All-in-One tank

Sam Cunningham · May 27, 2016 6:52:48 pm

I am looking at getting an all-in-one nano tank for my first adventure into the hobby. I guess my first question would be is this the right thing to do?

I have found a couple of options that peak my interest, but I would like a more experienced hobbyist's views on the tanks or anyone who has had any experience with them to provide some feedback on how they found them.

Fluval M40/M60 - Reef Aquarium and Cabinet Set – M40 | 15120 | Aquariums & Furniture | Fluval

Coralife BioCube 14/29 - BioCube | Coralife Marine & Freshwater Aquarium Supplies

Would really appreciate any thoughts or advice on the above tanks.

Sam Cunningham · May 28, 2016 2:47:14 pm

Does anyone know if the Red Sea Max-C 130 has stopped being produced? I can't find it available anywhere?

Chilax · May 28, 2016 2:57:59 pm

I'm afraid i've got little experience with the different types of small tanks (i do have a nano but can't remember the make...) but honestly i'd advise you to go bigger for your first tank if you can. Smaller is certainly not easier when it comes to salt water. If you can, i'd say a 150-200lt min would be better (i went for a 6fter haha). Water quality and temperature swings are less of a problem the more water you have and in the early days of learning the reefing ropes it's easy to have problems, nano's leave very little margin for error! That and you'll find you'll quickly want a upgrade to fit that favourite fish in

Debbiem · May 28, 2016 4:13:28 pm

yep - i'd agree with that. I bought a 95L all-in-one which I started 3 months ago but am now looking at getting a 350L and wished I had from the beginning! However, I think a smaller tank lets you realise the work / time / money involved before you spend out on a more expensive tank. I am going to transfer my tropical fish to my 95L and then use my tropical tank as a QT .

Sam Cunningham · May 28, 2016 4:40:30 pm

I would love to get a larger tank but I want to be sure I can commit to the hobby first and as you have said Debbie, a smaller thank gives me the opportunity to do just that.

Sam Cunningham · May 28, 2016 11:40:01 pm

@leedsrhinojohn Have the C series been discontinued or something? I cannot find the 130 or 250 anywhere in the UK.

HK_Fuey · May 29, 2016 1:03:16 am

Have a look at the tmc micro habitat 60L.

Sam Cunningham · May 29, 2016 2:31:45 pm

I love the look of the reefers but I feel like I would be better suited to having an all-in-one tank with sump at the back. Starting to think perhaps the Red Sea Max-E 170 (Red Sea MAX E-Series - Fully featured REEF-SPEC coral reef aquarium systems).

Debbiem · May 29, 2016 2:48:18 pm

Myself and a couple of others on here have the kent marine bioreef 95L - all-in-one tank with the chambers at the back. Apart from the fact I want to go bigger, I think it has been a great tank. @Gavin87 and I think someone else also has one. Great for a starter tank as it comes with everything included.

Sam Cunningham · May 29, 2016 5:23:35 pm

Are there any suggestions on additional things I should put in the tank that the E-series may not currently include?

Sam Cunningham · May 29, 2016 9:24:37 pm

@leedsrhinojohn Good to know I won't need any additional hardware for the tank. I wasn't sure if I needed a wave maker or anything as I didn't see one in the tank.

What number of fish would you consider conservatively realistic for this size of tank?

Debbiem · May 29, 2016 9:47:03 pm

Quote from: leedsrhinojohn on May 29, 2016 9:42:27 pm

If you have a deep enough sandbed you could also consider a shrimp/goby pair which I think @Debbiem has.

I have a red banded wheeler goby and a yellow pistol shrimp - they are one of my favourite fish/shrimp in my aquarium - I have literally spent hours watching them - the shrimp building the burrow with whatever materials he can find and the goby standing guard. Just bear in mind that the shrimp makes quite a lot of mess with his digging so don't put any corals too low down on the rock or near the entrance to his burrow or he will either cover them in sand or steal them for a door or roof! :)

Sam Cunningham · May 29, 2016 10:23:01 pm

@leedsrhinojohn How will I know if I have dead spots in my tank? Are there any tips in the aqua-scaping stage to avoid creating said dead spots?

@Debbiem I was already planning on getting a goby so I think I will have to get a deep sand-bed in order to have this symbiotic pairing. Did you add materials for it to use to build? Or just let it naturally go about its business?

Is there a specific minimum depth of sand-bed needed?

Debbiem · May 30, 2016 7:58:57 am

And don't worry how many individual threads / questions you ask - just look at how many are mine! Lol

Debbiem · May 30, 2016 9:41:16 am

Quote from: Sam Cunningham on May 29, 2016 10:23:01 pm

[url=https://reefbase.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=19278][url=https://reefbase.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=19278]#smfpackscodeDebbiem[/url] I was already planning on getting a goby so I think I will have to get a deep sand-bed in order to have this symbiotic pairing. Did you add materials for it to use to build? Or just let it naturally go about its business?

Is there a specific minimum depth of sand-bed needed?

My sand bed is about 2 - 21/2 " deep but check with the others as you can have a DSB but you will need advice on that. My shrimp collects bits and pieces in the tank but I do also provide crushed up shells for him (boiled in RO) - he will also take your spare shells for the hermit crabs so will need to keep providing more!

All-in-One tank

All-in-One tank

All-in-One tank

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all-in-one

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