Filter sock... Yes or no?

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by xenon

We use 150micron mesh socks, not the felt type.

Any advantage to the mesh ones

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by xenon

We use 150micron mesh socks, not the felt type.

Originally Posted by Titus99

Any advantage to the mesh ones

Also wonder if any advantage. I assume better flow through as thinner?

[sphelps]

I think mesh ones are just basically higher micron, they don't clog as quick but also won't filter things quite as fine. I imagine they clean easier as well.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I think mesh ones are just basically higher micron, they don't clog as quick but also won't filter things quite as fine. I imagine they clean easier as well.

So would you say a 150 micron mesh is not as efficient as a 150 micron felt

[Reef Pilot]

If you are going to use a filter sock, I would recommend going with the 7" size vs 4" to last longer before changes. I use a 7" 200 micron felt sock with my 130 g, and it lasts about a week before it needs to be changed.

If you do a search there have been a few threads on filter socks recently, and how to clean them, etc.

I only started using filters socks recently. My sump is definitely cleaner, and my skimmer neck doesn't accumulate gunk on it as quickly, so it requires less cleaning, too. And for sure my water in the display tank is clearer, with less fine particulate noticeable in the flow stream.

[WindowMaker]

I use rolls of filter sock material (made by coralife) and it serves a few purposes. My sump doesnt have a proper bubble trap, so it solves that issue. I do find they clog up pretty much daily though, especially after any form of maintenance or feeding. Ill look to correct this in the future, but it is what it is for now.

[Madreefer]

Old thread but good topic.
I took my filter socks off last winter so my wife did'nt have to change them while I was working in the praries. They've been off ever since and my SPS have been growing way faster and thriving. Water looks just as clear. Little more detritus in my sump is only thing i've noticed.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Titus99

Any advantage to the mesh ones

Biggest advantage is they are clean after washing them.

The felt socks never got perfectly clean.

[PFoster]

I use the 7" felt and change them every couple days.
On our fish system we change them every day due to the heavy feedings.

My feeling is that they catch large particulate matter and allow me to remove it before it breaks down or accumulates in the sump.

I feel felt catches more that mesh, but it is definitely hard to get them clean.
We run ours threw the wash 3-4 times in a row and they never go back to 100 % clean but close enough as far as I am concerned. I used to wash them once, then turn them inside out and wash them again. I did find they got cleaner but they also seemed to wear out faster. Now I just wash them a few times in a row without inverting them.

[PFoster]

Felt or mesh thats up to you but I would never run a system now without them.