AIO Tank vs Sump. Local Tank Shops

[scaramanga]

Hey all,

After doing a bit of research and getting some great advice I am going to go the route of a new tank to replace my 75g aqueon. All the gear showing inside the tank and all the HOB equipment just looks like an eye sore in my main living room. Since, I'm on a second floor condo I would say 80g might be the largest tank I can put in there. The 75g has been there for a year and a half. Is this too big? I've read multiple places saying you can go larger or smaller, but it is not a concrete floor. Length wise 48" would probably be the max. Width and height can vary. Also, pushing this is the Sicce 2.0 motor died in HOB skimmer(4 days outside of warranty, ugh), so changes and fixes are starting to get closer to a used setup/new.

I've never setup a sump. Would it be safe to setup one on a second floor? If that's the case I'm guessing my main display would be 60g. Sump would be 20g?

Other option would be an AIO. I've been eyeing the 80g IM SR.
https://www.innovative-marine.com/shop/SR-Pro-2-80-AIO-Aquarium-w-APS-Stand-Black-p374787559

Open to options as I'm not 100% sold on anything other than no red sea tanks lol. Are there any good local Aquarium makers here in SoCal that people recommend? I love my IM 15 with the low iron glass, though I've modded that thing into oblivion. Also, not trying to spend a fortune. I've been watching FB marketplace, offerup, craigslist, R2R forums, and here.

Guess I'm asking what would you do in my situation.

 

[JojosReef]

I may be biased, but instead of spending $2k on the IM 80g, I'd spend it on getting my entire setup--caveat is I still need to finish cleaning the tank and sump... I will not post a photo of what it looks like right now. Eww.

The tank in it's glory, Nov '25:

-83g display (48"x20"x20"); low iron glass; no scratches that I've yet seen; tank was running for ~11 months
-26g or 29g sump, can't remember, all glass with an extra short weir wall installed by me for a refugium substrate and refugium sides blacked out to prevent light spill; modified filter cups
- 10g acrylic gravity ATO
- Marine grade plywood stand reinforced by me with extruded aluminum T slots in the internal edges--this stand ain't moving and an elephant could comfortably sit on it
- Extra 1/2" sheet of polished acrylic sitting between the tank and stand to provide additional support for the "hanging" front glass (which is meant to be flush with the stand doors)
- Icon-upgraded Orphek Atlantik V3
- 24" Orphek OR4 Icon Reef Day Plus bar (front, angled to center)
- 2x 12" Orphek OR4 Icon Reef Day Plus bars (either side of the Atlantik)
- Black aluminum T slot light mounts firmly attached to the stand
- Ebay chiller--works just fine
- Santa Monica Surf2 scrubber--works great and I don't use a skimmer
- 2 Power strips bolted to the inside right of the stand (offset to avoid moisture and heat)
- 2x plug-in GFCI extension cords for protection
- Plumbing (set up to add a third drain for a bean animal style, which is highly recommended)
- Polycarbonate lid with a cutout for an Avast Plank
- CurrentUSA 1900 gph return pump
- Galvanized steel pan that goes under the tank stand for additional stability, spreading the point contact pressure, and ability to hold approximately 5 gallons of overflowing water before the floors get wet, in the event of an ATO malfunction--nothing will save the floors in catastrophic tank failures like a seam rupture or some sort of clog that causes all of the water to be pumped out the tank--that's why I have Hydros float switches to monitor levels.

Not included from pic:
Avast Plank, white worm fridge, control board with Hydros stuff and controllers. Not sure what I want to do with the MP40 yet. All of the coral, fish and rocks are already gone.

Tank was my pride and joy, and hate that I have to say bye, but have to say bye.

 

[Jimbo327]

The size of the tank is going to be dependent on where it is located in the home.

Highly recommended to be against a load bearing wall and run perpendicular to joists. This distributes the load more evenly.

Probably staying below 100g is a good idea on 2nd floor (meeting recommendations above).

