What is the best Filter?

I currently have a 16 gallon bow front tank with a aqua clear 50 HOB filter. I really like this filter, but I would like to switch to a canister filter.

In your opinion, what is the best type of filter for a reef tank and what brand?

I know everyone has a personal preference, but I am just curious to see what people like and why.

 

for a 16 gallon bow front
I like what you have already, to be honest

I honestly do not percieve any additional benefit from an external cannister on a set up at that size
it may give you extra media capacity, but in a 16 gallon tank, there is a limit to how much live stock you can have in there, and as such extra bio filter capacity is not required IMO

the Aquaclear, could be used to house Carbon, Purigen, GFO etc , chemical media in mesh pouches = not as effective as a reactor for some of these, but still works reasonably well IME ( 6 gallon nano run Aquaclear20 with GFO and Carbon and it seemed effective to me)

I cannot tell much from 2nd picture as its still a bit cloudy
but if your looking for a means to improve water clarity due to recent aquascape
some filter floss in your aquaclear on a temporary basis will collect all that detritus/ sediment thats been released due to aquascape
at same time use the power head to blast to rockwork to continue to put this detritus into solution and thus help to get it trapped in the filter floss in the aquaclear

once clarity is restored, remove and discard the floss as you do not need bio media in there
and replace with Carbon - which will polish your water

the best biological filter for a reef tank is the rock and sand and you have sufficient amounts of both IMO that will handle the bio load from the amount of stock that set up could contain

HTH

PS
Ehiem and Fluval are my preffered Cannister filter brands, and on freshwater set ups
or fish only set ups with minimal rockwork, I would use either of those brands to house bio media (Siporax sintered glass being my favoured media)

 

Think you very much for such a detailed response. I didn't know that about the filter floss. I will make sure to get some on payday.

I was toying around with the idea of setting up a 10 gallon underneath it for a sump. Would this be beneficial for me. I figured that if anything, I could have more water volume and get some macro algae to help feed on those extra nutrients that I have in my system due to my newbie mistake of using tap water at first.

 

Yes - a much better idea than a cannister IMHO

the macro will help remove nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate
additionally you get extra water volume as you mentioned
you could then add a skimmer if you wanted at a later date to the sump area
and you could locate other equipment like heater etc , in there to remove clutter from display tank

given a choice between sump or cannister - Sump wins every time IMHO and in the opinions of majority of reef keepers

 

A HOB Protein skimmer would be the best option if you don't decide to add a sump. I have one on my 30 gallon and it has worked very well for me... but it doesn't look pretty.

 

+1 Skimmers will outfilter any HOB! Mine looks OK in the tank, mostly because you can't see the pump in the corner.
Reef Octopus BH 100 Hang on Back Protein Skimmer - AquaCave
This is the one I use, it works very well.8)