Ok, just a quick question. Would it be OK to take my canister filters and use it strictly as bio-filtration and fill it with ceramic rings and remove the pads and then use hob filters as mechanical filtration? The way I am thinking this would be a good idea is if I ran my set-up this way, my canister filters would never have to be opened and I would have easier access to filter cartridges to clean them off. Or would I still need to change the ceramic rings periodically?

Of course, the filter will still work without any mechanical filtration, but remember just because you have another filter working with mechanical filtration, the filter without the mechanical filtration will still pick up solid waste. I can see your way of thinking and it is certainly a very good idea, but I would advise you to put a little bit of mechanical filtration in the canister filter, it will just save you a little bit of work when you come to clean the filter. To be quite honest, it won't take up much room but it will benefit you in the long run.

Makes sense. Didn't think about that. Just trying to think of ways to make maintenance as painless as possible lol.