The return pump is the heart of any sump-based system โ it determines flow rate, heat input, noise level, and reliability for everything downstream. I’ve run various return pumps on my 125-gallon reef over the years, and the Sicce Syncra SDC caught my attention because of its DC motor and controller. Here’s my in-depth take on whether it delivers for serious reef setups.
Looking for the very best Aquarium Return Pump available for your tank today? Well, this is the very post you have been looking for as the Sicce Syncra SDC has solved may of the issues that have plagued DC pumps since they were first introduced in the hobby.
As you may have read in my Best Aquarium Return Pump round up article. DC pumps are cursed with multiple issues. The main thing are the failure points and the quality control of the manufacturing. So what happens when we combine one of the most reliable and high quality Italian manufacturers in our industry and DC pump technology? It sounds like a dream combination doesn’t it? It sounds like Sicce may have solved the very issue that has frustrated most us with DC pumps since they were released – reliability!
As a reminder for my viewers, this post will contain affiliate links. An affiliate link means I may earn advertising or referral fees if you make a purchase through my link. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some great partners in the industry and highly recommended working with these links as they happily help hobbyists and content creators support their work. With that disclose away let’s get started! Let’s find out what makes The Sicce Syncra SDC stand out from the crowd!
My Sicce Syncra SDC Review will be fairly structured. I’m going to be reviewing the following for this product:
I’ll start off by giving a quick disclaimer. I’m absolutely unashamedly bias to Sicce pumps. In the 15+ years I have been involved with this hobby, I have been very loyal to them. They have never done me wrong. This DC return pump is an absolute dream. Let’s discuss the crazy amount of features included with this pump:
You may have seen these features in other DC pumps, the main difference here is that Sicce delivers all if this with a FREE controller app that runs on your smartphone. There is no additional accessory to purchase (calling you out EcoTech), The app can actually run multiple Sicce pumps. In fact, it will run any Sicce related product that has wifi enabled. This is an amazing feature that Sicce has added. It’s simply the best in the industry that I have seen from an return pump.
The Syncra SDC is offered in 3 models all built with energy efficiency in mind. The pump meets the needs of advanced recirculating applications and are equipped with integrated intelligence systems.
Craftsmanship
Italian design and manufacturing. That’s the best way to start this section of the review. It’s not a secret in our industry that German and Italian engineering are highly valued. They are known for their quality, effectiveness, and reliability. With the large number of Chinese manufactured DC pumps these days, something that has the original high quality of the Germans and Italians is increasingly rare. It’s one of the biggest things I’ve been with the DC transition as many AC pumps are still made with German and Italian manufacturing and engineering.
The Syncra SDC is no exception. It is 100% designed and produced in Italy. The design if the pump is no frill and functional based. I actually prefer this over the cool looking DC pumps I have seen with blue and red colors. I just want the pump to work for ages. I could care less about the fancy colors of something I only see when I pop open my cabinet.
The biggest proof of craftsmenship by Sicce is their offer of a 5 year warranty. That blows away EVERY competitor on the market at it’s price point. It’s not even close. Ecotech and CoralVue can’t even sniff a 5 year warranty on their pumps. There are only two groups of competitors that will come close to a 5 year warranty. That would be going with an AC return pump or moving up to Abyzz DC pumps that have 10 year warranties. The Abyzz pump however is 3 times the price!
Ease Of Use
The Syncra SDC install is similiar with any DC pump out there that will involve plumbing.I won’t really cover that here since that is a whole separate discussion. However, what I will talk about how easy to use and install their Contrall App is. The video below walks you through the process. I found the install process pretty painless and the fact that you can get notifications on your phone is pretty amazing given this is all included in your purchase of the return pump.
Value for Money
The Sicce Syncra SDC is no doubt an expensive DC return pump. However, let’s talk about the value. It’s priced at the levels of a EcoTech and VarioS. This puts it at the higher end of the market. It is also the only pump that offers a 5 year warranty. If I’m going to invest over $200 on a return pump – I better get a long-term warranty. I’ve heard too many stories of EcoTech pumps failing prematurely.
I’m old school in that I believe a return pump is a purchase and forgot about it for the next 10 years. Sicce is the ONLY DC return pump in this price range that offers this assurance. As such, it’s the only DC pump I recommend for high end builds. It is the one DC pump that truly combines the energy efficiency of DC pumps with the reliability of AC pumps.
Product Support
Given Sicce is headquartered in Italy, they can be sometimes hard to reach. However, in my experience their customer support is responsive, just not in your desired timezone. I do like their registration process and there are plenty of videos online they provide that show how to operate their products. When you register your product, you create a registered customer login where you can login your tickets and get support. It’s a rather easy to use portal.
Price
The biggest con in this product review. They are one of the more expensive DC Pumps on the market. They also have the best reputation for their durability. There prices are more expensive then the Reef Octopus Varios, but on Par with EcoTechs. Given the superior warranty and durability history with Sicce products in general, I feel they are priced competitively. For those at lower budgets, you can’t do wrong with a traditional Sicce AC pump.
