Thank you both so much, truly some of the most helpful/kind posts on this thread. I do 4-5 hallon wc once a week, clean filter pads, algae scrubber, and replace media once a month (carbon, purigen, chemipure). I have been experimenting with NitraZorb and IO's Nitrate Reducer, have seen levels drop since then and the addition of the algae scrubber. The key for me seems to be heavy feeding the night prior and day of wc (Reef Roids really dirties the tank). So is the only real issue with a canister the fact that it can hold gunk if not cleaned enough? Therefore, if cleaned weekly, biweekly, etc. it should not be an issue? Just trying to understand being a long time freshwater hobbyist.