AIO outside the tank?

Wall Street Reef · Mar 12, 2024

So I just transferred everything from an established system to this 5 gallon shallow on my desktop. I'm not exactly happy with how I designed the AIO filter in the back. The display section is super cramped and I messed something up in the baffle design anyway. I've been thinking of possible design ideas and something that has come to mind is drilling 4 holes in the back glass and installing 4 bulkheads. 2 returns with random flow nozzles in the middle and two ghost overflow style drains on either side draining into an acrylic sump box behind the tank. I attached a drawing of my idea hopefully it makes sense. I like this idea because it should still have an AIO feel, but allow me to use the full footprint of the glass tank. I can go into plenty of detail about why I want to do this, but it would take too long. My main concern is will this design work and ESPECIALLY will the drains be quiet?

I've definitely noticed the pico ph swing issue with this tank and so I feel a large refugium like in the drawing would really help combat that. I have a ton of dragons breath macro algae.

Wall Street Reef · Mar 12, 2024

My other option would be to just make a custom acrylic tank with material from tap plastics. The only thing is I don't how easy acrylic scratches. Are acrylic aquariums not very desirable? I have built a few sumps and even a shallow reef tank with acrylic before, but I just cant remember if I liked the acrylic or not. And the footprint for a glass tank I would want to do this without the external sump box doesn't exist. 17"x17"x7" would be the rimless glass tank I would want.

Wall Street Reef · Mar 12, 2024

Poliwag · Mar 14, 2024

following along. Been thinking of something like this for a while now

Wall Street Reef · Mar 15, 2024

Poliwag said:
following along. Been thinking of something like this for a while now

I'm in the process. Have the tank drilled and sump halfway done. I'm going to start a build thread for it. I'll shoot you a reminder when I get that started. Maybe I'll get around to it today.