My sump socks are not as efficient as they can be because they are slightly below the water level (although I do have the PVC pipe going directly into the socks). As a result, I know some detritus does float out of the socks but within the mechanical chamber. Although I have seen sock openings above the water surface and still see detritus floating around as well so there's other factors there.
Anyway since I do have chambers, I ended adding poret blocks covering opening where water flows to the second, biological, chamber. This second mechanical filtration does help, but I wouldn't use it without my socks in my situation. Like someone said above, it depends on how your sump will be set-up and assuming your using sufficient material density.
I have seen set-ups (including my bro-in-law's) where you could split the drains as you reach the sump to flow into many socks or stage the flow to natural flow into many socks. You then have 3-4 socks rather than just 1-2. The net result is changing less often. I change my socks every two weeks now as fish are getting bigger, but that's because I have low stock for the size of my tank. I think it's hassle doing every two weeks, but it's all relative I suppose...
Anyway since I do have chambers, I ended adding poret blocks covering opening where water flows to the second, biological, chamber. This second mechanical filtration does help, but I wouldn't use it without my socks in my situation. Like someone said above, it depends on how your sump will be set-up and assuming your using sufficient material density.
I have seen set-ups (including my bro-in-law's) where you could split the drains as you reach the sump to flow into many socks or stage the flow to natural flow into many socks. You then have 3-4 socks rather than just 1-2. The net result is changing less often. I change my socks every two weeks now as fish are getting bigger, but that's because I have low stock for the size of my tank. I think it's hassle doing every two weeks, but it's all relative I suppose...
