" out of the water like pods and suspended foods in the water?

 

[ichthyoid]

Try the socks if you are inclined, but please don't wash 'em with your underwear, the way jmaneyapanda says he does it. I still can't get that visual out of my head-lol.

 

[acroholic]

Using filter socks should make your sump a bit less dirty. Main thing with socks, however, is to rinse them regularly because if you don't, they just turn into nitrate factories. The idea is to use them for mechanical filtration and remove the stuff they catch before it degrades.

I don't use the felt type discussed here lately. I use nylon mesh socks. they clean in about 2 minutes. No washing, no bleaching. you can buy them in the same micron pore sizes you can buy felt in. Same size, same type plastic neck, except they are super easy to clean. Turn them inside out and blast with a garden hose and place back onto service. I've been using the same three 200 micron socks for months now and they are in great shape.

Some here will say the felt filters better, but I don;t agree. A 100 micron pore size is a 100 micron pore size no matter what it is made of. Mine clogs up in 3-4 days and needs cleaning just like any other.
Dave

 

[jason sartain]

Thanks Dave.

 

[ichthyoid]

Acroholic;414841 wrote: Using filter socks should make your sump a bit less dirty. Main thing with socks, however, is to rinse them regularly because if you don't, they just turn into nitrate factories. The idea is to use them for mechanical filtration and remove the stuff they catch before it degrades.

I don't use the felt type discussed here lately. I use nylon mesh socks. they clean in about 2 minutes. No washing, no bleaching. you can buy them in the same micron pore sizes you can buy felt in. Same size, same type plastic neck, except they are super easy to clean. Turn them inside out and blast with a garden hose and place back onto service. I've been using the same three 200 micron socks for months now and they are in great shape.

Some here will say the felt filters better, but I don;t agree. A 100 micron pore size is a 100 micron pore size no matter what it is made of. Mine clogs up in 3-4 days and needs cleaning just like any other.
Dave

Where do you find the mesh types? Thx

 

[loudog42362]

ive got some of the 36 in 200 micron mesh ones i traded some of them to jason

 

[mojo]

Acroholic;414841 wrote: Some here will say the felt filters better, but I don;t agree. A 100 micron pore size is a 100 micron pore size no matter what it is made of. Mine clogs up in 3-4 days and needs cleaning just like any other.
Dave

I thought the same thing until I actually tried the felt ones. Man, what a difference....

 

[mojo]

They just seem to strip the water clean. The mesh and felt may both say 100 micron, but the felt does a lot better job of producing clean water. It may just be a difference in the microbubbles, but I can definitely tell a difference in the display tank. The tradeoff, of course, is the higher maintenance....

 

[jennm]

I'm chuckling to myself (yeah, I'm losing it)... Ich started it with the re-visit of Jeremy washing his filter socks with his skivvies...

Then the felt socks vs. the nylon ones... reminds me of an old (and bad) joke...

"Are those felt, ma'am?" .... "they are now!"

Perhaps you had to be there...

But seriously folks... David - where do you get the nylon socks? I'd be interested in giving those a try.

Jenn

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I like the felt ones. They feel better on my feet. Wait......

Seriously, I have used both, and despite the increased maintenance, I like the felt ones a million times better.

Regardless, heres some nylon ones:

 

[jennm]

Interesting. How do you fit those in your shoes? Or do you just put them over your shoes?

That netting looks a lot like the same sort that some of the net manufacturers use. Listing doesn't specify the micron size. That particular one doesn't look very fine.

The ones I'm using at home currently, have a nylon liner and what looks/feels like polyester on the outside.

The large ones I have for shop use are felt (insert joke here).

Whatever they're made of, I bleach them all the same way - NOT with any unmentionables.

Jenn

 

[jennm]

BTW... I love the Engrish on that listing

Reduce fish drop into your sand tank or die

WTH???

That almost sounds as silly as we do.

Jenn

 

[jmaneyapanda]

New signature. Thank you, Mr. filter sock man.

 

[james s_]

I use both on my system... the nylon filter bags are nice for longer periods of time without getting backed up and overflowing....so if you arent in the mood to replace filter socks every 2-3 days then their a good choice... I personally have never noticed a difference between the two as far as filtering is concerned..but the nylons are WAY easier to clean as Dave mentioned and for me thats a huge plus.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

James S.;415172 wrote: I use both on my system... the nylon filter bags are nice for longer periods of time without getting backed up and overflowing....so if you arent in the mood to replace filter socks every 2-3 days then their a good choice... I personally have never noticed a difference between the two as far as filtering is concerned..but the nylons are WAY easier to clean as Dave mentioned and for me thats a huge plus.

That means they are catching as much, and then whats the purpose?

 

[acroholic]

The filter sock Jeremy pointed out is basically just a mesh media bag with a rubber ring. When I first found out that there were mesh filter socks, these were the first ones I saw. I bought a couple of them. They don't even tell you what the micron rating is. These bags are next to useless. I hope those that don't like the mesh ones are not basing their opinion on these ones Jeremy pointed out:

http://i10.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/f3/db/00d9_1.JPG" alt="" />

Then I found the real deal at [IMG]http://www.filterbag.com">www.filterbag.com</a>. They make felt and mesh styles. The mesh bags use the 4 and 7 inch plastic necks and same construction techniques as the felt ones, and are available in pore sizes from 1-1200 microns. I use the 200 micron nylon mesh bag in a 4 inch plastic neck size.

Here are pics of a new one I still have. I have been using the same three in my 210/100 gallon setup for over six months, and they are so well made there hasn't been any need to replace them yet. And my water is crystal clear using these. Takes 3 minutes to clean them and place them back in service.

Note in the third pic the mesh is so stiff it holds its shape while being held sideways.

[IMG]http://www.discusdave.com/images/CIMG3692.JPG" alt="" />

[IMG]http://www.discusdave.com/images/CIMG3693.JPG" alt="" />

[IMG]http://www.discusdave.com/images/CIMG3694.JPG" alt="" />

If anyone was wanting to try but doesn't think they filter as well as felt, then if you use a 200 micron felt, go down to a 150 micron mesh or a 100 micron mesh size. The ease of maintenance with these is just light years past felt.

Anyways, use what you like, of course, but I didn't want anyone basing their opinion on that cheap filter bag in the ebay auction. It is nothing like the ones I use.

Dave

 

[lilrobb]

Good stuff Dave,

but at 25 minimum order I will need at least 3 people to go in on an order with me...

 

[ichthyoid]

Thanks Dave. Do they rate the mesh types like cartridge filters are,

# of microns as either 'nominal' or 'absolute'

That would make a huge difference in expected performance/side-by-side comparisons.

 

[acroholic]

LilRobb;415197 wrote: Good stuff Dave,

but at 25 minimum order I will need at least 3 people to go in on an order with me...

Robb,
If you call their sales number and ask them to sell you under the minimum, they will. They sold me just six 50 micron socks when I was trying to ultra filter the water in one of my anti-algae campaigns.

 

[jennm]

Or we could arrange a pooled order...