Hello , I am returning to the hobby after a 10 year break. I am doing a small 36 gallon with soft corals and live rock and maybe 4 or 5 fish.
My last tank I had a 55 gallon FOWLER with a canister and had no issues. However after reading this site I have learned that canister filters are no bueno for tanks with corals due to high nitrate. If I could start over I would have drilled and tried to put a sump with a refugium etc. I have found HOB options but would like if I could find an inexpensive HOB filter and use my own media or set up like I want. Does anyone have any recommendations for easily modifiable HOB filters / protein skimmer and or HOB refugiums ? The tank is 30” wide and a clearance in back of 4” or under wld be preferable.
![5627DF62-0671-4322-8D2B-E73A2FAF6CE3.jpeg 5627DF62-0671-4322-8D2B-E73A2FAF6CE3.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2527/2527092-6e6b91dd88a2a0298760054300ebbf76.jpg)
My last tank I had a 55 gallon FOWLER with a canister and had no issues. However after reading this site I have learned that canister filters are no bueno for tanks with corals due to high nitrate. If I could start over I would have drilled and tried to put a sump with a refugium etc. I have found HOB options but would like if I could find an inexpensive HOB filter and use my own media or set up like I want. Does anyone have any recommendations for easily modifiable HOB filters / protein skimmer and or HOB refugiums ? The tank is 30” wide and a clearance in back of 4” or under wld be preferable.
![5627DF62-0671-4322-8D2B-E73A2FAF6CE3.jpeg 5627DF62-0671-4322-8D2B-E73A2FAF6CE3.jpeg](https://test.reef2reef.com/data/attachments/2527/2527092-6e6b91dd88a2a0298760054300ebbf76.jpg)