Forgive me for being a noob but...

[davidious]

I have a tank, and want to built up a section for all the filtering, and maybe skimmer, heater and other stuff for tank maintenance.

I have a Fluval Spec 5 (for freshwater fish) and it has a wet wall inside with all the components behind it for keeping the tank clean and taken care of.

What is this called?

I want to try and make one for a nano reef in a 10gal (project tank linked) - but I want to look up the parts to go into "said area".

Can someone tell me what this "area" is called?
Also, are there "nano skimmers" and good filters for that size tank?

Thanks guys! :wavehand::wavehand:

David

 

[davidious]

Can I not just edit my post?


PS: I know having everything outside the tank, in its own little spot is a refuge I think. So does that mean having a walled off section inside the tank with water that flows through and back out, is that called the same thing?

I want to build an in tank "space" for all my tank parts, thanks!

 

[Clowning_Around]

With such a small tank you may want to omit some of the equipment and simply do water changes, food for thought as another idea before venturing down that path if you hadnt already considered it. But on a side note yes there are nano skimmers typically in the form of hang on the back HOB style, a frestanding one has a rather large footprint respectively to your display tank DT.

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[top shelf]

What you are referring to is an AIO or All in One tank. Everything is housed in a separate section. Its probably just cheaper and easier in the long run to buy one of the already made AIO's then piece one together and build it yourself. Not saying it can't be done but for someone new to the hobby it may be a more pleasant experience for you and lead to less frustration that could turn you off from reef keeping.

 

[davidious]

Btw, this is what I am talking about, what ever that "area" of the tank is called.
I also was hoping not to use hang on back, I wanted to get everything into the tank if possible.

 

[davidious]

What you are referring to is an AIO or All in One tank. Everything is housed in a separate section. Its probably just cheaper and easier in the long run to buy one of the already made AIO's then piece one together and build it yourself. Not saying it can't be done but for someone new to the hobby it may be a more pleasant experience for you and lead to less frustration that could turn you off from reef keeping.

All in one - so if I go to the store and say "I want to build an all in one tank into my tank" they will know what I am saying?

I love frustration /Kappa.

 

[davidious]

The idea of putting in my own wall, and fitting my own fixtures sounds like lots of entertainment for me - hence why I considered it. I also would love to buy one completed, but can not afford it. Thanks.

 

[top shelf]

Admittedly I've never owned an AIO as my first tank I used an external overflow box and my newest tank came from SCA drilled with an internal overflow both using a sump. I've always just heard them referred to as the back or rear chamber. You can pick them up used pretty cheap actually, check on Craigslist. This hobby can be very expensive but if you look out for deals and find good used equipment it can still be done low budget.

 

[davidious]

I just found an AIO conversion kit by a company called Reef Conversion - pretty interesting, you just pop it in and it does everything I was trying to do by hand.

https://oceanboxdesigns.com/product/oceanbox-designs-aquamaxx-aio-reef-conversion/

 

[snowlynx]

Don't do it.

I started off same way but with 5 gallon Marineland Portrait, yes,
it is possible but you run into other issues quick like stability in water and temp.
Unless you are ok with one very tiny saltwater fish.

If you go that route, make sure pump is made for saltwater use.

The extra wall provides in tank sump but hard to clean, you can
barely fit a heater and your hand in there.

 

[davidious]

BY THE WAY - I think I found the technical term for this in tank wall - or at least what it acts like.

"weir"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weir

It basically sets where the water will go up to, before draining out. Now yes, what I was asking about was everything including what goes behind it for either a filtering system or drainage into a sump, but Weir might be what term is used for "black plastic thing that has a grate at the time" haha.

Thanks again guys! BTW I now have a $29 gallon tank - it is pretty beat up (lots of scratches, but not sure what that might look like under water - they are also mostly on the back of the tank). This tank used to have a HOB filter system and was used for fresh water. Picture posted - not sure if I will use this for a tank, or sell it (probably will sell it, great tank for a large sump/refuge though)

After looking at the tank again - it appears to be more of a beater tank than a quality front facing tank. But with little income, I don't have much of a choice. I could probably sell it for $1/gallon ($30) which might give me a little cash to go towards a clean tank.

https://puu.sh/x98AU/4ea4a27b85.jpg - picture of new tank.

 

[davidious]

Don't do it.
If you go that route, make sure pump is made for saltwater use.

The extra wall provides in tank sump but hard to clean, you can
barely fit a heater and your hand in there.

My little Spec V is hard to get into I agree, but with a 10+ I should have enough space behind the wall/weir to get a hand in there.

Thanks for the input!

 

[homer1475]

You could also use the 29 as a sump for the 10G display. More water = greater stability.

Yes Quite a few people have large sumps and smaller displays.

FWIW, when I ran a biocube(has the false wall/weir) which is an AIO, it was a huge PITA to get in and do any maintenance. Having a sump is way easier and I would never do an AIO again.

Even with an AIO your still pretty much stuck to HOB equipment. It may be hidden from view, but your still going to have to use HOB.

 

[Clowning_Around]

I second the suggestion of using it for the sump, and this provides more flexibility/options such as used gear with your budget constraints mentioned.

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[top shelf]

First thing your gunna wanna do is research and research some more. Then once you think you have read enough read more. Your greatest chances at success won't necessarily be the equipment you have but the knowledge you have about the ecosystem you are trying to create in a glass box. There is also a difference between knowledge and first hand experience as anyone can tell you but that all comes in time. Then you will wanna decide on a budget and what equipment will fit into that budget. That small aio can start to add up. A low end budget and someone please correct me if I'm wrong can easily start at 2-300 just to get everything together let alone fish and corals in it. For my 45g build I started with a $1000 budget and I'm already up to 2k and still don't have water in it yet and I've been gathering stuff for a year now. Which brings me to take your time and plan things out. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby and even with the best laid plan and patience you can still be thrown curve balls but you gotta be patient. There is a lot of collective knowledge on this forum and many people more then willing to help. If money is a big concern for you right now maybe it might be best to wait till finances are more flexible as there are still lives at stake.

 

[Sk8r]

If you're content with one to two very small fish and hermits and snails and rock and sand, you can run a successful marine tank (in that things live, though you will have a lot of algae) with a 30 gallon tank and a Penguin filter. But that's pretty well what you get: algae, rock, and two fishes. If you want larger fishes, they need massive aeration and better water and you're into needing skimmer, sump, etc. The skimmer is the provider of potent aeration---and the surface turnover of the water helps clear out waste gases. Suggest too joining a reef club: they can teach you a lot and they may have pretty decent spare equipment they'd sell.