Please Help? I have a couple ?'s

[stew07]

I am new to the hobby. 8 months ago a purchased a Innovative Marine 20 gallon tank. I love it but want to go bigger.

I guess what I don't understand is what is the difference than getting a all in one tank like the IM 40 or a tank and having the sump built below.

Is one better than the other? It just seems to me that the all in one is just a little simpler and there is a lot less maintenance or things that could go wrong.

I am possibly wanting the IM 40 or getting a 60 gallon cube with a sump. I will tell you that after some research the IM 40 is less money. I already have one MP10 and a kessill A360 light.

Also, has the IM 60 been discontinued?

All comments are welcome. I am just trying to educate myself.

 

[domination2580]

I would have to say the difference is space....in a all in one tank you don't have a lot of room to do things. With a sump you can buy and grow out helpful algae like chaeto or dragons breath. As well as have enough room for carbon and a heater and bubble trap. Easier to diagnose a mechanical problem that you can see and have the room to.

 

[Sapelo]

Agreed. More room to work and change and learn with a sump, a little more restriction with the all in one.

 

[Perth_reefer]

I still remember the first time I decided to go with a sump, it was pretty daunting reading about water levels, baffles, chambers etc....I've run a sump in every tank since.
In my opinion if you really want to have the best reef you can then you will need the equipment to do this; skimmers, reactors, heaters etc all take room so having them hidden away in a sump not only gives you a 'cleaner' looking reef but also ease of maintenance.
I'd never run a reef tank without one.

 

[gi_eric22]

Just recently switched to a 60 cube with sump and couldn't be happier that extra 20 gal is actually quite a bit of space.

 

[snorvich]

As you get bigger, you may find that you want to optimize certain aspects of your system. (My two large reef tanks have their sumps and other equipment such as separate refugia in the basement) All in one precludes doing so.

 

[stew07]

Thanks for all the opinions. I am now debating between the Innovative Marine 40 or 60 gallon with the sump. The sump option is about $1000 more.

 

[davocean]

I still remember the first time I decided to go with a sump, it was pretty daunting reading about water levels, baffles, chambers etc....I've run a sump in every tank since.
In my opinion if you really want to have the best reef you can then you will need the equipment to do this; skimmers, reactors, heaters etc all take room so having them hidden away in a sump not only gives you a 'cleaner' looking reef but also ease of maintenance.
I'd never run a reef tank without one.

This sticks very much in my memory bank as well feeling exactly the same way.
The AIO's do take some guesswork out, but IMO the gain of doing your own tank/sump setup is worth the effort.
The IM's are cool, but your money might go a good bit farther seeking a decent used system.
Either way you will have more gear options for a sump system than you will in AIO systems.

 

[JamesHolt]

Thanks for all the opinions. I am now debating between the Innovative Marine 40 or 60 gallon with the sump. The sump option is about $1000 more.

Two 40g breeders $200 ($80 if you can catch the $1 a gallon sale)
Build a stand ($30-$300 depending on how fancy you get)
Use the rest to get some nice equipment, (skimmer,powerheads,heaters)

Not knocking your idea but $1000 for a sump option seems excessive to me. The AIO style tanks are nice but you get locked into them cant really change much.

 

[tennesseebob]

Two 40g breeders $200 ($80 if you can catch the $1 a gallon sale)
Build a stand ($30-$300 depending on how fancy you get)
Use the rest to get some nice equipment, (skimmer,powerheads,heaters)

Lol 40b d/t with a 40b sump, you could have every piece of small reef equipment you could want and room for a fuge, I could get behind that lol.

 

[JamesHolt]

Lol 40b d/t with a 40b sump, you could have every piece of small reef equipment you could want and room for a fuge, I could get behind that lol.

Nice and roomy and a whole lot cheaper :celeb2: