Filter sock... Yes or no?

[sphelps]

I don't think whether you need them or not is the question as you really don't need them. I've never used them and my tanks have always done well. The question is do YOU want them, not sure a poll will answer that for you.

[kien]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Time to change the "wrongs".

Originally Posted by sphelps

I don't think whether you need them or not is the question as you really don't need them. I've never used them and my tanks have always done well. The question is do YOU want them, not sure a poll will answer that for you.

^agreed. I don't think it is "wrong" to use them or not use them. It's just a choice.

[bkelly]

It must let more nutrients back into the tank, I have started not using one and my LPS/anems are really full/ not sure how itll be on the SPS. I like the idea of using one for a short while after stirring up the nutrients. My Brains/acans etc always recede while my SPS flourished using socks i just thought that its very low nutrient system that way if changed regularly. So hoping to see better results . Probably get some differences in the SPS though.

[xenon]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.