Closing Thoughts
The SDC Pumps are available in various sizes. The models are shown below:
Model
Watts
GPH
SDC 6.0
10 – 40 Watts
530 – 1430 GPH
SDC 7.0
20 – 65 Watts
800 – 1900 GPH
SDC 9.0
30 – 90 Watts
800 – 2500 GPH
There is a model for all aquariums. This is the best Aquarium DC Return Pump on the market today without a doubt. Well deserving of my Editor’s Choice badge. You can see the ratings below from me. As I’m open to all reviews, you can leave your own in the comments section and discuss your experience with this return pump. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
A quality CO2 regulator is one of the most important investments in a planted tank โ it determines whether your CO2 injection is stable, consistent, and safe for your fish. I’ve tested several regulators over the years and the CO2Art Pro-Elite stands out for specific reasons I’ll break down here. This is my honest review after hands-on use.
Looking for the very best CO2 regulator available for planted tanks today? Well you are in a treat today as I review the CO2 Art Pro-Elite Series CO2 Regulator. I had the pleasure of taking to the CO2Art people about their product and got the full scope on their latest CO2 regulator. If you are a serious aquascaper, or looking to be one, this is the product review for you!
As a reminder for my viewers, this post will contain affiliate links. An affiliate link means I may earn advertising or referral fees if you make a purchase through my link. With that disclose away let’s get started! Let’s find out what makes CO2Art’s regulator stand out from the crowd!
My reviews are fairly structured. I’m going to be reviewing the following for this product:
This is a world class CO2 regulator. It is designed for aquarium safety and precision. The unit can handle systems from nano systems all the way up to 1000 gallons. It is a dual stage regulator. This next gen model now comes with a fully customized solenoid block with a high precision needle value and bubble counter. The System is powered via DC with a power adapter that accepts universal voltage from 100V – 240V. It’s a nice plus from CO2 that they will offer you the plugs for your country and it is a product that is available in both the UK and US.
Having a dual stage regulator is a great idea for planted tanks because it allows you to directly control the consistently of the pressure of the CO2 system. This is a huge advantage compared to single gauge systems that will run into issues with pressure consistency as the CO2 tank empties. The gauges are very easy to read and the brand dial are nice features they have added to this new generation model. The prior generator had plainer looking gauges and the dial looked more standard like what you would see on a CO2 regulator at a bar.
The bubble counter and the needle valve on this regulator are top notch. The needle valve is extremely precise. It doesn’t take a ton of them to bed down. It is fast and accurate from the start!
Craftsmanship
Let’s talk about the craftsmenship of CO2 products and why they are amazing buys. They are top German quality, reliability built regulators. These are not your budget build short-term warranty regulators that you will find on Amazon. CO2Art backs up this top of the line model with a 10 year warranty. The stainless steel finish is great and the power adapter does a good job of getting too hot in your aquarium cabinet. Nothing in this regulator package looks cheap. No corners were cut with this regulator. Amazing work by the CO2Art team.
Ease Of Use (Installation)
Installing the CO2Art Pro Series is fairly simple with the YouTube videos that CO2 Art suppliers on their YouTube channel and with their offer of tech support to their customers. They have no problems getting on on customer support ticket to walk you through the process.
If you are lost on the install – CO2Art offers their instruction manual online here.
Value For the Money
The price for these units are not cheap. This top of the line model is up there with similar top end models. What makes their value stand out though is the warranty and customer support behind the product. There is also a wonderful combo package that CO2Art offers that gets you everything you need. This to me makes this Regulator the best value on the market.
This package comes with the following:
Pro Series CO2Art Regulator
Aluminum Aquarium CO2 bubble Counter
CO2 Art Inline Diffusor
Aquarium CO2 Drop Checker
CO2 Resistant Tubing
All of these comes together at an excellent price price and backed by a 10 year warranty. Want a better discount? Try my discount code ASD10%Off at checkout.
Legendary Customer Support
The biggest differentiating standpoint from CO2Art and every other CO2 regulator seller is their customer support. The customer support is top notch and CO2 offers lifetime technical support for all their customers. The CO2Art team patiently answers all your questions and concerns about install and setup. They will also happily ship this product to multiple countries – US, Canada, UK, Signapore, etc the CO2 will ship internationally. The support team offers you a support portal with online instructions, articles and FAQS. I love their support and they have always been there for me to answer any questions I had.
Price
This is the biggest knock on the Pro-Elite Series CO2 Regulator. It is premium priced and may be too expensive for some. CO2Art does offer a more budget friendly version in the Pro-Series Model. You can also purchase the product off Klarna’s pay later program, which will break up the purchase in 4 installments.
Closing Thoughts
This is the best CO2 Regulator you can buy today. It has it all. The features, the quality, the customer service, and warranty. You can see the ratings below from me. The product gets my editor’s choice rating. Since I’m open to all reviews, you can leave your own reviews below. This provides the community with an unfiltered source of reviews. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
Let me be straight with you: no fish tank truly cleans itself. That’s marketing language. What “self-cleaning” actually means in practice is that certain tank designs minimize manual maintenance through better filtration, bottom-draining systems, or biological setups that handle waste more efficiently than a standard aquarium. After testing dozens of tanks over 25 years, I’ve found some genuinely reduce the time you spend on upkeep โ and some are just all-in-one tanks dressed up with clever branding. The ones worth your money share a few traits: solid filtration for their volume, easy water change access, and build quality that holds up. Water changes are still non-negotiable โ no tank eliminates them โ but the right design can cut your maintenance time significantly. Here are 7 that actually deliver.
