OK...here are my results:

[Koaboy]

I have been using canisters on my tanks, no sumps or skimmers, for the 2-years since I started this voyage. Inhabitants have been very happy, and parameters have been within standards, except for a nagging 20-30 nitrate reading. I cleaned the canisters weekly when I did the 10% water change. I was talked into a skimmer, and decided on the Reef Octopus BH 1000 for the 70-gallon tank, and the Reef Octopus BH 2000 for the 100-gallon. After a couple weeks of producing nice skimmate, I decided to try a test. I removed the filter media in the Fluval 360 canister on the 70-gallon. I still ran it, but with only carbon, GFO, and Purigen in it. After 3-weeks, my results are normal parameters, and a nitrate reading of 10. Livestock is unchanged. Pretty happy. The next step is to remove the media from the 2 Fluval 306's on the 100, keeping only the same socks in it as the 70-gallon tank. Thoughts from the group?