Custom AIO Aquarium

joeyhatch11 · Dec 2, 2015

Would love to get some feedback on this new AIO I just built. Its a 15 gallon tank and will have 14 gallons in it once filled. Very simple corner overflow design allows for the basics inside while offering something never seen before on any other AIO tank, DEPTH!!! With such a low volume of water, water changes should be more than enough to keep parameters in check and help save people from having to buy into skimmers, refugiums and such, but the rear compartment could house a small algae turf scrubber. Tank dimensions are 16x16x14 and the overflow box was designed around a Innovative Marine CustomCaddy24 media basket and for the return pump, I'm using a Rio Plus 600, 200gph pump. The overflow has 10 teeth, 1/4 wide and 1 1/8in tall, good for up to 460gph. With the 200gph pump on a tank so small I did not notice any "dead spots". Was even thinking of adding a second return on the other side of the box as well. Which would eliminate the need for adding additional pumps in the tank and keep the overall look very clean. Well here are some pics. Please let me know what you think. Thanks Joe

With the back painted black

joeyhatch11 · Dec 5, 2015

reefwiser · Dec 5, 2015

Joey it looks nice. No room for a Skimmer or reactor or Algae scrubber. Things I use in my AIO.:) Very good job on the fabrication and workmanship of the job.
You know one thing I thing would be neat in an AIO is to have a Wavebox build into the design to get the powerhead out of the tank. Just a thought.:)

redfishbluefish · Dec 5, 2015

Nicely done Joey! What did you use right inside the sawteeth to have the water cascade into the media box?

Also, did you build the media box or is that store-bought? If store-bought, whose box is it?

joeyhatch11 · Dec 5, 2015

I just glued a piece of 1/8in clear acrylic and added some hot glue to the edges to make sure the water flowed on top of the filter floss.

As for having room for skimmers or reactors, I don't feel is entirely necessary on such a small tank when weekly or even bi-weekly water changes would do just fine. All though a HOG up flow algae turf scrubber would fit in the rear chamber.