Aesethically pleasing DIY AIO

[ahud]

Hello All,

I'm going back and forth on trying an DIY AIO. Most of the ones I have seen do not have a clean appearance because the filtration area is unsightly. The commercial AIO do not do it for me either, especially the cube types with rounded edges. I do not like the distorted look you get.

Does anyone have pictures of a clean AIO setup?

I could just do a simple setup and ditch the filtration area, but then I have to see the heater and powerheads.

 

[matt_longview]

Here's a pic of my 10g AIO build and a FTS now that it's up.

I put some black acrylic on the inside to hide the filtration. I thought I'd rather do that than black spray paint. It looks a touch off with the silicone right now, but I think it'll look better when it's wet. I decided if it didn't look right I would likely build some wood pieces down the side of the canopy to hide the back.

These pics were taken yesterday. Today I cleaned up the teeth for the overflow, put in the 1/2 hole for the return and siliconed the main piece onto the front. I also got to finally check to see if my idea with the egg crate would work. Worked perfectly.

Lefty, my barber pole goby, chillin on the rock.

I liked the look of using the black acrylic inside of the tank. I did that on both sides and centered my rocks so the tank is a "room divider" style that can be viewed from three sides... perfect for those difficult to find small critters (such as Randalls Pistol/Barber Pole Goby Pair).

 

[JasonBJones]

Here is mine first put together. With and without the rock wall.

 

[sweetleaf]

Currently putting together my AIO 20 gallon long, with a custom oak stand and hood, which I should have put together by the end of next week (amazing how a new aquarium controller can spark motivation).

However the previous two provide a good example of the direction you can go with an AIO. Either have the sharp clean look of a well painted black background (or black acrylic), which seamlessly runs from back of the tank, sides, and into the in-tank partitions. Or, the method I am choosing, using a rock wall to make the most out of your space by providing ledges directly onto the back. This is very important for me as my filtration area is rather large, taking up 4.5" of a possible 12". This allows you to have minimal rock work in your center space, freeing up room and creating a very interesting personalized look.

If you are using a AGA glass tank for your build, the siliconed edges are often sloppy and unpleasing aesthetically, especially if you remove the black trim. You can remedy this by using a very sharp razor blade (I often buy a pack of 20 and change often when I'm dealing with silicone) and carefully cut back the silicone along the joints. Structurally, the silicone provides its strength in the area in between the glass panes, not where it has oozed out. I often cut it back till it is a few mm from the glass into a nice right angle. Using this method you can take a cheap AGA and make it look like a nice ADA tank.

Even if you have minimal equipment, a small back area is crucial to hide a heater, carbon and maybe some filter floss. Since I have 2 reactors, a skimmer, mag 2 return, refugium, heater, ph & temp probes, I needed a large area, and calculating the necessary flow speed was crucial. Take care in how you size the back area.

 

[truebeliever71]

What size are you looking for? I was looking for an original clean looking pico so I created my 13x13x8 shallow cube...

Filtration is handled in the right corner chamber.

 

[ange062]

Sweet lookin DIY's!

 

[Prodigal1011]

Here is mine first put together. With and without the rock wall.

Awesome look, do you have a build thread? Specs? Just got a 55 for an aio build and I really like your idea!

 

[Outlets710]

Have any more pics?

Have any more pics?

What size are you looking for? I was looking for an original clean looking pico so I created my 13x13x8 shallow cube...

Filtration is handled in the right corner chamber.

I'm about to take on same project excpt w a 29 long and like you I want to put filtration n corner but all I can find are pics of false walls on end do you have any more pics?

 

[Outlets710]

Love the corn

Love the corn

What size are you looking for? I was looking for an original clean looking pico so I created my 13x13x8 shallow cube...

Filtration is handled in the right corner chamber.

 

[Outlets710]

Let me try this one more time

Let me try this one more time

I'm about to take on same project excpt w a 29 long and like you I want to put filtration n corner but all I can find are pics of false walls on end do you have any more pics?

I like the fact you only took up a corner rather than a whole end, do you have any pics of what your filtration looks like. Iow behind the false wall. With where I am putting it that would work perfect I could still see water line. Thanks

 

[Outlets710]

Any pics of how your filtration looks now that it's set up

Any pics of how your filtration looks now that it's set up

Here's a pic of my 10g AIO build and a FTS now that it's up.



I liked the look of using the black acrylic inside of the tank. I did that on both sides and centered my rocks so the tank is a "room divider" style that can be viewed from three sides... perfect for those difficult to find small critters (such as Randalls Pistol/Barber Pole Goby Pair).

Thats what I plan on building for kitchen counter but a 29long to tee.room divider , basically a peninsula tank. How can u see your water line? I was going to do that but that end is going to be up against a wall so I guess I could possible put a window of some type..