I want to start out in the hobby with a 20 gallon AIO tank but I am unsure if that is large enough for beginner mistakes.

Mr. Mojo Rising

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Messages
5,614
Reaction score
6,253
Location
Toronto
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I prefer keeping smaller tanks myself, but I would suggest to consider 30-40 gallons. The main issue with a 20 gallon is that you really limit the type and number of fish you can have. If you go according to recommended tanks size (and I always do), very few fish can go into a 20, but at 30 gallons it opens up a larger variety of fish that you can keep.
 

Stain

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 13, 2021
Messages
149
Reaction score
212
Location
Ontario
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I started with a 20 long, drilled it and had a 10gal sump. Within a month, I swapped the 10gal for a 20gal long sump. The added volume/size was great. A 20 aio will be tricky, I prefer a sump due to the extra volume/size/room for activities. You will want a skimmer and an ato in the back, so the size of skimmer you can use will be extremely limited.
 

jt8791

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 1, 2020
Messages
397
Reaction score
154
Location
Sabattus
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yeah to be honest unless you like spending extra money I wouldn’t bother with aio tanks. Standard 30 or 40 gallon tank is a good starter size, if you want long and shallow a 33 long is a good one but hard to find, 40 longs are even harder to find. Couple wave pumps to start you off then just add a few hob filters, aqua clear 110 filters make a functional refugium without breaking the bank. I started with a 20 gallon high and wasn’t happy with it in the end, not gonna cost you much more to jump up to a 30-40 gallon tank.

Edit: 40 breeder is probably the best for aquascaping though, lots of room to work with.
 

Acros

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 6, 2020
Messages
2,061
Reaction score
1,882
Location
Greenville, SC
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Yeah to be honest unless you like spending extra money I wouldn’t bother with aio tanks. Standard 30 or 40 gallon tank is a good starter size, if you want long and shallow a 33 long is a good one but hard to find, 40 longs are even harder to find. Couple wave pumps to start you off then just add a few hob filters, aqua clear 110 filters make a functional refugium without breaking the bank. I started with a 20 gallon high and wasn’t happy with it in the end, not gonna cost you much more to jump up to a 30-40 gallon tank.
I totally agree with this, but the OP seems to be looking for a rimless tank. I cannot fault him, I prefer the look of rimless tanks as well.

I think the best value AIO tanks are all less than 30 gallon in capacity. Once it approaches $1000, it is almost as expensive as a Red Sea Reefer 170 (with sump).
 

Catnip885

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 12, 2021
Messages
149
Reaction score
341
Location
Mt. Morris
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I think the smaller tank is easier only because you are more likely to do water changes when it doesn't feel like a chore. If you only have to change out 2.5 gallons once weekly it goes really fast.
 

jt8791

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 1, 2020
Messages
397
Reaction score
154
Location
Sabattus
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Oh yeah didn’t catch the rimless part, yeah that slims the options down and increases the price but typically easier to setup an ato. I actually prefer the rim, gives me something to track my water line by.

But I’m also too cheap to buy an ato, for the cost and space for it I just leave a 2.5G jug of rodi next to the tank and top off manually twice a day. Tank is next to a French door, the jug makes a perfect door stop otherwise the handle would hit the tank if not paying attention.
 
OP
OP
Elit940

Elit940

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 13, 2021
Messages
43
Reaction score
5
Location
wilmington
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yeah to be honest unless you like spending extra money I wouldn’t bother with aio tanks. Standard 30 or 40 gallon tank is a good starter size, if you want long and shallow a 33 long is a good one but hard to find, 40 longs are even harder to find. Couple wave pumps to start you off then just add a few hob filters, aqua clear 110 filters make a functional refugium without breaking the bank. I started with a 20 gallon high and wasn’t happy with it in the end, not gonna cost you much more to jump up to a 30-40 gallon tank.

Edit: 40 breeder is probably the best for aquascaping though, lots of room to work with.
I want to go with a fully tricked out 69 gallon waterbox is that too much?
 

jt8791

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 1, 2020
Messages
397
Reaction score
154
Location
Sabattus
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
If you can afford it go for it, just don’t forget to factor everything else you are gonna need.
 

HeyLookItsCaps

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 1, 2017
Messages
881
Reaction score
1,276
Location
Fort Worth
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
If it is not enough, what are budget larger o
If it is not enough, what are budget larger options?
smaller tanks have less margin for error, part of me wishes I didn’t start with a BC29, but on the flip side you learn very fast and gain a ton of experience when things are that way.
 
Back
Top