Filter socks, heaven or hell

[p7willm]

I have a Red Sea tank so, of course, the filter socks are a non standard size and cost $10 each, not a lot in comparison with the thousands spent on the rest but it feels like more than it should. The mesh ones last for a week and are fairly easy to clean but the felt ones catch more small stuff, are harder to clean, and need to be changed every couple of days.

Can I take the mesh sock and stick a bunch of polyfill in it to give it better filtration and still have it easy to clean and when the fill gets really dirty I can throw it out for small change?

Or is there some other trick, besides screwing with the holder to make it fit real socks?

 

[jsker]

Make them yourself out of craft felt from Joann fabric and get a plastic embroidery hoop for the top of the sock. I used a 60% coupon last weekend and and I am going to make 60+ 4.5 inch by 11 inch sock for $14.00
I toss them every 3 to 4 days

 

[twilliard]

Make them then yourself out of craft felt for Joann fabric and get a plastic embroidery hoop for the top of the sock. I used a 60% coupon last weekend and and I am going to make 60+ 4.5 inch by 11 inch sock for $14.00
I toss them every 3 to 4 days

Spot on my freind!

 

[p7willm]

Its more obnoxious than that. The Red Sea holder has a cutout for a metric sized plastic ring. Also the plastic ring has to be thin because the holder slides out to change socks and in to use. The sock is under the built in ATO tank and if it is too high you can not slide it back in.

Thats why you can't use normal 4" socks. The ring is just a little too wide to fit down into the holder and resting on top of the holder they are too high to slide back under the top off.

 

[shoelaceike]

Make them yourself out of craft felt from Joann fabric and get a plastic embroidery hoop for the top of the sock. I used a 60% coupon last weekend and and I am going to make 60+ 4.5 inch by 11 inch sock for $14.00
I toss them every 3 to 4 days

I do the same....use 1/4 tubing for the top.....it's probably the best find in the hobby so far

 

[Broadfield]

You can modify the Red Sea trays to hold the standard 4" socks AND still be able to slide them out. I much prefer the felt 200 because they catch more. I simply have a dozen in rotation. I change them out about every 3-4 days. Then once I have ten dirty ones, I toss them in the washing machine and wash them in hot water... I do that twice. Done and done... doesn't get much easier than that. The socks last about 4-5 months.... then I buy another dozen.

 

[mrtian97]

@Broadfield , do you have certain brand or place to buy the std 4" socks, I bought from Amazon couple times and get 2 different quality (one was breaking apart faster). I like the material as what Red Sea has but wants it in std sock to save $$. Thanks