Suggestions for a small AIO tank setup

[jacqueline1989]

So I'm thinking about taking down my 125g saltwater tank and slowly getting out of the hobby since the tank is at my parent's house and I can't rely on them to care for a big tank for forever. However, I don't want to get rid of my pair of clownfish. One of them was my first ever saltwater fish and I've had them for almost 8 years now. So I'm thinking about getting a nano or small tank just for them. I don't have any coral or anything so it would just be a pair of clowns and some snails or something.

Does anyone have suggestions for AIO tanks that would be good? I don't really want to go over 20g. I was considering one of the Innovative Marine AIO tanks but not exactly sure. Also any suggestions for lighting and filtration since I know most tanks don't come with it or it doesn't work well.

 

[Fish Fan]

I have and very much like the Im AIO tanks. I think their 15, 20L, or 25 lagoon would make a nice home for your Clowns. Good luck!

 

[JTP424]

I run a waterbox aio and have tried an IM aio. Both are awesome. Id figure out with "display" orientation/ shape and size you like and go for one of those :)

 

[BriDroid]

I have a little Landen 10 gallon cube from Amazon. I’m really impressed with the build quality so far.

 

[jacqueline1989]

I have and very much like the Im AIO tanks. I think their 15, 20L, or 25 lagoon would make a nice home for your Clowns. Good luck!

any suggestions on what to put in the chambers?

 

[akma]

any suggestions on what to put in the chambers?

I have an IM 25 lagoon with a pair of clownfish.

I purchased the caddy's online. The left drain I use filter floss pad, chemipure, purigen.
On the right side, filter pad, ceramic blocs, heater. I have a little caddy for cheato, but just leaving that empty for now.

 

[JumboShrimp]

"Yes" to the IM 20 gallon AIO. I have one, and love it. (I also have a 24 gallon AquaTop AIO; it's fun too, but a different footprint. If I only had one, I'd say the IM tank.)

 

[jacqueline1989]

"Yes" to the IM 20 gallon AIO. I have one, and love it. (I also have a 24 gallon AquaTop AIO; it's fun too, but a different footprint. If I only had one, I'd say the IM tank.)

What did you put in the chambers for your IM 20 gallon?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Each has a media caddy-- top chamber uses easy-peasy pieces of floss.

 

[Fish Fan]

any suggestions on what to put in the chambers?

I'll try!

First, I have the InTank media basket and their 'fuge baskets and both are great. But I also own the less expensive AquaGadget media basket, and it's functionally identical. If you want to add a media basket, get whatever is cheaper.

I like to keep some plastic bio balls in the bottom chamber, not so much for extra biofiltration (you want your rock and sand in your tank to be your main biofilter), but I keep that media "seeded" in case I ever need to quick-start an emergency tank. I recommended that in general, no matter what system you have :)

I sometimes run a little Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) in the middle section and many who keep these smaller tanks like the ChemiPure products. I just use regular carbon. Carbon helps to remove certain chemicals, medications, pigments and even coral poisons in the water. This is chemical filtration. I'd stay away from other chemical media like Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) when you're just getting going, you shouldn't really need it.

In the top of the media basket where the tank water first flows in, I use a little mechanical filtration. Popular choices would be filter floss or filter pads you can even cut for a perfect fit. I use Poly-Fil stuffing that you can find at craft stores or your local Mega-Lo-Mart, it's used to stuff pillows, etc. It's exactly the same as aquarium filter floss, but much cheaper. I pull and toss this (ideally) every 3-5 days, and at least once a week. The poly fill is so cheap, I just toss it and stuff another pinch of the stuff in the media basket.

I hope that helps!

 

[exnisstech]

I recently set up an IM 20 and have a little bit of info that may be helpful. There's a link in my signature. If your on mobile you'll need to turn the device to landscape mode to see the signature.