Sumpless tank, do I need a canister filter?

[hawk1]

Hey, right now I have a 38 gallon tank. I dont have a sump, but I have a hob protein skimmer reef octopus bh100, and I have a magnum 350 canister filter. Do I really need the canister filter? Its a pain to clean, and its making tons of micro bubbles. What are my options? I was thinking of hob refugium in place of the canister filter?

[cloak]

I would ditch the canister filter and just stick with your skimmer and regular water changes alone. If you decide to run any carbon or GFO, you might want to consider some of the Aquaclear HOB filters. KISS.

[Lateralus]

I would ditch the canister filter and just stick with your skimmer and regular water changes alone. If you decide to run any carbon or GFO, you might want to consider some of the Aquaclear HOB filters. KISS.


^yup yup^

[sneeyatch]

Your rock and sand are the best filters out there.

[Devaji108]

you could also do an ATS like a up flow HOG style. cheap effective and easy to DIY

[hawk1]

So live rock, sand, and skimmer, are all I really need? I just have a hard time getting my head around not using a canister filter, coming from freshwater cichlds when more canister filters meant the better. How does the water stay clear with just the skimmer, rock, and sand? :hmm4:

[Paul B]

Yes, I also have no sump and my tank is doing fine. It has been running this way for over 40 years, no problems and no need for a canister filter yet. Maybe by Thursday I will need it, but not yet. :D