Help me understand filtration.

I have a 75 fish only and use a canister filter that cycles my tank 7.5 times ish an hour. I do have an adopted clam too. I have a canister because I have no room for a sump. Tank and tank stand were a gift from wife. Stand sucks because like a split level and part of it is exposed. Just not enough room for a sump. Tank in basement and no room near around it for a sump unless I tube it to laundry room which I'm not interested in.
Canister works good but feel I need extra filtration. I found this Odyessa CFS 500 but seems to be a freshwater filter. If I have live rock and live sand plus Purigen in canister why couldn't I run this just for extra filtration along with current canister. It's all sponges inside so is that the reason? Because the sponges will build up nitrites and nitrates? But my canister has pads and a sponge too. Again just looking for something to help pull debris out of the water. My water levels are good.
Am I right? Or is it not a problem to add this as extra filtration. It's $60 shipped for 500 gph.
I've learned when things are too good to be true they usually are.
Been trying to get an extra fluval canister on Craigslist but people are shady.
Filtration - Odyssea CFS4 Canister Filter

 

Here is my stand. The enclosed part is exactly height of a 10 gallon tank with zero room above.
I've read a lot of DIY sumps. They don't seem much different. Difference is the media inside.

 

I built my own stand which safely houses a 30 gallon sump underneath and added room for my protein skimmer by going to Home Depot and buying about 40 bucks of douglass wood. We had to cut it ourselves but its EXTREMELY sturdy! I would definitely recommend it since you're considering a canister. I am not saying canisters are bad, I just feel like this is something you can easily do that is more affordable. I will take some pictures of my stand for you.

EDIT #1: Measurements are H: 29" and 1/4" (little over 2ft), W: 2' 3", L: 4ft pics to follow shortly. I used 6 4x4s to hold most if not all of the weight. Used everything else are 2x4s cut to the length I needed them. As far as the pictures my foot is only there for size comparison. <.< >.> But my design is 6 4x4s in the 3 crucial points (corner, middle, opposite corner) both front and back. I am not 100% done myself but that holds my 120g like a CHAMPION. You would be able to get away with 4, 4x4s no problem with just a 75g and have room for 40g breeder underneath no problem. (well not 40g that was my problem, but you get the gist) I hope that helps ^^

 

You are correct in that canisters end up building up nitrates due to the sponge filters inside. You need to be aggressive with keeping them clean so that you do not have issues. It can get a bit expensive to purchase new filters on a regular basis. It does not seem to be as much of an issue if you have a fish only tank, but if you choose to get corals or an anemone it could be a headache for you. There are many people here who run no sump at all and do just fine. A good supply of live rock and a HOB skimmer work very well. Something that you may want to consider.

 

I'm sorry to see this. I have the same stand and when I wanted to get a sump rolling, no dice in there. I had to run it to a closet behind the DT.

To the OP, I've heard of people running canisters empty or with live rock in there to get around the sponges. However, that was only on reef tanks, not FOWL tanks. I started with a canister filter and went slightly crazier trying to chase down nitrates.
However, if you plan to keep it as is, the recommendation I've seen time and time again is clean out that canister every week. You don't need to change sponges every week, but rinse them out and rinse everything else out. I gave up on the canister and went sump, so YMMV.

 

Using a cannister is fine so long as you maintain/clean it often.Adding another cannister I think would not benefit enough to justify the added maintenance it would cause.If you would like to improve water quality a hang on back skimmer would be a better option given your circumstance.

 

Wise words.

Just like a filter sock there are debates of their merits. I happen to love filter socks but they must be properly maintained. Same for about any type of mechanical filter.

 

I know a guy with an SPS tank that has no sump. He's been reefing for 30 years and tank running I think 15 years. He really knows his tank though. He has various macro and xenia in the display so it's sort of an in tank refugium. He has very few fish and doesn't feed much at all. The point is it can be done but will probably take more effort and skill.

 

ballgame, I was the "queen" - self anointed of course - of hang on when I started my conversion from a FO to a reef. I also ran a canister. I might suggest that you take out any ceramic rings (slowly) and sponges (slowly) - I don't know how many you have but I had 4 and that just made for more maintenance - and add in some live rock rubble to the compartments in the canister. Run your purigen and clean your sponge/sponges that are left and you should be good. I would suggest that you run a skimmer though (instead of another canister) There are some good ones that are HOB. I ran my FO tank with a canister for 15+ years with no sump but I did always have a skimmer.

 

A friend of mine has a 55G with a canister filter. His water was very yellow like really yellow. He kept losing fish and coral. I advised to clean the canister filter frequently, get a HOB skimmer, and a reactor to run a mix of GFO and Carbon. SO far so good. He has a moray eel, Picasso trigger, Maroon Clown. He says it's doing much better now. He eventually wants to add a sump and upgrade to a larger tank. I would say the key is stability of parameters, water clarity and temperature.