Canister filter return setup

[toejam]

Hi. I'm new to the hobby and this is my first post. I have a 37 gallon with a Filstar XP1 canister filter. I bought live sand and 25 pounds of live rock and have begun cycling.

I have a couple of options for my filter return. Currently I have it setup like a powerhead completely submerged. I was wondering if the canister filter in this configuration adds enough oxygen to the tank? My other options are a spray bar or some sort of combo. I'm pretty sure that the spray bar would help in this matter but I like the water movement and the clean look that my current configuration has. Any suggestions would be most helpful.

My second question is: Can I connect a plain old surface skimmer to the intake and run Purigen in my canister filter and get away without having a noisy bulky HOB protein skimmer? (if I decide to do a few corals in the future). I realize that an actual protein skimmer is probably ideal...but I've heard that purigen is like a "protein skimmer in a bag"...

Thanks in advance!

[glampka]

If you set up the return as a spray bar you're going to have all sorts of trouble with salt creep from the splashing water. You could put the bar just under the water surface & that'll help agitate the surface for better gas exchange.
I'm not familiar with Purigen but I wouldn't believe all you read. The only thing that will work as good as a skimmer is a skimmer.