• Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.

Filter sock?

howze01

NJRC Member
Well, my build is almost done! A couple things to add though. One being a filter sock in my sump. I'm going to be using a 20l as a sump and wanted to see if this will be OK for it:
http://Eshopps SM Micron Bag Holder-1 bag

Hoping to get it in the group buy (if you guys think it will be OK) so any help would be apprediated!
 

MadReefer

Vice President
Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
If the sock is 7" long should be okay. I use 12" felt only because when I bought my holder the guy gave me 4 and then I bought 4 more used. Others can state the difference between them if you are interested as I never bothered to check that.
 
I like those filter socks and once a week I change em out and throw them in the washer with some bleach..I have 6 and wouldnt mind getting 2 more..
 

howze01

NJRC Member
Ah, Gotcha. Anyone have ne of these? Just wondering what the size of that bulkhead at the top is.
 

TanksNStuff

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Seems like a waste of money IMO. I personally just use a pvc TEE on the end of my drain flex pipe. Just attach it so that the TEE side outlet part is at the height you want the top of your filter sock. Cap off the side outlet and then attach another 6" or so of flex pipe to the bottom of the TEE to direct the flow so that it discharges under the water line (that helps reduce air bubbles.) Now you just slide your sock up over the bottom piece of flex, and then twist the sock so the plastic hanger piece hangs on the side outlet part of the TEE.

Here are a few pics to show you what I mean:

TEE, Cap, and bottom flex pipe installed.

IMG_0692.jpg


Sliding the sock up the piping.

IMG_0693.jpg


Spin it 90 degrees counter-clockwise so the hanger hangs on the TEE outlet.

IMG_0694.jpg


Total cost is a few bucks worth of pvc fittings that you probably have laying around anyway and a small piece of hose. Much cheaper than $27 for some fancy looking custom acrylic contraption with a bulkhead. My method works perfect and removing / reinstalling a clean one is a snap. The key though is to have the flex piping so you can pull it towards you to get the end of the it out of the water when removing the dirty one. Hardpipe would still be possible, but you might release any debris into the sump when you dunk it below the water line.

A standard 1" PVC TEE with a cap is a tight/perfect fit for a 4" wide sock by the way.

Hope that helps.
 

falconut

NJRC Member
Mine is similar to TanksNStuff. I have a 1" drain line, then I added a 1"x2" reducer at the bottom and the 4" filter sock (looks like TanksNStuff's photo) just slips over the reducer. Works really well and saves money.
 

TanksNStuff

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I wanted to mention that too but I forgot before. In my pics you see the fabric type filter socks. I've since changed to the mesh type and find them 1000 times easier to clean. The mesh ones seem to collect just as much as the fabric ones did too. The gunk just doesn't stick to the mesh like it did to the fabric.
 

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
+1 on mesh socks. I run them under the faucet while rubbing fabric to fabric, and that cleans them up pretty well.
 

falconut

NJRC Member
I use the fabric and the debris does stick to them. I've had good luck sticking them in a bucket with 50/50 solution of bleach/water to clean them. I leave them for a day or two, then rinse out and let dry.
 

TanksNStuff

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
With the mesh ones, I just use my garden hose with sprayer attachment and rinse them out with that. I do the outside first, then turn them inside-out and clean the inside. Takes me less than 2 minutes to have it looking like new. ;)
 
I take mine into the stationary tub and turn them inside out and shake them so I can collect the amphipods that have become trapped. The I rinse them under the faucet, inside and outside until all the scum has been rinsed away. I then put them into a solution of 50/50 bleach and water for a couple of days, then rinse and hang out to dry.
 
Top