Filter socks

[cichlid2006]

Hi guys,
I am sorting out a new sump and this one will only use filter socks for mechanical filtration (thanks to jcardona1) as sponges and a 50 micron pad do not seem to be doing well enough for me.
For a reasonable price all I can find are 16-18" socks which will not fully extend in a 15" tall sump. They will be extended maybe 13" at most but they come in a pack of 3 with me choosing which micron size's I want from 400 to 0.5 micron.
The single monofilament nylon ones are 10" long but one sock is double the price of the 3 pack.

Will the 16/18" socks still perform well or do I have to buy the single 10" long ones so they are fully extended?

Does it matter what material they are made of, I can get nylon monofilament, Polypropylene Absolute-Rated High Efficiency and Polypropylene Felt?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Laticauda]

Don't get the felt ones. I bought one, and have to beat the crap out of it 2x per week cos it clogs so quickly. I spent $15+tax on it though, so I'm gonna use it!

Wish I could find them in my area made of something different, but the LFS only sell this kind (so you have to buy another one less than a week later. I hate LFS here.)

 

[akskirmish]

Mind telling me where you are getting the choices from...I need to order some myself it seems....

 

[jcardona1]

The only place you should buy your filter socks from

http://www.mcmaster.com/#filter-bags/=alsg9i

 

[jcardona1]

I order the 'polyester felt bags with galvanized steel retaining ring'. Been using these for a while now, and they've get cleaned in the washing machine over and over, they continue to work just fine.

 

[cichlid2006]

Don't get the felt ones. I bought one, and have to beat the crap out of it 2x per week cos it clogs so quickly. I spent $15+tax on it though, so I'm gonna use it!

Wish I could find them in my area made of something different, but the LFS only sell this kind (so you have to buy another one less than a week later. I hate LFS here.)

Mind telling me where you are getting the choices from...I need to order some myself it seems....

I have looked on ebay.com as even with international postage they work out a bit cheaper than they are here in the UK. Ebay.com has quite a selection of Nylon monofilament socks, the following seller is in the States I have just saved him as a favourite seller hence the .co.uk in the address. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/DudaDiesel-Alternative-Energy?_rdc=1 This guy sells the nylon and the polyester kind that is singed to seal it.

The trick is to look at the biodiesel stores. The filter socks are used a lot by people who filter veg oil for their cars. These types of stores seem to offer multi-packs quite cheap. On ebay.co.uk I can get a pack of three with differing sizes as mentioned in my OP.
Check the lengths though as they offer lengths of 16" up to 32".

 

[akskirmish]

Thanks for info

 

[cichlid2006]

I order the 'polyester felt bags with galvanized steel retaining ring'. Been using these for a while now, and they've get cleaned in the washing machine over and over, they continue to work just fine.

Out of curiosity how are your particulates in the tank?
Do you even notice them at all as I noticed in another thread, if I remembered correctly, you use 25 micron.

Also, how about them being fully stretched out or not, will it make a difference?

You are welcome akskirmish.

 

[jcardona1]

Out of curiosity how are your particulates in the tank?
Do you even notice them at all as I noticed in another thread, if I remembered correctly, you use 25 micron.

Also, how about them being fully stretched out or not, will it make a difference?

You are welcome akskirmish.

My water is crystal clear! I was reading on some site that the human eye cannot see particles suspended in water that are smaller than 40 microns. The fish really do appear as they're floating in air! Since I'm using a small sump, I purchased the small socks, I got the 4x8" socks, they work perfect for a little 10g sump

 

[jcardona1]

Here's the discussion I read:

After 30 days the test results were extremely impressive. To put things in prospective, Particle Measuring Systems said that the human eye cannot see articles smaller than 40 microns floating in water. The Advantage Bead Filter consistently filtered particles down to 27 microns. Add the Advantage Glass Filter to the system and it filtered out particles down to an amazing 7 microns. This explains why so many people swear by the Advantage filters if you are looking for the clearest water possible. (see testimonials)