Integral9 April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 My 135 is actually my first experience w/ filter socks, even though I've been in the hobby for years, so I am a bit of noob when it comes to these things. I've been swapping the socks out as needed. At first this was every couple of days, then every several days, then a week, now it seems I can easily go more than a week. Basically, when the water level in the sock starts to rise up above the water in the sump, I change them out. Is it normal to wait that long before swapping them out? My skimmer is also producing very little now and I have it turned almost all the way up. When I change them, I rinse them and clean them out with warm tap water and hang them up to dry to reuse. I also check them for holes and check the stitching to see if it's coming undone. So far so good and I have had the same 4 nylon socks (I use 2 at a time) for about 6 months. Should I be replacing these socks more often? I find it really easy to clean the nylon socks as I can just rub them together to remove almost all the filtered stuff. Is there any benefit to using the felt socks? I think it might be harder to clean these and they would wear out / fall a part faster. No?
Ryan S April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 The felt catch more stuff... But are harder to clean and get clogged faster. I always liked the mesh ones more. Maybe they don't catch as much small stuff, but they still do a good job grabbing junk from the water. And like you noted, they are much easier to clean. And you can reuse them for a very long time as well. I think the fact you went from changing them daily to weekly to beyond is a sign your tank is getting cleaner and cleaner as it ages. That's a good thing. There is no requirement to change them every X days. I think you're strategy of changing them when they get clogged/full is fine. I used to change mine weekly when I did water changes, because it was easy for me to do at that time. But if they are more or less clean and you wait a couple weeks between changing them, that would be fine.
Integral9 April 23, 2012 Author April 23, 2012 Thanks Ryan. It's helpful to know I am on the right track. I might try the felt socks one day, but for now I am content with the nylon socks.
Marc Weaver April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 I use 100 micron felt and they have to be changed every day or they overflow. It's a pain. I wash them in the washer with bleach and let them air dry. I have had mine for 6 months so far and they are still holding up fine. They last longer when they are new, but once they get loaded for the first time it cuts the usable time in half because you can never get everything out of them.
Jan April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 +1. I turn them inside out and wash in washer with a little bleach. No soap. I use 100 micron felt and they have to be changed every day or they overflow. It's a pain. I wash them in the washer with bleach and let them air dry. I have had mine for 6 months so far and they are still holding up fine. They last longer when they are new, but once they get loaded for the first time it cuts the usable time in half because you can never get everything out of them.
scott711 April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 I don't like the felt ones. I use the nylon ones. What micron are the ones you are using?
Integral9 April 23, 2012 Author April 23, 2012 I don't like the felt ones. I use the nylon ones. What micron are the ones you are using? iirc: they are 200 micron filters
STEVE April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 I like the ones with the gold stripe across the toes and come up around my calf. Everytime I ask someone about filter socks, the answer I get is always the same....SOCKS ARE FOR FEET !
Marc Weaver April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 (edited) I like the 80's knee-high with the double-stripe myself HAHA. Wait a minute Steve, we are talking about the same type I think!! But seriously, IME water clarity is better with filter socks and you don't have to clean out your sump as much. Edited April 23, 2012 by Marc Weaver
STEVE April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 You are correct...about both things !!! Just have to keep changing them out and cleaning them...P.I.T.S !!
Integral9 April 23, 2012 Author April 23, 2012 +1. I turn them inside out and wash in washer with a little bleach. No soap. That's a good idea, except for the fallout when my wife realizes I've been putting filter socks in her brand new LG side loading washer.
Ryan S April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 another option to filter socks: walmart sells bags of filter floss (used to stuff pillows/stuffed animals) for like $3 for a huge bag in the sewing department. i stuff a handful into the baffles of my sump. does the same thing as a filter sock, but it's easier and cheaper. no washing. just change it with your weekly or biweekly water change (it will be dirty) and stuff a new handful in. easy and cheap.
Integral9 April 23, 2012 Author April 23, 2012 My wife likes candy striped toe-socks. More surface area to filter and you get to wiggle your toes!
Marc Weaver April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 That's a good idea, except for the fallout when my wife realizes I've been putting filter socks in her brand new LG side loading washer. You need to get her under control
STEVE April 23, 2012 April 23, 2012 Great Ryan....now everyone will be going home tearing open thier pillows and stuffed animals!
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