20 Long Filtration Explored?

[DrummerWithFish111]

It has been some time since I’ve reefed.. ran into moving between degrees and the upkeep was too much. I am now in a permanent spot and am setting up a 20 long with all the fixes.
My question is filtration: I have a Fluval 207 on hand, and was thinking of getting either a Tidal 55 or equivalent HOB with a protein skimmer. Would it be silly to also run the canister, but empty/only chemical or bio filtration (to expand the water column) while running floss and pads in the HOB? Or I guess the HOB could be used as a refugium. Let me know if this sounds like a horrendous idea, or I might try it and see how it goes, before livestock.

 

[X-37B]

I would not run the canister but you could.
I have the Tidal 55 on a 13g, 20x12.5x12.5. It works well.
Hygger heater, hygger 12 watt crossflow, 16hd, 2 liter ato, lol.
Floss and carbon. Been running 2+ months now.

 

[DrummerWithFish111]

Update, went with an HOB (PetSmart brand tidal 55 with a protein skimmer attachment). For a budget build, I am very happy with the results of my corals one month in!

 

[X-37B]

5 months. I added a tuxedo urchin and its eating the coralline thats everywhere.