Thinking of getting an AIO

[JayP]

So I'm thinking of adding a 10 or 20 gallon AIO tank to the collection. Has anyone done an AIO tank with CO2 and if so, do you inject CO2 into the filter chamber or the main tank? Also, is there any need for surface scum removal or does scum tend to flow out the overflow on it's own?

 

[DutchMuch]

When did my UNS AIO, I put the CO2 in the front right of the scape (where the outflow pointed to). I had good results.

I wouldn’t do an AIO again though. I got rid of it swiftly once the scape finalized… it was far too hassle some. If I had to again, I’d just get a mini external canister filter and do that.



As far as surface scum goes, I can’t recall but i don’t think I had to much of an issue with that.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

The AIO’s have overflows to the filter chamber area so surface scum is not an issue. I injected co2 when I had a JBJ 20 gallon shallow years via a nano sized vortex style reactor in the return pump chamber. However, I would try a small Yugang reactor you could hang off the back behind the tank.

 

[JayP]

However, I would try a small Yugang reactor you could hang off the back behind the tank.

One of the reasons I'm considering an AIO is because it would be in a spot where I'd need it up against the wall. I'd also consider the spraybar Yugang but the other reason of interest is that I want no equipment in the display portion of the tank.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I want no equipment in the display portion of the tank.

This was why I chose the sump route for my tank. I always wanted to put one together and plumb my own system. It seemed daunting but it was fairly simple once you get all the parts you need and map it out appropriately.

My only gripe with AIO is that a lot of them have small footprints for the actual tank area because of the filtration. I’ve considered getting the size low iron tank I want and building my own AIO into the back of it. Still undecided

 

[JayP]

This was why I chose the sump route for my tank. I always wanted to put one together and plumb my own system. It seemed daunting but it was fairly simple once you get all the parts you need and map it out appropriately.

My only gripe with AIO is that a lot of them have small footprints for the actual tank area because of the filtration. I’ve considered getting the size low iron tank I want and building my own AIO into the back of it. Still undecided

My problem is, I try to tackle too many projects at once. Here I am talking about another tank while I already have 3 others lined up waiting to be setup. Maybe I should have pulled the trigger on retirement instead of accepting a new position earlier this year.

 

[Unexpected]

My 2023 AGA submission was an AIO. If I could go back in time, I wouldn't get one. That said, a smaller version seems better. My large 120 had problems just from the sheer size. They are certainly easy to manage though. They take a bit of DIY using a Yugang, but it's easy enough to build

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

If I could go back in time, I wouldn't get one.

Please explain good sir

 

[Koan]

I have two, a 15 gal I got for "free" that I set up as a quarantine tank,




and a 23 gal I got a good deal a number of years back on I'm setting up as a shrimp tank



I too was seduced by the prospect of having a nice place to tuck away things like pumps and outflows and heaters, no pipes down the back wall.. yea.

So far both are phenomenal pains in the ass, and no I would not do them again

does scum tend to flow out the overflow

Sure, until you get the smallest amount of plant mass growing in front of the overflow.. Or you miss a week or several of filter changes and the sponges start to clog up.. Then you get no skimming, but plenty of surface scum

If course, your juvenile nano fish have no such compunction about falling down the overflow every damn night until you figure out a way to screen it that does not completely block flow Where they are amazingly difficult to net out, without injuring or killing them

I'm actually going to try an Eheim skimmer on the quarantine tank, I'm so over fighting with this overflow.

Also if your sponges back up far enough you can lose enough flow that either your pump runs dry, the front tank overflows, or both

do you inject CO2 into the filter chamber

I use this inline injection on the pump return hose. It works great other than of course it has to be cleaned like any other diffuser




As a lot of people have said, you don't have a lot of real estate, and maintaining flow is a lot harder than it would be just with a canister. These typically come with a loc-line jet return because corals need lots of flow. Of course that will blow all your plants straight to Kingdom Come and your aquasoil with it.. This $4 snap -on diffuser actually works great




So why persist in setting this second one up as a shrimp tank? Well it fits in the spot in the fish room.. too stubborn not to give it a try since I paid for the damn thing.. possible fundamental character flaw.. I'm hoping the lessons learned with the quarantine tank will make this one more of a success.

