Will i regret getting an AIO?
- Thread starter cba191
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OP
OP
Is $2k too much?
If you want these fish, then I would do a 4 foot, well 5 foot would be better.. tank.
At that size tank, I would not do an AIO.
If money is a concern, shop for a used set up (just not red sea).
Is $2k too much?
Don't spend 2k on a tank that doesn't even fit the fish you want.
My first sump set up was a 45g marineland cube with a stand and 29g sump and it cost me $30 used.
Later I bought a 75g reef ready with oak stand, someone's project but they never ended up using it so had never seen water and it was $500.
I just had to be patient and shop around. Don't obsess over brand or low iron or if it has a rim. You will be ticked to drop 2k on a tank that will house a clownfish and be full on coral in 6 months when the reality is you already stated you wanted something to house a tang and angelfish.
Only buy that set up if you want a nano with a few nano fish and a handful of corals. Nano's are awesome but they do not make meet everyone's needs.
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OP
OP
I've been trying to figure a system that isn't going to cost $5k to set up. I'm having no luck.
I could maybe do a flameback angel?
Shanel
Well-Known Member
That's not a bad price. What is more important to you the tank and the location you have for it or a specific fish that you want. If it's a fish you want to get then long term you will always be looking to upgrade the tank. A flameback angel needs about 55-75 gallons. If you keep it in a tank without any other fish you would need 30 ish gallons. Just my opinion but when they recommend tank sizes in gallons that generally refers to a standard tank dimension and does not include the volume of water in the sump. When you get into tanks that are extra deep or tall the gallon size doesn't really apply. Basically what a fish needs is an area for swimming or living, some can be territorial. When looking at systems with a sump the manufacturer always includes the volume of water in the sump. Stocking tanks in the size range you want usually are fish that don't grow larger than a few inches and are less aggressive.Is $2k too much?
Please do not settle. This is one of the biggest and most costly mistakes. You want to keep certain fish and to do so need a certain size tank that will cost a bit. Check out and talk with your LFS. Sometimes they will have large tanks for sale that were brought in. The longer it has sat after a period of time, the more they may want to negotiate to get rid of.
But settling is not always good and leads you to spending more money buying same items twice or regrets.
Found a 150 on Craigslist for 800. I would ask for the pictures and find out if it's sealed well and brand. But here is a good start for a used that will fit the size. https://westslope.craigslist.org/for/d/grand-junction-150-gallon-aquarium/7848331607.html
ekandler
Active Member
I'm a bit late but i'll share my experience on this, because I started on an AIO thinking it'd be easier and less mess and ended up with a tank/sump.
I started my reefing hobby with a RedSea MaxE 260 which is a 70 gallow AIO. Pretty large for an AIO, so maybe this advice doesn't apply to smaller tank setups. By the end, I had 10ish fish and a tank full of coral and I was struggling with what the space would allow me for equipment. The small skimmer that fit in the chamber wasn't sufficient for nutrient export, doing a refugium in the vertical chambers was much more challenging than in a standard sump (even though I sort of made it work), bags of media (carbon, GFO, etc.) in a basket aren't as efficinent as a reactor, and at the time you couldn't do a filter roller although some now have been created for AIOs.
so In the end I swapped to a larger tank with a sump which gave a lot more freedom to equipment in the sump area to help maintain the system and it was much easier. Not saying AIOs are impossible, but with a high demand system it will be much more challenging to get the tank to behave the way you want with the limitations on equiment in the AIO chambers, or likely be just more high maintance.
I started my reefing hobby with a RedSea MaxE 260 which is a 70 gallow AIO. Pretty large for an AIO, so maybe this advice doesn't apply to smaller tank setups. By the end, I had 10ish fish and a tank full of coral and I was struggling with what the space would allow me for equipment. The small skimmer that fit in the chamber wasn't sufficient for nutrient export, doing a refugium in the vertical chambers was much more challenging than in a standard sump (even though I sort of made it work), bags of media (carbon, GFO, etc.) in a basket aren't as efficinent as a reactor, and at the time you couldn't do a filter roller although some now have been created for AIOs.
so In the end I swapped to a larger tank with a sump which gave a lot more freedom to equipment in the sump area to help maintain the system and it was much easier. Not saying AIOs are impossible, but with a high demand system it will be much more challenging to get the tank to behave the way you want with the limitations on equiment in the AIO chambers, or likely be just more high maintance.