Sump is not a problem, gives more choices on equipment. But I also see the AIO appeal. It is just preference. You will want to size the sump to hold backflow from main tank. You will have to add in plumbing though with sump.

 

[scaramanga]

I may be biased, but instead of spending $2k on the IM 80g, I'd spend it on getting my entire setup--caveat is I still need to finish cleaning the tank and sump... I will not post a photo of what it looks like right now. Eww.

The tank in it's glory, Nov '25:
View attachment 131210

-83g display (48"x20"x20"); low iron glass; no scratches that I've yet seen; tank was running for ~11 months
-26g or 29g sump, can't remember, all glass with an extra short weir wall installed by me for a refugium substrate and refugium sides blacked out to prevent light spill; modified filter cups
- 10g acrylic gravity ATO
- Marine grade plywood stand reinforced by me with extruded aluminum T slots in the internal edges--this stand ain't moving and an elephant could comfortably sit on it
- Extra 1/2" sheet of polished acrylic sitting between the tank and stand to provide additional support for the "hanging" front glass (which is meant to be flush with the stand doors)
- Icon-upgraded Orphek Atlantik V3
- 24" Orphek OR4 Icon Reef Day Plus bar (front, angled to center)
- 2x 12" Orphek OR4 Icon Reef Day Plus bars (either side of the Atlantik)
- Black aluminum T slot light mounts firmly attached to the stand
- Ebay chiller--works just fine
- Santa Monica Surf2 scrubber--works great and I don't use a skimmer
- 2 Power strips bolted to the inside right of the stand (offset to avoid moisture and heat)
- 2x plug-in GFCI extension cords for protection
- Plumbing (set up to add a third drain for a bean animal style, which is highly recommended)
- Polycarbonate lid with a cutout for an Avast Plank
- CurrentUSA 1900 gph return pump
- Galvanized steel pan that goes under the tank stand for additional stability, spreading the point contact pressure, and ability to hold approximately 5 gallons of overflowing water before the floors get wet, in the event of an ATO malfunction--nothing will save the floors in catastrophic tank failures like a seam rupture or some sort of clog that causes all of the water to be pumped out the tank--that's why I have Hydros float switches to monitor levels.

Not included from pic:
Avast Plank, white worm fridge, control board with Hydros stuff and controllers. Not sure what I want to do with the MP40 yet. All of the coral, fish and rocks are already gone.

Tank was my pride and joy, and hate that I have to say bye, but have to say bye.

Oh man, if I wasn't on the 2nd floor we could close this thread right there. That tank is exactly what I was thinking if I had a sump setup. Unfortunately, where the tank goes is in the middle of the house. It is butted up against what I believe is a load bearing wall, but not sure which way the joists are. That's why I am thinking I'll be ok at 80g or under..... Definitely, am hoping to find something used as it doesn't seem like the best investment to buy a brand new. That money could be used towards coral. Was only thinking about a shop that makes them because it seems like you are paying a premium price for the IM name. I think the other thing I worry about is all the horror stories I read on sump over flows. I read up on how to mitigate them, just didn't know if other have a sump setup on a second floor and if they would recommend.

 

[OldReefGuy]

Hey all,

After doing a bit of research and getting some great advice I am going to go the route of a new tank to replace my 75g aqueon. All the gear showing inside the tank and all the HOB equipment just looks like an eye sore in my main living room. Since, I'm on a second floor condo I would say 80g might be the largest tank I can put in there. The 75g has been there for a year and a half. Is this too big? I've read multiple places saying you can go larger or smaller, but it is not a concrete floor. Length wise 48" would probably be the max. Width and height can vary. Also, pushing this is the Sicce 2.0 motor died in HOB skimmer(4 days outside of warranty, ugh), so changes and fixes are starting to get closer to a used setup/new.

I've never setup a sump. Would it be safe to setup one on a second floor? If that's the case I'm guessing my main display would be 60g. Sump would be 20g?

