Ok posable tank setup

The canister is actually all three wrapped up into one. It's best at mechanical filtration. It will catch particulates and hold them in the sponge or other material until it is cleaned. The pros are the matter is out of circulation. The cons are the material will rot and become a nitrate factory if not cleaned routinely.

It also does some chemical filtration.....when you run carbon. IMO that is all it is good for.

It will also have some biological filtration activity. Beneficial bacteria will get caught and will grow in the filters. The only problem is, you change the filter, you lose a good amount of bacteria.

I have never been a believer of canister filters. There are a lot of viewpoints here but if you use it, it should be used secondary to live rock.

Live rock will hands down hold more bacteria than canisters and/or sand. Bacteria is all over the place. Whereever there is surface area, there is bacteria. The glass, the tubing, the powerheads, the sand and alllllllllll that surface area on the LR. Like I said, I run with just a skimmer and LS/LR. My numbers are good.

Now, there is a debate on whether one needs a skimmer or not. Technically, on a FOWLR, you do not. However, I would. Why? It would make life easier. It is available technology that is relatively inexpensive. There are two I like: The AquaC Remora and the Octopus BH-100F.

And WRT the oxygenation issue, as long as you have good surface movement, aeration will occur. Your Koralias will supply that. I also run a few airstones in my sump just for the heck of it.

You are on the right track........I kinda rambled in that post. Sorry.

 

Bahhhhh rambule all you want as long as you reply I really don't care, thank you for all your help. Ill try the canister and run some carbon can hurt if im top of it I guess right.

 

canisters are a pain IMO if you want to run carbon just get a hang on back mechanical filter and run that, I used to hang one off the back of my sump on the 58g before I upgraded the skimmer and didn't need it anymore, now I just hang a carbon bag in front of the downflow where the water comes from the DT to the sump