MikeReefs
Well-Known Member
I’d look into a waterbox AIO or marine X (with sump). The waterbox 65.4 has the min length you need. There is a preorder wait til June though. You can get an tomini tang and a dwarf no problem. It’s a 4 foot tank. I’m in the same boat. Imma just wait til Memorial Day sales if the prices are right for the marine x it’s a 79 gal basically same dimensions with some more height
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OP
OP
It would be about $2500 just for filtration powerheads, pumps, lights, and sump if I was to get a 120.
OP
OP
The main issue I have with used is for the spot I'm putting it needs to be a cube or peninsula no more than 24"wide. Ideally, it would be 100-120 gallons, but I don't think used peninsulas exist.
OP
OP
the perfect tank would be 36x24x24, but a 48x24x24 would work. but it has to be a peninsula.
Shanel
Well-Known Member
Here are a few options.
The red sea peninsula you will get a lot of negative feedback on . I personally have a 350 g2. I would not get the previous version due to the seam failures. This one is closer to the dimensions you want. They go on sale regularly. You may not run into a used one as this is not a common model.
REEFER 350 Peninsula G2+
Red Sea REEFER Peninsula - Models & Specs
Explore Red Sea REEFER Peninsula models and specs. Get detailed specifications, included smart devices, and pricing for your preferred model.
redseafish.com
Here is a better option in my opinion according to the fish you listed above this will give more space length wise but it's smaller width wise.
Waterbox Aquariums INFINIA PENINSULA 4820
https://waterboxaquariums.com/produ...n=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign={CampaignName}&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=18516388922&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18513375055&gbraid=0AAAAAD7hUexEmSFLszHyEsATiqFRL1c0L&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8vvABhCcARIsAOCfwwrF_sYZSaOyxubquDZ-JAfo2Ghnmi3GxXvPcKmbqzCnNhyo_OEPAP0aAlH3EALw_wcB
OP
OP
I've been looking at both those. I've also been looking at the eshopps mariner mp100. Buy it's $3299. Any of those 3 would be great, but $5-6kHere are a few options.
The red sea peninsula you will get a lot of negative feedback on . I personally have a 350 g2. I would not get the previous version due to the seam failures. This one is closer to the dimensions you want. They go on sale regularly. You may not run into a used one as this is not a common model.
REEFER 350 Peninsula G2+
Red Sea REEFER Peninsula - Models & Specs
Explore Red Sea REEFER Peninsula models and specs. Get detailed specifications, included smart devices, and pricing for your preferred model.
Here is a better option in my opinion according to the fish you listed above this will give more space length wise but it's smaller width wise.
Waterbox Aquariums INFINIA PENINSULA 4820
https://waterboxaquariums.com/produ...n=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign={CampaignName}&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=18516388922&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18513375055&gbraid=0AAAAAD7hUexEmSFLszHyEsATiqFRL1c0L&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8vvABhCcARIsAOCfwwrF_sYZSaOyxubquDZ-JAfo2Ghnmi3GxXvPcKmbqzCnNhyo_OEPAP0aAlH3EALw_wcB
ryudo80
Active Member
I recently bought a waterbox 65 AIO and I really enjoy it. It's 4ft long so plenty of room for fish to swim. I do a weekly water change of a 5 gallon bucket so it's not too much work. I find that I don't even use most of the back chambers. I like the option of being able to buy the tank only without the stand and built my own stand. I think the tank cost me around $950 with tax included shipped. I got rid of the filter socks and buy 2 3d printed filter cups. I also got a small MiniQ protein skimmer that is plenty for my need and fit easily in one of the back chambers.
OP
OP
Can't buy just the tank with the peninsula. :(
Shanel
Well-Known Member
Yes the MP100 has the best dimensions. Easily it would be 5-6k by the time you get it going. These things are not cheap. Being peninsula's it's going to be harder to find a used one. Have you thought about taking a blank aquarium and adding an AIO insert? That would drive the price down. You would have less filtration but if you got a dosing pump with at least 2 pump heads you could do small daily water changes and the smaller filtration would not matter. You could keep up with the bioload by replacing water instead of filtering it. This way you may not even need to dose alk and ca depending on how much coral you put in the tank.
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