Turning Off the Canister - Need Advice

[Bredfan]

Hi -

I have had only a canister (Fluval 205) since I started my tank. Last week I got a HOB Protein Skimmer (AquaC Remora). The skimmer has been running for about 5 days and is not really producing anything - the cup is in the lowest position.

The Canister has 2 compartments of charcoal and 1 compartment of white filter media (look like little white cylinders about 1/2" long - I forget exactly the brand/what they're called).

Question 1: Can I drop a bag of charcoal into the return box of the HOB Skimmer for the same result as having the charcoal in the canister?

Question 2: Should I go ahead and turn off the Canister now?

Here are the particulars for my tank:

26g bowfront
4 months old
20lbs Live Rock
10lbs of dry rock
10 hermits (been in for 2+months)
4 snails - 2 turbo, 2 trochus (been in for 2+ months)
1 False Percula (Introduced 11/15)
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
KH - 240 (I just started testing hardness)
PH - 8.0 (maybe a hair higher)
Temp - 79-80

What do you think?

Thanks for any advice!