New tank?

[ZachariahBeanzz]

Hey, I’ve recently come up with a tank that no longer has fish in it due to some mishaps. I never really liked the tank, it’s an AIO from marine land, and the filter and pump have always been annoying to deal with. With this sadly new opportunity to restart, I’m thinking I’ll take it. For a little context, the LFS where I bought the tank lied about certain parts about the tank, but didn’t do refunds. So I was stuck with it, and decided to make out the best of the situation. I researched anything I could before buying a tank, so when I bought the tank I knew a bit on what to do, and I set up the tank. But it’s been a constant struggle to upkeep the filter, and I’ve kind of been done with it. So here I am now, looking for a new tank. I’ll definitely take the process of setting this tank up slower, and I’ll make sure to get something I like. After looking at a couple of tanks, I think the IM 20 AIO looks pretty nice, but I do have some questions. For the filter, does it only come with the filter socks, and pump, and is the pump quiet? ( I’m putting this tank in my room). And, lastly, if you’ve had any experience with it, how do you like it? Thank you for any help!

 

[BryanM]

Bump, no answer here, except that I generally like IM products.

 

[hatteras hank]

I just started an IM 15g. Wish I had space for the 20 but the 15 barely fits to the inch in the space. I really like it so far. Still cycling. Very nice looking and well built. I think the pump is same size as 20g and it darn near silent. Also in bedroom. In my opinion the IM aio tanks are hard to beat for the price, you will like it. Only includes tank filter sock and return pump. I got and recommend the screen lid for it as well. Fits and looks great.

 

[Fish Fan]

Hey, I’ve recently come up with a tank that no longer has fish in it due to some mishaps. I never really liked the tank, it’s an AIO from marine land, and the filter and pump have always been annoying to deal with. With this sadly new opportunity to restart, I’m thinking I’ll take it. For a little context, the LFS where I bought the tank lied about certain parts about the tank, but didn’t do refunds. So I was stuck with it, and decided to make out the best of the situation. I researched anything I could before buying a tank, so when I bought the tank I knew a bit on what to do, and I set up the tank. But it’s been a constant struggle to upkeep the filter, and I’ve kind of been done with it. So here I am now, looking for a new tank. I’ll definitely take the process of setting this tank up slower, and I’ll make sure to get something I like. After looking at a couple of tanks, I think the IM 20 AIO looks pretty nice, but I do have some questions. For the filter, does it only come with the filter socks, and pump, and is the pump quiet? ( I’m putting this tank in my room). And, lastly, if you’ve had any experience with it, how do you like it? Thank you for any help!

I have two IM 10 gallon AIO's, two 15 gallon AIO's, and their 25 gallon AIO. All these kits (including the 20L) comes with a filter sock and a stock pump. The pump is fine to start with, it's reasonably quiet, but many I think choose to upgrade the return pump at some point. The IM Mighty Jets are popular, but the Jebao/Jecod pumps work just fine too (I have had both pump brands).

I don't personally care for filter socks in any tank, and for these AIO's I like to use either the InTank or AquaGadget media baskets, and for mechanical I like to use inexpensive Poly-Fil (same as filter floss, but cheaper, found in the craft department for stuffing pillows, etc.). These media baskets also make it easy to run chemical medias like carbon. Again, I've had both the InTank and the AquaGadget, the former is more expensive, but functionally they are identical; I'd get the cheaper one.

InTank makes a refugium basket for the second section that you may be interested in too :)

I hope that helps and good luck!

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

I have two IM 10 gallon AIO's, two 15 gallon AIO's, and their 25 gallon AIO. All these kits (including the 20L) comes with a filter sock and a stock pump. The pump is fine to start with, it's reasonably quiet, but many I think choose to upgrade the return pump at some point. The IM Mighty Jets are popular, but the Jebao/Jecod pumps work just fine too (I have had both pump brands).

I don't personally care for filter socks in any tank, and for these AIO's I like to use either the InTank or AquaGadget media baskets, and for mechanical I like to use inexpensive Poly-Fil (same as filter floss, but cheaper, found in the craft department for stuffing pillows, etc.). These media baskets also make it easy to run chemical medias like carbon. Again, I've had both the InTank and the AquaGadget, the former is more expensive, but functionally they are identical; I'd get the cheaper one.

InTank makes a refugium basket for the second section that you may be interested in too :)

I hope that helps and good luck!

Thank you! I just have one question, I haven’t looked into too too much detail about the actual sizing of the filter part, where would you put the InTank media basket?

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you! I just have one question, I haven’t looked into too too much detail about the actual sizing of the filter part, where would you put the InTank media basket?

No sizing issues to worry about :-)

I was trying to link to the InTank media basket, but it appears their site is down at this very moment. But they make a great product, and it's already sized to fit in your tank (assuming you get the IM 20L). It fits where the sock would go perfectly. It replaces the sock, and in my opinion gives you much more efficiency and flexibility vs. socks. Keep in mind, I don't like socks, and that's just my opinion on them; many do use them. I don't want to deal with cleaning socks all the time, I use a media basket with Poly-Fil on the top, which I can easily pull and replace every 5-7 days. It couldn't be easier or cheaper, in my opinion.

Here's a link here discussing the InTank vs. the AquaGadget media baskets. One costs more, but I believe they are fuctionally the same; just go with the AquaGadget here.

