I think you should tinker with your AC 110 and make it quiet... As they are no louder than an Emp 400 when both are running properly...
I'm not suggesting an HOB & a canister is a "bad idea"... but it's a combination I choose not to use...
To me, the biggest benefit to a cansiter is that they function silently and they keep the rim of the tank neater. So pairing one up with an HOB cancels out both of these beenfits and just means I'm paying more for a filter but not enjoying the benefits of this more expensive filter...
Therefore I suggest either going with all HOBs or all canisters...
I'm not suggesting an HOB & a canister is a "bad idea"... but it's a combination I choose not to use...
To me, the biggest benefit to a cansiter is that they function silently and they keep the rim of the tank neater. So pairing one up with an HOB cancels out both of these beenfits and just means I'm paying more for a filter but not enjoying the benefits of this more expensive filter...
Therefore I suggest either going with all HOBs or all canisters...