Are you wanting to keep a fish tank, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of cleaning it? Do you want a low-maintenance aquarium? Perhaps you want to try out aquaponics and grow vegetables with your aquarium? If any 3 questions peak your interest, than purchasing a self cleaning fish tank for you is the answer.
That’s what this post is all about today. Finding self-cleaning tanks that are easy to use and maintain.
What Makes A Good Self Cleaning Fish Tank (My Criteria)
When selecting determining the best self-cleaning fish tank on the market we looked at the following factors:
It is easy to use and setup?
Can you grow vegetables with it?
Is the price reasonable?
It is really low maintenance or is it just a gimmick?
So now the moment you have been waiting for! Below is the list of the best self-cleaning fish tanks on the market today. I put the preferred choices at the top for ease of selection for you. There will be affiliate links below. An affiliate link means I may earn advertising or referral fees if you make a purchase through my link.
With that disclosure out of the way, let’s get into the reviews!
I absolutely love the concept behind the Aquasprouts Garden kit. It is completely nature focused. The goal of the kit is to have the the plants and vegetables grow and take in the nutrients from the inhabitants in the tank. At 10 gallons in capacity, this not only gives you enough space to grow a sizable amount of vegetables, but also house a good amount of fish. In my opinion, this is the best aquarium kit to introduce yourself to aquaponics and is a poster child for a self-cleaning fish tank.
It is based off a custom-molded garden bed that fits over a 10 gallon tank. The kit also comes with a light bar where you can mount a grow light to grow your plants. I love how the bar can be extended to accommodate taller plants. The light bar allows you to place this aquarium where you want. You will not have to worry about getting enough natural light with this kit.
The water pump that comes with the kit pushes water up to the grow bed, which feed up to the clay pebble grow filter media. The dirty water with fish waste provides nutrients to your plants. The grow bed then drains down to your aquarium providing clean water that is aerated from the surface agitation.
The company mission for AquaSprouts is very heart warming. Founded by Jack Ikard, his original goal was to grow organic food in an urban environment. They were established in Austin, Texas. They are a home grown company. Their award winning AquaSprouts kit has been featured in The New Year Times, Good Housekeeping, and Wired.
This is a true self-sustaining aquarium and is low maintenance. This is the best kit on the market. There are many imitators, but this is the original. If you want to get involved in Aquaponic or just have a self cleaning aquarium, this is the aquarium kit to buy.
The only drawback with this kit is the price. It is a well made and created and manufactured in the US. You get what you pay for with this tank kit.
If the price of the Aquasprouts garden steers you away or if you are looking mostly a tank that cleans itself, this is a great alternative. This Tank by Back To Roots is a good blend of Aquaponics and a self-cleaning fish tank.
The aquarium kit comes with everything you need to get started and will go plants year round. Weighing in at 3 gallons, it is large enough to host a small pet fish. It functions like the Aquaspourts is that the fish waste from the aquarium feeds the plants above.
This tank like the AquaSprouts is also made in the USA. As a certified B Corporation, they have dedicated their mission to have the highest standards of social and environmental impact.There mission is to reconnect family and kids to where food comes and experience the joys of growing food themselves. The makers of the product have a solid social following and the founders have featured on Forbes, NowThis, and even received The Champion of Change Award from President Obama. Below is a video from the founders explaining their product.
This is a great product at a great value. The only downfall is the size. It is isn’t designed for large vegetables, but it is more user friendly and cheaper than the Aquasprouts. It also does not come with a light stand, so you will need to place this near a window or get a clip on light source for it.
The biOrb Aquariums by OASE are a aquariums that are built for simplicity. If you read my Best Canister Filter review blog, you know that I’m a big fan of OASE. Their filtration units are the best of the best and they have the same commitment with this aquarium.
I’m not a fan of fish bowls myself, but this aquarium is the exception. This aquarium is small and simple. It has everything you need to get started – lighting, pump, filtration and solid instructions. At 4 gallons, it is just the right size to house some quality nano tank fish, including Bettas.
The filtration is air driven and works a lot like the old school under gravel filters. The difference is that there are filter cartridges in the bottom of the intake.
What you get here is a filter that is designed like a professionally built commercial pond. The filtration unit pulls in dirty water to the bottom and filters out clean water from the top. It’s a genius design and makes this simple and self cleaning.
The biOrb has the potential to be self cleaning with modification. You can grow low light plants in this kit. In fact, there is a great video by charlieflyte who nailed it. Check out his video of his biOrb.
It is cheaper than the Aquasprouts and Back to Roots kit and is perfect for you if you just want an aquarium. For the quality that you get from OASE, the price cannot be beat. It is well deserving of my budget option badge.
Pros
Big for a fish bowl
Complete filtration
Built for simplicity
Cons
Not true self cleaning
Won’t grow vegetables
4. EcoLife Aquaponics Indoor Garden System – Biggest Aquaponics Kit On The Market
The EcoLife Aquaponics Indoor Garden System is the heavylist on this list. This is an aquaponics kit that supports a 20 gallon aquarium. You can grow plenty of vegetables with this kit and keep a good amount of fish. This is the only tank on self cleaning tank that can support a goldfish due to its size. Others can, but goldfish get large so over time they would outgrow the tank. They also tend to be hard on a tank’s bioload.
