<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9387810#post9387810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreenBabe5
with my old 29 gallon tank... (gone) I used a canister with live rock and live sand in the filter (that did work) and had a pretty big skimmer off the back too...worked great!!! had GREAT! levels and everything but with canisters you have to really clean them out cause unlike a sump with live rock and sand the canister traps deadly bacteria in it and if you don't clean out the foam or (bio balls) (whatever the preference other than rock) well you end up with HIGH Nitrate and Nitrate levels and Ammonia so I would rinse the thing out with already settled and mixed salt water (small tanks tend in my experience to need more salt water changes then say fresh water top off of bigger tanks), however my HOB filter I tried back 4 years ago when i got the tank did not do ANYTHING but clog and leak on the floor and salt water on your kitchen floor does actually rot the floor until you have to remove the joists!!!!! be careful with the leaking or the salt sediments!...in my first apartment when i left there they charged me $640 for "wall repairs from damage" for salt sediments that bowed out the sheet rock! and $300 for 'warped flooring" when the water leaked and twisted the floors!!! I owed money to them unlike most people who get there deposits back!!