Time will tell

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Posted this before I read thoroughly, thanks for your detailed experience @Koan

 

[Koan]

Please explain the pitfalls you’ve experienced

Ugh the flow is completely impossible for plants. Either you have an overpowered pump that continually tries to drain the back chamber and flood the front chamber, while also blasting your substrate all over hell's half acre.. or you diffuse the flow so much that you're not getting good enough circulation of CO2 and oxygen

Evaporation is constant from falling over the baffles so the damn filter chambers are always running low, so you're constantly topping off

Then the sponges in the overflow chamber gunk up so fast that your flow is only as consistent as your water changes, gosh I wish I was the kind of aquarist that can be trusted with a tank that will back up and overflow onto the floor if you get behind on your filter changes Not.

And these things were never designed for nano fish it was really crushing how many hard-to-find juvenile fish I lost over the damn overflow that either starved to death, got jammed behind some of the filter material or got injured by the net trying to fish them out..

I have gone with a massively underpowered pump for the shrimp tank, we'll see. Plus the Landen has this weird built-in overflow escape baffle that I'm hoping that will help solve some of these problems

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Thank you for this @Koan , things I did not think of you have brought to light. Traditional sump it is!

 

[Unexpected]

Please explain good sir

Most likely a manufacturing issue. The wall separating the display from the back chamber separated from the frame. So now I have to be careful when doing water changes. Id imagine at some point, that thin wall will crack. As of now, some water bypasses the filter sock because of the separation. I fully believe this issue is because of the 6 foot length of the tank. A smaller AIO probably has more strength.

 

[JayP]

OK, OK, OK.......I'm convinced, no AIO. LOL!

 

[Unexpected]

OK, OK, OK.......I'm convinced, no AIO. LOL!

Art has one and it's really nice. He hasn't had any issues. I'm just giving you my experience. I really believe getting a smaller one is the way to go and research brands carefully.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Most likely a manufacturing issue. The wall separating the display from the back chamber separated from the frame. So now I have to be careful when doing water changes. Id imagine at some point, that thin wall will crack. As of now, some water bypasses the filter sock because of the separation. I fully believe this issue is because of the 6 foot length of the tank. A smaller AIO probably has more strength.

Ahh I remember this from your journal, thanks for the reminder.

 

[JayP]

Art has one and it's really nice. He hasn't had any issues. I'm just giving you my experience. I really believe getting a smaller one is the way to go and research brands carefully.

It was definitely going to be a 20 gallon or less 45cm tank. I was looking at the Cascade 10 gallon AIO on Sevenports.

 

[gnatster]

I've been eyeing a small AIO for a corner spot I have. This thread is giving me second thoughts.

 

[Koan]

and research brands carefully

Yes this is a point, my "free" tank is an ancient first generation Fluval M series, and the baffle water flow design is crap.

It's very possible that newer tanks do a better job, def am hoping this Landen 60p doesn't give me the same kind of pain. Just be conservative with the power on your pump, and buy your nanofish as adults not juveniles

 

[Count Krunk]

I have an LED biocube as my reef tank right now. the 32g model. I got it from $50 lol.

If you want to read about a budget focused reef tank build.

Show Off - Low Budge 32g Biocube LPS and Softy Tank

Howdy all! Going to squeeze this somewhere. Was in town going to various stores. Right next to the propane store was a pet store. Inside the pet store was this LED biocube for just $50! Scooped it up and it's small enough to go somewhere. Currently testing the lights.

humble.fish

I really like it, when the LED's where working the evap was SUPER low and the tank was also super quiet. Then the LEDs stopped working. I've been reefing for a long time so I tossed on a 175w MH I had for a while. Then that ballast died lol so I tossed on a 250W MH I've had for only a couple years.

It evaps about 1.75L per day now with the hood open and a very overpowered light blasting down on it. I'm going to build and jam in retrofit an LED fixture at some point so I can get the hood down again.

It has two overflows, one at the top and one in the middle. It has three chambers, but the second and third chamber are connected together. I have a 30ppi sponge as the sole source of filtration in the tank, and it never clogs up. There's enough of it to rival a canister filter that is sized for the same sized tank.

I use this pump as the return pump. It doesn't flow too much for plants IMO. Plus it's DC so you could turn it down if needed. Since it's a reef I also have a jebao SLW 20 power head in there.

It's a good footprint. All in all, I really like it. I would and probably will run it as a planted tank someday. I think the random Chinese AIO's are where people run into issues. Biocube has been around since the early 2000s, maybe earlier. They seem to have the design down quite well. As a plus there's also a ton of aftermarket things available for it.

This is a picture for the end of august, the tank is not that color. The phone camera picks it up that way.