This kit includes the LED light fixture to grow vegetables. I really like this. It takes away a lot of the guess work. The LED light is also a natural spectrum versus a glow light spectrum. This compliments your home better versus having that weird red grow led light shining above your aquarium.
This is the most expensive aquarium kit on the list by a long-shot. It’s a bit too expensive for me to put this as my top choice. It is a great choice if it is within your budget.
Looking for something bigger than the biOrb Classic? The biOrb flow is a step up in size and functionality. At 8 gallons in size, it is a a great potential first time aquarium. It is built off the same principals as the Classic with a filter than pulls from the bottom and pushes out to the top.
This aquarium is made of acrylic instead of glass. Acrylic makes this aquarium super durable, lightweight, and clear. The best benefit from acrylic is the clarity. Even a low iron aquarium has less clarity than acrylic. This also explains the price for this aquarium. it’s more expensive then similar sized aquariums.
It won’t grow vegetables like the aquaponic kits, but for a fish keeping focused aquarium, the concept is great. It is a simple to use aquarium.
Pros
Size
Complete filtration
Built for simplicity
Cons
Expensive
Not true self cleaning
Won’t grow vegetables
6. EcoQubeC Aquarium – The Kickstarter Project With Potential
The EcoQubehas a ton of potential. My favorite part of this aquarium is the filtration box located in the back of the aquarium. This houses the intake and 3 stage filtration unit away from the rest of the tank. This give this aquarium one of the cleanest presentations among all the others in the list. The light that comes with it is adequate to grow vegetables.
Now let’s get to what I do not like with this product. The grow area will only hold one plant. This really limits what you can grow and do with it. The tank is only 1 gallon in size, which theoretically is inappropriate for most fish. I’m always a bit annoyed when I see Betta fish advertised in these products knowing that long-term a tank this size is not healthy for them.
Lastly, it’s not readily available. It’s still a kick starter project. Perhaps over time as it improved I can rank it higher on the list. I really love the concept and they are still improving the product. If they can get the product to a 3 or 5 gallon aquarium, then I can see it’s potentially fully realized.
As Seen On TV My Fun Fish Tank is a straight to the point concept — Namely, how to make an aquarium that truly cleans itself. It accomplishes this by sucking out dirty water with gravity when you add new water in. What happen is dirty water gets sucked out as your new water gets added in. This is as easy as it gets for a self-cleaning fish tank.
The price on this product is rock bottom. It’s easily the cheapest self-cleaning fish tank on this list, it is also the smallest. The concept is amazing and I know it sells like hotcakes online.
My biggest gripe is that it’s too small for fish. At only 1/2 a gallon in capacity, I couldn’t recommend this tank to anyone for keeping fish. This makes the list because the price is so attractive and I wanted to keep it on here so I can talk about how it’s too small for fish.
I would probably put a ghost shrimp in here at most. It’s a novelty item and I would expect to upgrade to something more in the future. If it was a 3 gallon tank that removed fish waste like it does on the infomercial, I feel the concept would be amazing and would have the potential to bounce the biOrb out of the top of budget option list.
Pros
Cheap!
Truly self cleaning
Simple to use
Cons
Too small for fish
Cleaning system has issues clogging
More novelty than function
My Recommendation
The best self-cleaning fish tank in my opinion is the Aquasprouts Garden kit. It has the ideal size at 10 gallons, it will grow plenty of vegetables, and the decision is mean to be true self cleaning with nature doing all the work for you.
The Back To Roots garden is the best value on this list. It is cheaper than the Aquasprouts and still big enough to achieve the self-cleaning goal and will grow simple vegetables.
The BiOrb is a great budget option. It nails self cleaning with its bottom up filtration approach and can become fully self cleaning with the right plant setup.
Who Should Buy One?
They should work for practically anyone, but I feel they fit best for the following people:
If you dislike the cleaning an aquarium
If you do not have time to clean or feel like it’s a tedious job
You want to give the tank to a child
The last option is what I feel puts you in the best category to purchase a tank like the ones on the list. If you have a child, they can learn a lot from having an aquarium and if you are growing vegetables from it, it is a great family activity and learning activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are usual questions I get from readers. I’ll do my best to add more as people ask. Let a comment below in the post if you have further questions.
Does Water Have To Be Treated In My Aquarium?
Yes, you will need to treat your tap water before you add it to your aquarium. Tap water untreated will likely kill your fish due to the chlorine and other anti-bacteria/pathogen additives in our city water.ย
Do I Need An Aquarium Heater?
Yes, your will need a heater all these aquariums. The only commonly available fish that wouldn’t need a heater would be a Goldfish, and they are going to grow too large for every tank on this list except for the Ecolife. See our Best Aquarium Heater blog post for a detailed review on aquarium heaters.
Are There Aquariums That Clean Themselves?
There are self-cleaning fish tanks as you have seen in this review roundup post. There are some on this list that require no powered pumps or filters and others do. A true self cleaning systemย is a aquaponics systems where nature does all the work for you.
How Do You Clean Them?
Most of these self-cleaning fish tanks will require cleaning via water changes if the nitrate parameters get high. The As Seen On TV My Fun Fish Tank has a gravel siphon built right into it. This is a true self-cleaning fish tank, but executed at a small aquarium level.
Is There An Aquarium You Don’t Have To Clean?
