Canister Filter Media Questions????

Just wondering what everyone recommends for media in a canister. Before we get on the subject, we have no room for a sump so its out of the question. We've got an Eheim 2236 canister on our 40 gallon reef. It works great but we're not to sure that we are using it to its full potential. The media in it at the moment is: lower basket - Eheim black sponge insert and Eheim substrate pro, middle basket - substrate pro, top basket GFO. We have heard that the substrate pro and similar products are pretty useless but were not what else to use or how to set it up since there are so many options. What kind of media would you guys recommend in each basket or is it ok the way it is?

 

With those different baskets you have all types of options...although a canister will eventually cause you more problems than good (only my opinion...for what it is worth...hi maintenance!!) I would run carbon in one tray, some sort of phos-ban in another, and filter media in another (to help polish the water).

I run a canister filter on my set-up but only to supplement my sump. I have double layer filter media (that I change every two weeks...can be a Nitrate farm) and I am running SeaChem's SeaGel in it as well (product page here)...combination carbon/ phos remover...and my water is crystal clear!!!!

The biggest piece of advice one could give with using a canister filter is CHANGE THE FILTER MEDIA...and often...nitrates love it.