Mesh Sock Question

[chaoticreefer]

Hi everyone,
I have never tried a mesh sock in replacement of felt socks, but been wanting to. I like to think felt socks are part of our export techniques, obviously they are when it comes to trapping unused free floating decaying food and crap, but I like to think they also remove nutrients by bacteria getting trapped in there. Do you feel mesh socks catch bacteria just as good as the felt ones? If so, do you feel 200 microns is enough? While felts are rated for 200 microns they trap smaller size particles too, while the bigger "holes" get clogged by the way they are manufactured with filters going randomly arranged. Whereas, mesh is orderly assembled together.

 

[GoVols]

To keep down the frustration of using a washing machine and socks clogging:

Went with the Red Sea 225 micron nylon mesh filter socks and my water is still clear.

You can just rinse those with your kitchen sink sprayer or with a garden hose and plop them right back in. Last about six months as well.

A felt would give more polish, but they're just not worth the hassle in my life...

Good luck!!

 

[andrewey]

I doubt any bacteria of any significance is trapped by either, unless you are talking about the bacteria that is growing on the surface of whatever larger particles are trapped. Most of the baceria in our tanks are around 0.5-2 microns. Even though 200 micron socks will clog with time and the pores will become smaller, I haven't seen any evidence they filter down that small even under these conditions. Coupled with the fact that the flow will be reduced under these conditions, I suspect you will export more bacteria growing on the sock that hasn't been changed in a while as opposed to pure filtration. Therefore, you're really asking if growing bacteria on any surface is an effective means of nutrient export.