Difference between intank and IM

Looking to change out the filter sock on my IM20 with a media basket. There's a inTank media basket for $45 and IM has one for $23. Any big difference between the two? https://www.innovative-marine.com/shop/CustomCaddy%E2%84%A2-Customizable-Filter-Media-Basket-w-Media-Desktop-p184822924...

www.reef2reef.com

Here's the AquaGadget media basket right through IM. Whatever you get, just get the one that's sized for the "Desktop" series of IM tanks (ie: their 10, 15, 20L and 25 laggon AIO tanks ). These media baskets fit all of those tanks perfectly:

Shop | Innovative Marine Products

Shop Now | Innovative Marine's Official Store | Free Shipping on all orders* | NUVO aquariums and saltwater reef supplies.

www.innovative-marine.com

Here's the Poly-Fil that I like to use for cheap filter floss. Buy this at sewing/craft stores, or at your local Mega-Lo-Mart:

The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. | Michaels

Buy the The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. at Michaels.com. Crafters have made Poly-Fil the best selling polyester fiberfill in America.

www.michaels.com

I would suggest loading the top part of the media basket with floss/Poly-Fil. You can reach this to pull it and replace it often, you don't even need to pull out the media basket. In the middle section I'd run carbon. In the bottom section I'd run some plastic or inert ceramic bio balls. The bio balls are not meant for additional biological filtration. In a marine tank, you want your rock and sand to be the main bio filter. These bio balls are there to be seeded with bacteria in the event that you have to very quickly setup a quarantine or hospital tank. Having pre-cycled bio media to use for this reason is a huge safety net in this hobby. Plastic or ceramic bio balls would not interact with any medication you many necessarily need in a QT/hospital tank.

And that's just the first filter section chamber :-) There's baskets to turn the second filter section of these tanks into a refugium to grow beneficial organisms, and/or to potentially reduce nutrients in the main tank.

While I was posting this and looking for links to these media baskets, I noticed there's a lot of sellers on Etsy selling 3D printed media baskets now - check those out! Again, just get the size for the "Desktop" series of IM tanks, and they all will fit.

I would really encourage you to get this IM tank you're thinking about. If you have the room, consider the 25 gallon lagoon tank. It's short, but the front to back depth is awesome. If not, the 20L is a fine tank. There's other choices, but you can't go wrong with an IM AIO. Members here run these tanks from brand new beginners to experts we all look up to. They may a quality product that's well received and well supported in the community.

I hope that helps, sorry for such a long reply :-)

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

No sizing issues to worry about :)

I was trying to link to the InTank media basket, but it appears their site is down at this very moment. But they make a great product, and it's already sized to fit in your tank (assuming you get the IM 20L). It fits where the sock would go perfectly. It replaces the sock, and in my opinion gives you much more efficiency and flexibility vs. socks. Keep in mind, I don't like socks, and that's just my opinion on them; many do use them. I don't want to deal with cleaning socks all the time, I use a media basket with Poly-Fil on the top, which I can easily pull and replace every 5-7 days. It couldn't be easier or cheaper, in my opinion.

Here's a link here discussing the InTank vs. the AquaGadget media baskets. One costs more, but I believe they are fuctionally the same; just go with the AquaGadget here.

Difference between intank and IM

Looking to change out the filter sock on my IM20 with a media basket. There's a inTank media basket for $45 and IM has one for $23. Any big difference between the two? https://www.innovative-marine.com/shop/CustomCaddy%E2%84%A2-Customizable-Filter-Media-Basket-w-Media-Desktop-p184822924...

www.reef2reef.com

Here's the AquaGadget media basket right through IM. Whatever you get, just get the one that's sized for the "Desktop" series of IM tanks (ie: their 10, 15, 20L and 25 laggon AIO tanks ). These media baskets fit all of those tanks perfectly:

Shop | Innovative Marine Products

Shop Now | Innovative Marine's Official Store | Free Shipping on all orders* | NUVO aquariums and saltwater reef supplies.

www.innovative-marine.com

Here's the Poly-Fil that I like to use for cheap filter floss. Buy this at sewing/craft stores, or at your local Mega-Lo-Mart:

The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. | Michaels

Buy the The Original Poly-fil® Premium Fiber Fill Bag, 20oz. at Michaels.com. Crafters have made Poly-Fil the best selling polyester fiberfill in America.

www.michaels.com

I would suggest loading the top part of the media basket with floss/Poly-Fil. You can reach this to pull it and replace it often, you don't even need to pull out the media basket. In the middle section I'd run carbon. In the bottom section I'd run some plastic or inert ceramic bio balls. The bio balls are not meant for additional biological filtration. In a marine tank, you want your rock and sand to be the main bio filter. These bio balls are there to be seeded with bacteria in the event that you have to very quickly setup a quarantine or hospital tank. Having pre-cycled bio media to use for this reason is a huge safety net in this hobby. Plastic or ceramic bio balls would not interact with any medication you many necessarily need in a QT/hospital tank.

And that's just the first filter section chamber :) There's baskets to turn the second filter section of these tanks into a refugium to grow beneficial organisms, and/or to potentially reduce nutrients in the main tank.

While I was posting this and looking for links to these media baskets, I noticed there's a lot of sellers on Etsy selling 3D printed media baskets now - check those out! Again, just get the size for the "Desktop" series of IM tanks, and they all will fit.

I would really encourage you to get this IM tank you're thinking about. If you have the room, consider the 25 gallon lagoon tank. It's short, but the front to back depth is awesome. If not, the 20L is a fine tank. There's other choices, but you can't go wrong with an IM AIO. Members here run these tanks from brand new beginners to experts we all look up to. They may a quality product that's well received and well supported in the community.

I hope that helps, sorry for such a long reply :)

Thank you for this reply! It was definitely helpful, and the long reply really did help me understand, thanks!

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you for this reply! It was definitely helpful, and the long reply really did help me understand, thanks!

Happy to help, good luck!