Other option would be an AIO. I've been eyeing the 80g IM SR.
https://www.innovative-marine.com/shop/SR-Pro-2-80-AIO-Aquarium-w-APS-Stand-Black-p374787559

Open to options as I'm not 100% sold on anything other than no red sea tanks lol. Are there any good local Aquarium makers here in SoCal that people recommend? I love my IM 15 with the low iron glass, though I've modded that thing into oblivion. Also, not trying to spend a fortune. I've been watching FB marketplace, offerup, craigslist, R2R forums, and here.

Guess I'm asking what would you do in my situation.

What make HOB Skimmer....I might be interested in buying

 

[JojosReef]

Oh man, if I wasn't on the 2nd floor we could close this thread right there. That tank is exactly what I was thinking if I had a sump setup. Unfortunately, where the tank goes is in the middle of the house. It is butted up against what I believe is a load bearing wall, but not sure which way the joists are. That's why I am thinking I'll be ok at 80g or under..... Definitely, am hoping to find something used as it doesn't seem like the best investment to buy a brand new. That money could be used towards coral. Was only thinking about a shop that makes them because it seems like you are paying a premium price for the IM name. I think the other thing I worry about is all the horror stories I read on sump over flows. I read up on how to mitigate them, just didn't know if other have a sump setup on a second floor and if they would recommend.

I like the AIOs for the security of knowing that all of the water is in ONE box. Not two. The tank I have right now is an AIO (Waterbox 25g desktop peninsula), which I'm still allowed to have in my office, and I rest a lot easier knowing that even if there is a clog in the overflow chamber, the water will just run over the emergency overflow wall and right back into the return chamber. Miss my 83g wrasse gang, foxface and copperband, though...

 

[scaramanga]

What make HOB Skimmer....I might be interested in buying

It's the Aquaready ConeS HOB. My dumbass was cleaning the pump and put food grade grease in the impellar area thinking it needed it(it does not). Burned out the motor. It's just a sicce 2.0. May just buy a new one online for $120. Thing is absolutely amazing. It's just big lol

 

[OldReefGuy]

It's the Aquaready ConeS HOB. My dumbass was cleaning the pump and put food grade grease in the impellar area thinking it needed it(it does not). Burned out the motor. It's just a sicce 2.0. May just buy a new one online for $120. Thing is absolutely amazing. It's just big lol

Ohh....I have same, but sitting in closet...it is a beast, but a little too loud for me........(just FYI, the sicce SE200 pump works also for it....)

 

[OldReefGuy]

It's the Aquaready ConeS HOB. My dumbass was cleaning the pump and put food grade grease in the impellar area thinking it needed it(it does not). Burned out the motor. It's just a sicce 2.0. May just buy a new one online for $120. Thing is absolutely amazing. It's just big lol

I doubt motor is "burned" as it has build in thermal protection....so it should have shut down before it burned out....but at least thats the theory. Maybe the bearings/bushings/impeller are locked up with the grease....
LMK if you decide to buy new motor and want to sell the old pump.....

 

[Tangerine Speedo]

I will have a IM 30L AIO with stand soon...

 

[Discotu]

Is this your condo or rental? Either way you should do the due diligence and find out the spacing and direction your floor joists run. You should be able to use a stud finder on the 1st floor ceiling. Then, depending on the above you can decide if you need to retrofit or good to go as-is. After that yes buy used....much better bang for the buck.

 

[scaramanga]

I doubt motor is "burned" as it has build in thermal protection....so it should have shut down before it burned out....but at least thats the theory. Maybe the bearings/bushings/impeller are locked up with the grease....
LMK if you decide to buy new motor and want to sell the old pump.....

I am going to take it apart tonight or tomorrow morning and see if i can clean it out. Agree about how loud it is though... I will let you know if I end up getting a new pump. You can have the old one if I do.

Is this your condo or rental?

This is my own place. I don't have access to the ceiling below. I did see online a few other ways outside of ripping up the floor. Definitely will check it out.

I will have a IM 30L AIO with stand soon...

I'm looking for something a bit bigger. Though I feel at some point in the next 2 years my office tank is going to end up this size. The addiction is real.