AIO chambers turned into sump

[boyfish]

Hey everyone,
I was playing with the idea of building a sump/refugium in my AIO chambers for my waterbox 25 peninsula. I removed the black backing so I could see back there and I definitely think I could do it. Anyone experimented with this? Couldn’t find any pictures or videos online that weren’t HOB. I thought it would be cool to utilize the AIO chambers in a compact setup. I don’t mind seeing it as I assume is why most people don’t do this but it’s my own little tank in my office so that’s not a concern. Let me know if you have any good reference pictures or further ideas on this. Thank you!

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Even a small fuge with proper lighting can be very beneficial. If an Aqueon HOB filter (400GPH) can be turned into a fuge, so can this

 

[Steven Garland]

Solid plan,thats pretty much what they are there for honestly lol pretty much the concept of them.

 

[Treehrtsme]

I've seen people do this and fluval 13.5's where they just put some macro in the second chamber and attach a small refugium light to the back. It's actually not uncommon

 

[DDenny]

I turned one chamber of my IM into a refugium with chaeto. Have to harvest some every week. Used an Intank basket with a cheap fuge light from Amazon

 

[Treehrtsme]

I turned one chamber of my IM into a refugium with chaeto. Have to harvest some every week. Used an Intank basket with a cheap fuge light from Amazon

Yeah it's this setup that I see people use a lot.

 

[DDenny]

Yeah it's this setup that I see people use a lot.

It works great.

 

[boyfish]

I turned one chamber of my IM into a refugium with chaeto. Have to harvest some every week. Used an Intank basket with a cheap fuge light from Amazon

Love it. Thank you!

 

[boyfish]

Thanks guys I’m definitely doing it. I put a little specimen box in the back sump with some sand and rocks. Got macro coming in the mail I’ll put in it with a small fuge light. Also some copepods coming even tho I see some in the chambers but I’ll seed it nicely with the ones that come in. At some point I would like to turn the whole AIO chambers into a mini fuge. I think it’d be so cool and beneficial.

 

[boyfish]

Also, how beneficial would a little fuge like this be for stable parameters? I feel like it’ll be a game changer but have never done it. I have noticed my dkh has been elevated and I was hoping this setup could bring it down and help it maintain stability

 

[DDenny]

Also, how beneficial would a little fuge like this be for stable parameters? I feel like it’ll be a game changer but have never done it. I have noticed my dkh has been elevated and I was hoping this setup could bring it down and help it maintain stability

I don’t have to dose anymore to keep nutrients up as I feed slightly heavy and that adds the NO3 and PO4 that need to keep fudge going good. Ph stays at 7.9-8.0 but summers here in South Texas are hot so opening a window is out of the question. Fall and winter time the windows come open and Ph will stay at 8.1-8.2 constantly.