AIO vs SUMP

[JoJosReef]

Yeah, the whole reason I started this thread was to see if I've forgotten something that would make me reconsider downgrading my aquarium. I've always wanted a bigger aquarium, but when I finally got one, I wished I hadn't. There are so many reasons why: the maintenance becomes a much bigger hassle, the upkeep costs more, takes a lot more coral to fill in. Personally, I don't have a lot of fish, only five fish in a 6-foot tank, so I don't have the bioload for such a huge aquarium anyway, and I don't want any more fish.

My favorite aquarium was a 120 litre. It had a sump, but I was new to the hobby then and had a noisy, poor-quality Aqua One skimmer. My current setup is in the living room with pretty high-end equipment and it's still too noisy. which is another reason I want to downgrade.

rant time I'm so sick and tired of spending money on things I've heard good things about, only to find out they're noisy, like the AI Nero 7, Red sea skimmer, ect... My cheapo wavemakers do the same thing yet are silent. It's just so frustrating to think about. I feel like smaller equipment can be less noisy too.

The best argument I can find against an AIO (All-In-One) setup is that larger systems offer better stability and more room for different equipment. Honestly, I don't know how much of a difference it makes and what the stability curve looks like in terms of water volume. But for what I specifically want—two clownfish and soft corals—a 35-gallon tank would be no different from a 100-gallon tank in terms of stablilty. In fact, with such a small bioload, I believe a larger volume of water might cause more harm with N and P bottoming out causing issues like cyano and dinos. As for equipment, I'm a simple guy. All I need is an ATO, light, skimmer, filter floss, wavemaker, and heater. I'm pretty sure that will fit just fine in an AIO aquarium unless I'm forgetting something. I'm not trying to dismiss anybody's arguments or points of view, by the way. I appreciate all your opinions.

If your goal is just two clowns and soft corals, I think you'll be better off without a skimmer. I would save on the skimmer and splurge on gulf live rock from TBS or others. All the "things" in that system will keep you from having stability problems or nuisance algae outbreaks.

This tank has TBS sand, a TBS rock covered in palys and a dry reef rock from Marshall Islands dating back to the 70s that seeded with the TBS rock. I barely have to do anything with this tank. Clean the glass occasionally. I don't even run floss in the AIO, just a small bag of carbon. Bit of macroalgae to help with nutrients, that does need a trim every few weeks. But other than that, autopilot.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

If I was going big with anything over 60G. I'd go sump route. AIO makes sense to a certain point for space savings.

 

[Create New]

If your goal is just two clowns and soft corals, I think you'll be better off without a skimmer. I would save on the skimmer and splurge on gulf live rock from TBS or others. All the "things" in that system will keep you from having stability problems or nuisance algae outbreaks.

This tank has TBS sand, a TBS rock covered in palys and a dry reef rock from Marshall Islands dsting back to the 70s that seeded with the TBS rock. I barely have to do anything with this tank. Clean the glass occasionally. I don't even run floss in the AIO, just a small bag of carbon. Bit of macroalgae to help with nutrients, that does need a trim every few weeks. But other than that, autopilot.

What a beautiful aquarium, can I ask do you have problems with your pH with no skimmer?

 

[JoJosReef]

What a beautiful aquarium, can I ask do you have problems with your pH with no skimmer?

I don't measure it. Macroalgae typically helps a bit with ph, but there will be a swing after lights out. I have only soft corals and a BTA in this tank, so I'm not worried. I don't measure pH, ORP or anything else but ALK, NO3 and PO4 in my mixed reef tank either:

This one runs floss and carbon only. No skimmer. UV is in place for emergencies and hasn't been run in almost a year.

New video by Joseph Campo

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[-XENOMORPH-]

If I do an AIO, I want the biggest!!! Hahhaha

 

[Roatan Reef]

An AIO is a great alternative, but you will need an ATO also, as I have a 40GB with no issues, but the Fluval 13.5 Evo needs water in the AIO like once a week...(currently don't have an ATO) but I have ready made RODI water ready, I live in Florida too, so now it's an even bigger issue as we are officially in Summer.

My 40GB never loses water.

 

[kingranch2003]

Oh yeah my current tank has been annoying the **** out of me lately with the noise, I keep tweaking the overflow pipe and it will be good for a day, but the next it'll have the trickling sound again lol

That trickling sound drives me crazy lol. I've tried everything