All-In-One Aquariums! Are They Right for YOU?

What's going on, reefers? Blaine here. In today's video, we're going to be talking about a subject we touched upon in previous videos, but today we're going to get to know a lot more about all-in-one aquariums. All-in-one systems give you many functions of a sump while keeping the filtration directly in the back. They're clean, compact, and easy to set up, but also can come with their limitations. So, let's break down how all-in-one aquariums work, their pros and cons, some of the equipment you might need, what you can keep in them, and whether or not they're the right choice for you. Let's dive in. [music] An all-in-one aquarium is a display aquarium with filtration chambers built behind a false wall, usually along the back of the tank. Water flows through an overflow through the filtration chambers and it returns back into the display by a return pump. The first section normally handles mechanical filtration such as filter floss, socks, cups, or media baskets. The middle chambers can hold [music] carbon, biological media, a heater, protein skimmer, atto sensor, or other equipment. The final chamber typically contains the return pump. The major advantage is that everything [music] stays hidden without external plumbing. The downside is you're limited to space. [music] Rear chambers can become narrow, so always check their dimensions before buying any equipment such as heaters, skimmers, [music] pumps, and other accessories. Now, are all-in-one aquariums good for beginners? For the most part, [music] yes. These are great for firsttime reef keepers. A traditional reef ready aquarium may involve an overflow, drain, return plumbing, sump, valves, and much more. Whereas an all-in-one aquarium eliminates most of that hassle. You can set [music] up that tank, install your filtration, heater, light, and circulation, and get started without building an entire plumbing [music] system first. They're also excellent for apartments, offices, bedrooms, [music] and smaller spaces. Sometimes people are still renting and don't own the place they're living. So having a smaller system that's all-in-one contained can be a lot easier to move. That also doesn't mean that reefke keeping instantly [music] becomes easier because you have an all-in-one. You still need to understand the cycling, salenity, nutrients and levels, lighting, flow, livestock compatibility, and much more. But the all-in-one simplifies the equipment side of things, not the fundamentals. [music] Now, when looking at all-in-ones versus sumps, neither is automatically better. An all-in-one is ideal if you want a simple setup. Minimal plumbing, compact filtration, and a clean appearance. A reef ready system with a sump is better if you want larger equipment, more water volume, skimmers, [music] reactors, and room for more future upgrades. If you enjoy constantly modifying equipment and filtration, you'll probably prefer a sump. If you want a reef without turning the cabinet underneath into a filtration room, maybe the all-in-one might be the better fit. Now, we've talked about these rear chambers, but what should go in those rear chambers? Don't over complicate it. A basic reef may only need mechanical filtration, biological filtration, and some optional chemical filtration. [music] Filter floss and rollers, socks, or similar media can help remove debris that should be cleaned or replaced regularly. Your rock work already provides a large amount of biological filtration. Although adding [music] some more ceramic media into the back for more surface area isn't a bad idea. Getting activated carbon into the back chamber can also help with water clarity and dissolving organics, all while not taking up too much space in those back [music] chambers. The goal isn't to fill every inch of the rear chambers. It's to create a filtration system that's effective and easy to maintain for your reef. One of the most common all-in-one mistakes is maintaining the display while forgetting [music] about the filtration chambers in the back. Because they're hidden, detritis can accumulate. Mechanical filtration can clog, salt creep can build up, and debris settles around pumps. Clean or replace mechanical filtration regularly, and periodically siphon or blow debris out of rear chambers during water changes. Every few months, remove the return pump and clean the pump and impeller. [music] If you're using a heater in the rear filtration, place it somewhere with good flow where it will remain safely submerged as water levels fluctuate. The rear chambers are the filtration system, so treat them like one. Now, speaking of filtration, are we going to need a protein skimmer? Now, that's not always needed in every single reef. Depending on the system you're using, or depending on the reef you're trying to create, skimmers can become useful on tanks with heavier feeding, more fish, or a higher nutrient input. But some smaller all-in-one reefs can successfully run with mechanical filtration, live rock, and have no skimmer at all with regular water changes. [music] One piece of equipment we strongly recommend for all systems, not just sumps, but all-in- ones as well, is an atto, an [music] auto top off system. As the water evaporates, the display level normally will stay the same, but the rear return area will drop. If it gets too low, the return pump can start sucking in air [music] or potentially running dry. Evaporation is always occurring, and you want to make sure you're maintaining that salenity throughout the course of the day. [music] So adding in an auto top off to your all-in-one system is a great idea. A big misconception online is, can I keep SPS or a more advanced reef in an all-in-one? And the answer is absolutely. Being the fact that it's an all-in-one doesn't determine what you can keep inside of it. [music] Your lighting, flow, water quality, stability, and the husbandry you do will determine what you can actually keep in the tank. So, if you want to build a soft coral paradise, LPS garden, [music] or a mixed jungle of SPS, it can happen within an all-in-one. The main challenge is that most all-in-ones are smaller tanks, limiting your ability to grow with the system, and ultimately the fluctuation of numbers can occur quickly. Another question asked that people will want to hear is, "What kind of fish can I keep in these all-in-one aquariums?" Very similar to the answer from the coral section, but it's going to depend on what you're going for and the tank size. Again, most smaller all-in-one reefs can probably home things like clown fish, blennies, goies, cardinal fish, and other rasses of appropriate sizes. Stock conservatively and consider the adult size of these fish, the activity [music] level, and the compatibility. Overall though, an all-in-one does not automatically mean you need nano fish, but it's important to understand what the size of your all-in-one you're getting into. Now, I did just mention a couple times the size of an all-in-one. And all-in-1s can range from multitudes of different sizes. We're talking about sizes from under 10 gallons to over 50 gallons. [music] Typically though, when we're getting into those larger sizes, we're going to see a lot more sumps and full reef systems, [music] reef ready systems, better yet. But all-in-1s are typically going to fall within that range of 5 to 50 gallons. Now, will I eventually outgrow my all-in-one? Potentially, but not simply because you become more experienced. You outgrow an all-in-one when you outgrow its entire space. If you eventually want a large refugeium, bigger skimmers, bigger fish, or just bigger in general, maybe a reef ready system is the next upgrade in your life. But if your goal is a streamlined reef with straightforward filtration, you can [music] successfully run one in an all-in-one aquarium for years without needing to change. Now, if an all-in-one aquarium or a reef ready system is the [music] right choice for you, be sure to head over to topshelfaquatics.com and shop our entire selection of aquariums. We have full-on reef ready systems and also all-in-one aquariums that we can ship to your home. If you're local in the Orlando area, be sure to make your way out to Winter Park and you can check out some of these systems [music] in person as well. [music] Well, that's it for today's video talking about all-in-one aquariums. It might be a reef ready system you need or an all-in-one aquarium, but that's up to you to decide in your reefing journey. If you guys have hung out all the way till the end, I want to say thank you very much. Be sure to like, subscribe, and hit the bell notification so you don't miss out on any future uploads. [music]