DIY filter socks CHEAP!!

[muddskipper]

WalMart crafts section sells polyester sheets by the yard... at only 1.97 a square yard its cheaper than buying the socks.. just cut an sew up a side or two an tada.. same materials as the ones you buy..

If you really need a pic of something this easy ill be happy to post ya one! Figure at 1.97 a yard it'll save alot of ppl alot of money..

 

[Yaktop]

as long as they dont have fibers that float away and get stuck in fish gills. some of those cheap poly's are cheap.

 

[NanoReefer]

I use the same stuff from a craft store. I have had no problems at all, I make the socks and then I rinse it really well with RO/DI. I have been doing this for about 2 months and it removes a lot of waste from the water column although not like a 1 micron sock, which I think is overkill anyway.

I change mine right after feeding, this really cuts down on the waste. For the price, you can make a lot and change them out almost daily, eliminating the nitrate buildup fears with filter socks.

 

[Kevin McG]

I planned on doing this as well

 

[Kevin McG]

is polyester the best material?

 

[RandyStacyE]

Check out http://randystacye.com/diy_filter_sock.htm

I use FELT not polyfill sheet. Once used up just turn it inside out, rinse it and throw it in the washer machine (no bleach or detergent).

 

[NanoReefer]

I have used felt as well and there is no discernable difference as felt can be made from many different things. Felt can be acrylic, polyester, polypropylene etc.... Micron bags are made from polyester or polypropylene and/or nylon and teflon.
I belive the term FELT refers to the look and feel of the material. From Wikipedia: "Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers. The fibers form the structure of the fabric."

The key being how dense and thick it is to filter smaller particles.