Proper Filtration System

[tomato clown]

Hello all I am new to the reef tank in some ways. My bro-in-law gave me his set-up last year and the filter went out last week. It was filled with barnacles and these little hard snail lookin things, so I ran out to get a new filter at a local pet store questionable place to go I know but I ended up walking out with a "Marineland H.O.T. pro system" (Magnum canister filter and bio wheel)
Now for a 55 gal tank is 250 gpm too much flow and how can I be sure that I am getting the best out of this little stranger? I am able to do reg water tests and such but never knew of anything other than the old "Whisper" filters. Basically I have noticed my corals doing 95% better with increased flow but all this stuff about the skimmers and such is confusing.
thanks,
Dan

 

[q]

Is this your only filtration? How much Live Rock do you have.
Is the Magnum the only water flow you have?

 

[burnnspy]

You are short on water flow. You should double your cuerrent flow rate to 550gph or more.
The canister may become a nitrate factory down the road also. Check out my Reef Basic webpage for more info.
IMO, all reef tanks need a skimmer.
BurnNSpy

 

[tomato clown]

OK first I need to say I re-sized my tank and found it to be only about 40-45 gal. But right now it is my only filtration and it basically does double as a skimmer as well. I went to my local fish store and saw the same filter there so of course I had to ask. The guy told me it was a great filter for my needs right now but in the future I might want to look for bigger and better ways such as a wet/dry. Anyway I have about 25-30 lbs of live rock and the sand is approx. 3-4 in deep.
What I have done so far with my filter is filled the cannister with active carbon, and ran my power head splitter so that I basically have dual water flow. (in other words It looks like I have to completely different filters but only have 1 shooting on 2 sides of my tank)
Now when I say about the cannister filter it is the type of filter that is like you would see in an upright pool filter or a water filter on your kitchen sink. Do you think that would act just as a skimmer being it takes out all those microparticles? Tomorrow I will take some pics so yall can see what I am talking about better.
Dan

 

[q]

A protine skimmer is a chamber where micro air bubbles come in contact with the water. The organic waste (and stuff that isn't waste) clings to the bubbles and is collected at the top. A skimmer removes waste form the nitrogen cycle. A canister filter is not a protine skimmer.
For get the wet/dry and use a DSB and LR.
Check out BurnNspy's page.