Best AIO nano tanks for beginners

Mel_mel · Apr 17, 2020

Hello! Could anyone give suggestions on what nano tanks are best for beginners? I would like to get into the hobby, but I live in a small condo, and need one that is very quiet as a compromise with my family members, and no more than 40g. I was looking at the Red Sea Max nano 20g. What are your thoughts on the Red Sea Max nano, and other options? Any help is much appreciated.

Reefer Optima · Apr 17, 2020

Hi Mel, welcome to Reef2Reef! I have learned so much in the short time I have been here. Are you looking for fish only with live rock or are you interested in keeping corals?

Also do you want complete all in one's with tank/stand/light like the Red Sea or tank/stand combos or possibly just tank?

Red Sea are well regarded & nice but perhaps a little more on the pricier side. Other popular manufacturers that come to my mind are Waterbox, Innovative Marine & JBJ. I personally have an Innovative Marine (AIO), JBJ (AIO), & Fiji Cube (overflow w/ sump). My Innovative Marine is great, my JBJ has developed a small leak after about 15 months so I'm in the process of switching to a bigger Fiji cube. I do think AIO is definitely the best choice for a new person.

mann1139 · Apr 17, 2020

Take a look on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to see what is out there as well.

Mel_mel · Apr 17, 2020

Reefer Optima said:
Hi Mel, welcome to Reef2Reef! I have learned so much in the short time I have been here. Are you looking for fish only with live rock or are you interested in keeping corals?

Also do you want complete all in one's with tank/stand/light like the Red Sea or tank/stand combos or possibly just tank?

Red Sea are well regarded & nice but perhaps a little more on the pricier side. Other popular manufacturers that come to my mind are Waterbox, Innovative Marine & JBJ. I personally have an Innovative Marine (AIO), JBJ (AIO), & Fiji Cube (overflow w/ sump). My Innovative Marine is great, my JBJ has developed a small leak after about 15 months so I'm in the process of switching to a bigger Fiji cube. I do think AIO is definitely the best choice for a new person.

Thank you for the info! This is very helpful. I’d like to start with fowlr, and if that goes well love to corals. Ideally I’d want a stand and tank combo. I did see a Fluval Sea EVO that is smaller that I could put on furniture in my dining room.

Reefer Optima · Apr 17, 2020

Your welcome. You can definitely find some good deals, esp. in light of covid-19 & the current economy if you are willing to get used. This forum is a great source for getting used components like lights or pumps.

If you like the Fluval Evo 13.5 peninsula style (filtration unit on a narrow end of tank), also check out the IM Nuvo & Fiji Cube peninsulas. It's my opinion but the 13.5 gallons is kind of small for a first time tank. Small tanks really limit you on number of fish & the water parameters can have wide swings.

IM has the Nuvo 20 peninsula on sale for like $250 on their website. The pump that comes with it is a DC pump that is almost certainly much better quality than most pumps that come with starter sets. It is adjustable flow & very quiet, I've had the mighty jet for about a year and love it.

Just be careful if you are keeping a tank on furniture that it can support the weight. Water is about 8.5 lbs/gal & usually with rock/sand about 10 lbs/gal.