I must also admit I don't like canisters, there is nothing magical about pressurized can, to me they are no better than HOBs, and the last one I had made me hate doing maintenance.
If you're ready for a sump, they have endless possibilities and options for adding on different types of chemical, mechanical and bio filtration, and in the end can be DIY and inexpensive. I run biotowers, fractionation and fluidized beds in the same sump, you can even put in a plenum, and of course hide all unnatural gear, like heaters, wires, pumps etc.
But you need to be up on flows, plumbing and other facets or they can be problematic.
If you're ready for a sump, they have endless possibilities and options for adding on different types of chemical, mechanical and bio filtration, and in the end can be DIY and inexpensive. I run biotowers, fractionation and fluidized beds in the same sump, you can even put in a plenum, and of course hide all unnatural gear, like heaters, wires, pumps etc.
But you need to be up on flows, plumbing and other facets or they can be problematic.