Yes, it is possible to build a fish tank that you do not have to clean. Theoretically, if you have enough plants that can absorb the nutrients produced by your livestock, you can have a balanced ecosystem. However, there will still be algae and dead spots to clean up over time. This maintenance will be a lot lower than other aquariums as you will not need to change water as frequently. Many go months without water changes.
Which Species Are Best For Beginners?
In my opinion, the pet fish that is best for beginners is the Zebra Danio. Other good fits are guppies, mollies, and smaller tetras. A Betta works if you have a tank big enough for it. See our Betta Fish Care guide for a full overview on proper Betta Fish care.ย You can also check our our best fish for a 5 gallon fish tank post if you are looking for a smaller setup.
Can Aquatic Pets Live Without An Air Pump?
Fish can live without an air pump. A tank that is full of live plants can supply plenty of oxygen to a fish. You may need an air pump if you stock level is high in the tank, but generally with a filter or live plants you will get plenty of surface agitation to produce oxygen in your tank.
What Are The Drawbacks To Owning This Type of Setup?
The drawback to owning a self cleaning tank is that the concept is relevantly new. There is no true master kit available. The Aquasprouts is very close to nailing the concept, but I know some people just want an aquarium not a tank that grows vegetables. The BiOrbs gets a lot of things rights with their bottom filtration approach and with some low light plants, you can make this self cleaning in the long-term. You cannot grow vegetables with it.
Another Alternative
Another alternative to self cleaning fish tanks is creating a low light planted tank where the plants soak up the nutrients and your fish load is on the lighter end. This is a techique that has been popularized by a few YouTuber influencers.
There is actually a local fish store that has successful run without water changes for years. Cory at Aquarium Co-Op interviewed them on his YouTube channel. Check it out below:
Admittingly, a no water change freshwater tank is something I have little experience. I have achieved a successful reef tank with no water changes overtime. The main hurdle you run into with freshwater systems is the need to fertilization if you are aquascaping. Running no water changes is more of a natural style that conflicts with many aquascapers. Nevertheless, it is achievable and something you can look into if you want a self cleaning fish tank that runs off nature. The video gives you a lot of food for thought :).
Closing Thoughts
Self cleaning fish tanks are a new concept in our hobby. I really like the approaches I’m seeing from manufacturers. Some want to tackle it with aquaponics and others want to build an easy to use system. I feel that big approaches are great and one approach will fit your wants. If you have any questions, please let a comment below. Thanks for reading. Until next time
High nitrates are one of the most common problems I see in freshwater tanks โ and one of the most misunderstood. Regular water changes are always the foundation, but in heavily stocked or planted tanks, a dedicated nitrate remover can genuinely help bridge the gap between maintenance days. I’ve tested plenty of products and methods over 25 years, and I can tell you which approaches actually move the needle.
https://youtu.be/E0YnjkKaGn8
“Help, my nitrate levels are over 50 PPM!” This is a common email or text I get on my live chat. High nitrate levels can be a major problem for freshwater aquarium keepers. In today’s post, I want to talk about the best nitrate remover for freshwater tanks. Nitrates, for some of us, are the bane of our existence. We obsess over the nitrate level in our fish tanks because our local fish store and fish guides told us that high nitrate levels is bad and stresses out our pet fish.
This is all true, however, instead of stressing out over them let’s talk about how to take proper action in tackling the issue. I want to revisit the nitration cycle and talk about ways to remove and lower nitrates in your aquarium water. I want us to reflect on how we got to this place. Once we know, let’s talk about the best nitrate removers to solve our problem.
Revisiting the Nitration Cycle
Let’s first revisit the nitration cycle. I know some of you reading this already know it, but I also know some of you may not and have become successful by listening to your local fish store on what to buy. Part of having a nitrate problem is because we are out of balance. The nitration cycle has 5 stages:
Nitrogen is introduced with fish food
Ammonia is excreted either by fish waste (fish poop) or decaying material
The above is the natural way of how an aquatic ecosystem would work. The issue most likely with your aquarium water is that you are missing #5. If you lack live plants, nitrate levels can build up. Also, the stock media from your aquarium filters will not address #5. It is not common for filter makers to provide media that will remove nitrates. This is to keep costs down as the media designed to lower nitrates is more expensive and some buyers may not even want it.
Ways To Remove It
So now that we know the cycle, and likely what our deficiency is in the cycle, let’s talk about how to remove nitrates. You can see our video from our YouTube Channel for some visuals.
1. Water changes
This is the most common way. Water changes will reduce nitrates in the aquarium environment and bring in clean water to your fish tank. While this is an all-around fix, too many water changes can be disruptive to our closed systems. They are also labor intensive. We do not want to be a slave to the water change. Our goal is to get down to changing the water tank every other week, or every month.
2. Live Plants
A large live plant population can actually act as an effective nitrate remover for your aquarium. This works great for planted tank setups. However, I do know many people who have had nitrate problems and cannot have planted tanks. This usually happens when you’ve got fish who eat live aquarium plants, aggressive fish that uproot or damage them, or people who do not want to regularly prune live plants and maintain them.
3. Reduce livestock
Sometimes an aquarium has high nitrate levels because the fish tank is overstocked. This is common with people who follow the 1 inch per fish rule. Your biological filtration products are working overtime when your fish tank is overstocked. Other times, you have fish that are hard on your bioload such as gold fish or large aggressive fish.
