advice for filter upgrade...canister vs hob

[maineboy]

Currently have a Seachem 75 HOB which I honestly am not super thrilled with--it seems most of the flow goes through the upper skimmer part and very little through the bottom intake tube (i.e when I sprinkled flakes on the surface it went through the top skimmer and then shot through the filter back into the tank)...would a canister filter be an easy/big upgrade?? was considering a fluval 307...my current tank is a 36 gallon bow front with 5 fish (FOWLR)

 

[Subsea]

I can’t address your specific equipment, I can address how ecosystems work.
With respect to HOB, I favor AquaClear;
Easy to service and large compartment for media. Because I don’t use mechanical or chemical filtration, I fill HOB with reef rubble inoculated with pods. On 25 year mature 75G tank, I also use a canister filter filled with similar reef rubble. In the case of the cannister, I am using it as a cryptic refugium. I use corals, sponges and other filter feeders as my active bio-filter.

PS: Yes, a cannister filter would be an easy upgrade. If you use standard mechanical filtration, it should be serviced monthly, depending on your ecosystem.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IMO adding a skimmer to work in conjunction with the hob would be a much better upgrade, compared to switching one mechanical filter for another. My 32 gallon has a Bullet skimmer and 75 tidal hob and weekly water changes.