New to AIO...are they just as good?

[N2950H]

Hey guys, I've been away from the hobby for many years and just now getting back in. I'm excited to see several different options for frag tanks these days as I plan to start with a small, shallow tank to keep some LPS, zoas, other soft corals, clams, and maybe a couple fish. I'm primarily looking at the Waterbox AIO 28.2 but also considering their 45.2 Frag version which has the same dimensions just with the addition of the sump.

My question is this...for my purposes, what would be the benefit of spending twice as much for the 45.2? In other words, what can I do with the 45.2 that I can't do with the AIO 28.2? I like the idea of a ~$700 complete AIO setup (minus lights) but I'm skeptical that an AIO system will be as good as the ~$1400 setup with a sump/refugium.

 

[Taxus812]

I’m no expert but more water volume and thus more stability is what jumps out at me. There isn’t a sump that you can scale up in the 45 gal AIO. How much can you scale up the sump in the 28?

Just my two cents (that is why I went to a 45gal RedSea over a 20 gal.

 

[Peace River]

Hey guys, I've been away from the hobby for many years and just now getting back in. I'm excited to see several different options for frag tanks these days as I plan to start with a small, shallow tank to keep some LPS, zoas, other soft corals, clams, and maybe a couple fish. I'm primarily looking at the Waterbox AIO 28.2 but also considering their 45.2 Frag version which has the same dimensions just with the addition of the sump.

My question is this...for my purposes, what would be the benefit of spending twice as much for the 45.2? In other words, what can I do with the 45.2 that I can't do with the AIO 28.2? I like the idea of a ~$700 complete AIO setup (minus lights) but I'm skeptical that an AIO system will be as good as the ~$1400 setup with a sump/refugium.

An AIO is more flexible if you want to take it to a frag swap and still have your filtration with you in a convenient way. You have more water volume in a sump and more flexibility for filtration options if portability isn't an issue. Additionally the AIO takes up a smaller footprint and, as you pointed out, costs less.

I'm sure others will weigh in with more pros and cons but are AIOs just as good? It really depends on what your needs are and what you want it to be good for.

 

[N2950H]

Thanks guys. Wow, portability is definitely not something I'm concerned about or even considered. I just want it to be a good setup for LPS, soft corals, and a few fish.

The additional volume and increased stability is probably going to steer me toward the sump.

 

[MrArcana]

AOI just means the sumps in the back. It's convirnent for sure, but maybe you want more space and volume...then you'd go for a traditional drilled tank and sump.

I only have a little 10g nano so the aio nuvo made sense. If I was building a large system, while there are nice big AIOs I'd probably go with a external sump. Price would be similar if not cheaper but you get extra flexibility and volume.

It really just comes down to what you want/need to accomplish with your setup.

 

[Peace River]

Thanks guys. Wow, portability is definitely not something I'm concerned about or even considered. I just want it to be a good setup for LPS, soft corals, and a few fish.

The additional volume and increased stability is probably going to steer me toward the sump.

No worries! The AIO 28.2 will still be there when you decide that you just have to share your amazing corals at all of the frag swaps in your city, state, region, and beyond!!!

 

[BadPanda]

AIO tanks are great for space. The only thing I don't like about them are limited equipment availabilty due to size and the size of the chambers themselves specially with big hands on tiny chambers. The equipment that can fit in said chambers have very poor reviews. You can use hang-on type equipment but defeats the purpose of having an AIO. If you're building it like you said, it shouldn't really be a problem.

 

[Cleo]

I have a 120 drilled with a sump and also a IM 25 lagoon. The reason I got an AIO is space. It is a simpler system with less work but, I think that the sump design is easier for maintenance and can look cleaner because the equipment can be hidden in the sump/cabinet.

 

[Bossman]

My first tank was the RS max 260 that is an AIO. Then a RS 170 AIO. After a while I ditched the RS in back sump skimmers for RO HOB skimmers and that was a step forward. Now I have converted both RS tanks to in cabinet sumps. I think the in cabinet sumps add many benefits; increased water volume, filter socks, an even better skimmer, room for refugium/reactors, and easier to work on the components then in the back IMO.

I was new to saltwater and liked the idea of the AIO at first. But wish I had just gotten the in cabinet sumps to start. Good learning experience....

Now, I do have an IM Fusion 20 AIO in my bedroom and I love it for what it is. I think an AIO has a place, just have to decide what works best for you.

 

[Jay Z]

I started with a jbj curved corner 45 aio. I couldn’t get proper equipment to fit in it. Anything that fit in back was to small for my tank. Plus it was unstable as heck. Tiny worthless skimmer, poor filtration, Noisy pumps, med water flow.

I ended up doing pvc overflows in the back and added a 48” sump in the basement. System is rock solid now, proper flow, filtration, and proper skimmer and reactor.

Just my opinion on what I thought about the Aio. I didn’t want to spend the money upfront and now I’m double of what it would have cost if I went with a tank/sump setup from the get go.

 

[cracker]

Never owned one but have checked them out . The compartments just look too small to me.

 

[N2950H]

So am I correct in assuming no skimmer is required for the Waterbox Frag 28 AIO? I wouldn't think the two included filter socks are enough to do much good.