4. Filters
Nitrate removers are filter media designed to remove nitrate from your aquarium either through chemical or biological means. They either come in disposable media or permanent media. They are not dangerous to the inhabitants in your tank, and will reside in your filter compartments. Some nitrate removers have mixed media, meaning that they handle other things aside from nitrate in your tank water. Some will have carbon while others use resin to remove other impurities in your aquarium water.
A dedicated nitrate removing media is a great way to target the problem immediately, but they need to be replaced regularly. A permanent media will grow anaerobic bacteria in the media. This anaerobic bacteria will consume nitrates in your tank water. If you’ve considered all these ways to reduce nitrates in your aquarium water, and are still at the point where nitrate removers are necessary, then read on for our buying guide.
The Candidates
Below is a list of the best nitrate removers for freshwater aquariums. All products here have been selected through our field experience and all are safe to use in a freshwater tank. Each have their pros and cons, which I will discuss below. There is a product for you on this list.
In a hurry? I recommend Biohomefor a permanent solution and Seachem Purigen for a disposable solution.
Bio-Home, in my opinion, is the best biological filtration media you can purchase, and is the best nitrate remover for freshwater tanks. It has the ability to control ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate on it’s own. Bio-Home got its start from PondGuru, one of the bigger Youtubers on pond care. PondGuru developed this product to resolve high nutrient issues in ponds. It also does an amazing job as a nitrate remover for freshwater tanks. I highly recommend it for anyone with a fish-only or lightly planted tank.
Because it is a biological based filter media, it is permanent in your system and allows for less water changes. You add it in your filter unit and forget about it. The media will house both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and the mini-version will fit in some power filters.
It’s a great biological media, but it has one drawback. It is a very expensive nitrate remover and you will need 2-4 lbs for a mid-sized aquarium. Also, because it is biologically based it will need to establish in your fish tank before it will remove nitrates. Bio-Home offers the following guidelines when trying to figure out how much media you need to purchase.
Environment
Amount of Biohome Required
Avg Community Tropical Tank
1 kg/26 gal (100 lt)
Avg Cold Water Tank
1-1.5 kg/26 gal (100 lt)
Predator Tank
1.5-2 kg/26 gal (100 lt)
Large Cichlid Tank
1.5-2 kg/26 gal (100 lt)
Malawi/Tanganyikan Tank
1.5-2 kg/26 gal (100 lt)
Avg Mixed Fish Pond
1 kg/52 gal (200 lt)
Avg Koi Pond
1 kg/39 gal (150 lt)
If you want a filter media that will free you of being a slave to constant water changes, this is worth every penny.
Pros
Biological based – permanent
less water changes
Small enough to fit in power filters
Cons
Expensive
Needs to establish in your aquarium water in order to get results
2. Seachem Purigen – Instant Removal In A Small Package!
Seachem Purigen is a fast acting nitrate remover that uses resin to remove a number of organic compounds in your aquarium water. It is resin based and its color changes as it depletes. This makes it easy to identify when to replace or recharge the resin. Recharging the resin involves using an unscented bleach solution. The bleach burns off the organics that have been removed from the fish tank.
This type of regeneration is superior to API’s salt solution of regeneration. A salt based regeneration only replaces the removed ionic compounds. It will not destroy the large compounds that were removed. This can be risky over time as the organics can potentially leech back into your aquarium water over time. You do not really run this risk with Seachem Purigen because the price of this nitrate remover is so reasonable that many who use it don’t even bother to recharge it. It is fast acting and has great field results.
Seachem Purigen is easy to find online and at stores. It will also fit in power filters and you do not need that much to get great results for your freshwater aquarium!
If you are looking for a budget friendly nitrate remover, the EA Premium Nitrate Reducer is a great product to look at. Like Acruel’s pad, it works instantly as it is an infused filter pad. I would install this in the second chamber of your canister filter after your mechanical stage. It will work with a power filter, but you may have difficulty getting enough of the product to be effective in smaller filters.
Make sure you rinse it before putting it into your aquarium. It’s dusty and can cloud up water if you don’t rinse it before it goes into your filter. This is a great nitrate remover for those who need fast results and are on a budget.
Acurel’s Nitrate Reducing Pad has been around for years and is well known for quickly taking care of nitrate problems in a freshwater aquarium. It comes in a large 10 x 18 inch pad that you can cut to size. I find this pad works best in a canister filter if the media chambers are large enough to accommodate a pad. I would put this in the chemical media chamber below your carbon media or in-lieu of.
This nitrate remover has amazing field results. It has taken down nitrate levels in a 180 gallon Cichlid tank from 60-80PPM to 20PPM or less. The biggest problem is that it’s difficult to get enough of the product into a power filter as you need to use a sizable amount of it to get the desired results. It is generally hard to find locally, making this best to purchase online. The price is very reasonable, making this a great nitrate remover if you own a canister filter.
Pros
Can be cut to size
Very effective
Works quickly
Cons
Not enough surface area to work with most power filters
Hard to find locally
5. API Nitra-Zorb – Resin Based Carbon Replacement
API Nitra-Zorb is a resin based filter media that works to eliminate ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and harmful chemicals in your aquarium. It is a great all around filter media that replaces carbon in your aquarium. Because it is resin based, it can be recharged. The recharging instructions are simple. You only need aquarium salt and warm tap water to soak the media bag for 2 hours.
