Poll: Mesh or Felt/Cloth? Which sock do you prefer?

[Roy 9121]

I was using clothe socks, but I was thinking of giving the mesh a try. What do you all think?

 

[Claus84]

Mesh, I find them less rigid and easier to clean

 

[TbyZ]

I was using clothe socks, but I was thinking of giving the mesh a try. What do you all think?

I believe mesh is for chemical media, like activated carbon.

the socks are for filtering finer sediment - detritus.

 

[Claus84]

I believe mesh is for chemical media, like activated carbon.

the socks are for filtering finer sediment - detritus.

I use either 100 or 200 micron mesh filter socks so it still catches the finer detritus

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I just recently switched to mesh and haven't noticed a huge difference. I'm excited about not have to work so hard to get them clean!

 

[TbyZ]

I just recently switched to mesh and haven't noticed a huge difference. I'm excited about not have to work so hard to get them clean!

Can i ask what micron your's is rated at, compared to you sock, & does it need changing as often?

 

[mckinleyw]

I normally use felt socks and yes they are a pain to clean. As of now I am sockless. seeing how this goes, I have a good size refugium and can easily suck detritus out if it gets too heavy for my liking. I kinda like not having to change out socks and no need to clean any either lol. I still like the felt over the mesh at this point IDK why though.

 

[Radman73]

Why not both? On my 60 I usually alternated. Mesh is definitely easier to clean but I always felt the felt "polished" the water better.

 

[Reef of Fillory]

Do the mesh socks stop microbubbles as well as the felt? I've been using a felt sock on my skimmer output to stop the bubbles, but would much rather use a mesh.

 

[Todd31]

Mesh, I find them less rigid and easier to clean

+1

 

[RyanCSGO]

I've always used felt socks until recently.
removed my socks a couple weeks ago.

 

[dbl]

For those of you that used to use socks and are now running sockless, have you noticed any "build up" of the nasty's in the drain section of your sump? Do you simply clean it out regularly? I would love to forgo the socks but have always been worried to do so. My fear has always been the amount of "stuff" in the socks just ends up in the sump. Would love to hear from those that have transitioned.

 

[zachxlutz]

For those of you that used to use socks and are now running sockless, have you noticed any "build up" of the nasty's in the drain section of your sump? Do you simply clean it out regularly? I would love to forgo the socks but have always been worried to do so. My fear has always been the amount of "stuff" in the socks just ends up in the sump. Would love to hear from those that have transitioned.

I have switched from using felt filter socks to using a filter pad between baffles after the drain lines. I haven't seen too much additional build up of detritus although I am due to clean and service my skimmer, so I'll be in there soon to see up close and personal how much detritus gets deposited in the drain chamber.

 

[Antics]

It's been a long time since I've used mesh over felt. Back when I used mesh I thought they stayed cleaner longer and were easier to clean BECAUSE they didn't work as well as felt. Did this change?

 

[RyanCSGO]

For those of you that used to use socks and are now running sockless, have you noticed any "build up" of the nasty's in the drain section of your sump? Do you simply clean it out regularly? I would love to forgo the socks but have always been worried to do so. My fear has always been the amount of "stuff" in the socks just ends up in the sump. Would love to hear from those that have transitioned.

honestly yes, there is definitely more stuff collecting in the sock area. but I'm ok with the trade off of not having to swap socks in and out and wash and clean them.
my skimmer pulls darker and more consistent as well as my chaeto reactor appears to be growing faster.
N03 less than 5, P04 undetectable since pulling the socks.

EDIT: N03 and P04 was the same using socks as well.

 

[Greybeard]

For those of you that used to use socks and are now running sockless, have you noticed any "build up" of the nasty's in the drain section of your sump? Do you simply clean it out regularly? I would love to forgo the socks but have always been worried to do so. My fear has always been the amount of "stuff" in the socks just ends up in the sump. Would love to hear from those that have transitioned.

No socks, and a sump monster. Get a rock crab, big emerald, gorilla crab, even a sally lightfoot can work. Something that will dig around in the sump and break up that detritus as it builds up.

 

[Grey Guy]

Can’t stand filter socks. Too hard to clean. I use homemade filter box with felt sheets, that change out and clean up easy.

 

[Rakie]

I don't use socks 90% of the time. if I'm gonna stir sand or blow off rocks i'll pop in a sock for a couple hours but that's about it..

 

[Brien]

I have both mesh and felt socks. I have seen every little difference in the amount of detritus in my sump using the mesh over the felt. However, mesh socks are significantly easier to clean, which is why I'm using mesh only now.

 

[Amps Reef Life]

I actually use both on my big tank but I do prefer Felt over mesh. I make the felt ones myself and toss them as they get real dirty.