Thinking of getting an AIO

[Koan]

a budget focused reef tank build

Did you ever get seahorses??

 

[Count Krunk]

Did you ever get seahorses??

Not yet, someday. When I have a place to put all the tanks I want. A building on my property needs to be demolished and rebuilt. That will house all of them, someday..

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Just chiming in, I did have an amazing time with the Fluval Spec V 5-gallon tank:






It's now a quarantine tank for incoming fish, but I would recommend it again if someone wanted a tiny, unique scape to work with!
Only FIVE gallons!!

 

[Koan]

That will house all of them, someday..

 

[Rob23]

@techman81 If the appeal of the AIO is having all of the equipment tucked away nicely inside the tank, there is also the option of sourcing a tank in the size you like and making a simple matten filter with a small pump and heater behind it. That route would provide more flexibility in case you decide to repurpose the tank or decide having all the equipment in the tank is no longer important to you. Matten filters can also be safe for shrimp and nano fish as they don't rely on an overflow intake.

 

[techman81]

Glad I posted this because its generated some great discusion.

Having said that, as of this morning, I have no plans to get anymore "new" tanks for the foreseeable future. I just reluctantly agreed to take ownership of a work associate's 90 gallon fully set up tank . Its in a little rough shape do to lack of good maintenance but it has good potential and is packed full of varios varieties of healthy anubias. She wanted to give it to me for free but I told her I had to pay something. We agreed on a price that's still far below it's value.

 

[Count Krunk]

I used to have a membership there, saw those beauties many times!

 

[Art]

Hi,

So I have a UNS 35.2 AIO tank and it works for me. I like to keep thing simple and this does the job.

I have the CO2 plumbed into the return hose so it spreads nicely throughout the tank. The overflow weirs are sufficient to eliminate any surface scum.

The tank comes with two overflow baskets where I keep filter floss for easy replacement every few days.

I have the temperature probe and pH probe in one of the back areas. Bioballs are in either side compartments prior to the return pump.

It works for me and I would recommend.