This makes it a really attractive media to buy for nitrate removal since you can buy a bag and reuse it, granted you are willing to recharge it regularly.
The biggest problem with using Nitra-Zorb as a nitrate remover, is that it is designed for canister filters. The bag can be too large for most power filters. Another concern is that since the bag can handle a complete nitrogen cycle on its own, it can hurt the natural biological filtration that you have set up in your filter or your aquarium plants. I feel that a nitrate remover product should be a supplement for your cycle in your aquarium, and not a replacement.
Pros
Resin based – replaces carbon
Media can be reused
Cons
Bag is large and is meant for canister filters
Expensive
6. Boxtech Aquarium Media – MarinePure Like Media That Fits In A Canister Filter
In the saltwater aquarium side of the hobby, there is this wonderful product called marinepure that is a ceramic block that acts as a superior biological filtration in sumps. The blocks are massive and have superior surface area. These blocks by BoxTechoffer the same advantages as marinepure, but are designed to be small enough to fit in a canister filter.
The ceramic block will achieve a full nitrogen cycle removing nitrates. Because it is a permanent solution, you won’t have to worry about replacing media overtime. This is a less expensive long-term nitrate remover for freshwater tanks.
Unfortunately, like many products on this list, it can be difficult to fit in most power filters. It’s a 3×3 block so it may fit in larger power filters. It will also need to establish in your tank in order to achieve results.
Pros
Convenient shape – fits in canister filters
Incredible surface area for bacteria
Permanent
Cons
Won’t fit in most power filters
Needs to establish to get results
7. Dr. Tim’s Aquatics All-Natural Aquarium Pearls – Designed By A Marine Biologist
Dr. Tim is well known by keepers of reef aquariums and public aquariums. He has designed unique products that solves issues like cycling a tank. These NP-Active Pearls by Dr. Tim are natural bio-polymers that remove nitrates and phosphates in your aquarium. They work in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums and do a great job.
Because it is a bio-ball based media, it is best run in a media reactor versus a canister filter or power filter. It will still lower the nitrate level in any of them, it’s just more effective in a media reactor.
An algae turf scrubber is well known in the saltwater aquarium hobby for it’s ability to remove nitrates, phosphates, and harmful chemicals in your aquarium. It does this all by growing algae on a mesh sheet. This algae once established will filter all sorts of nutrients out of your aquarium water.
A good turf scrubber will do wonders to getting your levels down, and have had field results bringing nitrates to nearly undetectable levels. This is all done naturally and is a permanent nitrate removing solution. It will also reduce algae in your display tank since the algae growth in your scrubber will compete with it. IceCaphas done an excellent job at making these scrubbers as affordable as possible for hobbyist with a well made solution.
Turf scrubbers are complex to install and dial in. They require a separate pump and are best run in a sump. They are expensive and you have to remove the algae every 7-14 days. This can be messy and smelly. If you have a sump and some very high nitrate levels, this could be the best nitrate remover for you.
Seachem Denitrate is a biological media that has the ability to house anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria can survive because of the porous nature of this media. It allows for areas to be depleted of oxygen which is what creates these anaerobic pockets. It functions as both basic biological media and nitrate reducing media since it is a dual purpose media.
This product from SeaChem is basically the same as SeaChem Matrix, which I will discuss next. The main difference between the two nitrate removers is that the media for SeaChem Denitrate is smaller, making it far easier for your power filters to house it. It is one of the few nitrate removing media here that will fit and be functional in a power filter. There is also a big advantage with SeaChem products in general. They are readily available online and in stores.
This 1 liter package will work for a larger size tank up to 50 gallons. It is a permanent solution, and the price is reasonable for its capacity. Because it is a permanent nitrate remover solution, it will need to establish first before any results can be seen. To function correctly, SeaChem recommends that you lower the gallons per hour on your filtration unit down to 50 gallons per hour.
Given its availability, it’s a great choice for your fish tank if you are using a power filter.
Pros
Biological based
Fits in power filters
Permanent solution
Cons
Needs time to establish
10. Seachem Matrix – Superior Biological Media Replacement
Seachem Matrix is the flagship biological media product of SeaChem. It offers superior biological filtration that will house both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria species. It is a permanent nitrate reducer solution that is designed to work in canister filters. It is a larger media version of denitrate. This is done on purpose so the inner core can hold more anaerobic bacteria.
It will take time to establish given its biological nature. It is readily available in stores. This is a great solution if you are starting up a new tank and want to have great biological filter media to start.
Pros
Biological based
Permanent solution
Reasonable price
Cons
Designed for canister filters
Takes time to establish
Our Expert Pick
There are two categories when naming a best nitrate remover. We have permanent and disposable solutions. Permanent solutions take time to establish and will solve your problem over time. Disposable solutions will work immediately and require replacement to keep levels down. We also included a video of our channel that summarizes the products from our blog post. Please subscribe if you like our content!
Best Permanent Product
This honor goes to Bio-HomeUltimate Filter Media. It has proven field results and does not have a gallon per hour limitation like some of the other permanent solutions out there. They are able to do this because the core of the media will hold anaerobic pockets for nitrate removing bacteria to thrive. I have seen bio-home reduce nitrates in pond filters pushing through 1700+ gallons per hour and still have stellar results. It is worth every penny.
Best Disposable Product
This honor goes to Seachem Purigen. The Purigen resin works immediately and is very effective. It changes color so you know when it is time to replace the media. This nitrate remover is so cheap that you don’t have to recharge the product, and you don’t need much of it. This makes it ideal for power filters. It is also readily available online and in most fish stores.
Closing Thoughts
Nitrate reduction can be a tough nut to crack in a non-planted freshwater aquarium. Overstock fish tanks have an even harder time. The great thing is that there are products that are very effective at resolving your issues with your aquarium water. I hope the overview and the product reviews I provided have helped you to make an informed decision. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading my buying guide and see you next time!
Driftwood is one of my favorite elements in any aquarium setup โ it adds natural structure, gives fish and shrimp places to explore, and anchors plants like Java fern and Anubias beautifully. I’ve used many types over the years in both freshwater and reef setups, from Manzanita branches in planted tanks to spider wood for a more dramatic look. The key things most people don’t consider upfront are tannin leaching, how long different woods take to waterlog, and which types are safest for sensitive fish and shrimp. This guide covers the best driftwood options with all of that in mind.
With over 25 years of experience in the aquarium hobby, Iโve assisted countless clients, hobbyists, and readers like you in overcoming their aquascaping setup dilemmas. Iโve personally used these wood pieces in real world scenarios to determine the best aquarium driftwood in the hobby.
There are so many quality driftwood to pick here it’s really hard to pick a winner. Let’s separate these into separate categories, as there is a piece for everyone’s needs here.
Manzanita driftwood is friendliest driftwood to work with in the industry. This wood from Buceplant has it all. It is well priced, looks amazing, and the support team at BucePlant are the best in the business. You can’t go wrong with them. They sell small and medium sizes. These are valued priced pieces that offer all the advantages of Manzanita.
Like many Manzanita sellers, availability is limited. I would suggest jumping on a purchase if pieces are in stock.
More aquascaping goodness with these amazing show pieces by BucePlant. BucePlant arts offers tiger wood in all sizes. This driftwood has thick branches with great shapes that will look great in longer and larger aquariums. Because of tiger wood’s low tannin count and ease to water log, it is easy to prep for aquarium usage.
Because Buce offers these in all sizes, there is a tigerwood piece available for any aquarium setup
If you are looking for spider wood, I would highly recommend Buce’s Spider Wood. These pieces are offered at various sizes from 4 – 18″. There are even massive showpieces available for sale on their site that are simply amazing! They are offered at super low prices. It’s really hard to find something of similar quality at the price these are sold for.
Pros
Exotic looking pieces
Great Price
Sizable pieces
Cons
The look is not for everyone
4. Buce WYSIWYG Wood โ Showpieces for Award Winning Aquascapes
Are you looking for top quality aquarium driftwood pieces? If so, BucePlant is where you want to go. This is a WYSIWYG vendor with large and impressive show pieces for sale. Every showpiece they offer has low tannins, wonโt alter pH, and easy to place.
The other thing I love is this is the only vendor on our list that offers truck style driftwood. If you know anything about nature aquascape, truck style driftwood offers amazing forest like backdrops.
All the pieces they offer are giant pieces. Make sure you take your measurements on your aquarium before purchasing.
This is the some best quality driftwood you can buy online. It has a high price tag as a result and expect slower shipping times due to their size.
Pros
WYSIWYG
Lots of selection
Gigantic pieces
Cons
Price
Slower shipping
5. Bonsai – Create An Underwater Japanese Garden Today!
Bonsai driftwood offers a unique looking background in your tank. With the proper plants attached to it you can truly get a forest like look in your tank
These Bonsai Driftwood pieces offered for size are amazing looking in your aquarium. They have the added benefit of lowing your pH and softening your water, making them ideal for the vast majority of planted tank setups.
Bonsai trees cans be different to aquascape. They require a high amount of touch not only to get the moss down correctly, but also to keep them well groomed. If you are up for the challenge and want something stunning, this could be the wood piece for you!
The Fluval name brand enters our list with their Mopani Wood product. This is the same Mopani Wood you saw me explain earlier, but backed by the Fluval name. The result is you get high quality specimens that are well picked by Fluval. You also get a competitive price due to Fluval’s scale of operations. They offer both small and large sizes so you can find the right size for your aquarium in their selection.
The only thing I do not like is the Mopani wood itself. Mopani is notorious for its tannin leeching. Fluval puts in their product description that it “adds a slight tint water, creating a more natural looking water conditions.” Honestly, that is just covering the for the tannins here. Take your time to prep this wood and have your carbon ready if you want to use this driftwood. They are great looking pieces if you can handle the tannin leeching.
Pros
Fluval Name
Well picked specimens
Great price
Cons
Tannin leeching from Mopani
7. Koyal Wholesale California – Old School Bogwood
Koyal Wholesale’s driftwood pieces are known in the wedding industry due to the hit wedding TV show My Fair Wedding. However, these pieces are also great for aquariums. This product from Koyal reminds me a lot of the old bogwood pieces that used to be offered at fish stores. There is also a Grapewood Branch variant that is offer that looks more like the the other driftwood pieces on this list.
Given the popularity and supply of the product, they are offered at a competitive price. They are sold at 12″ pieces, which should be fine for most aquariums. The major complaint with these have been the wood takes a long time to water log and there have been shipping mishaps.
If you are looking for budget driftwood these pieces from Hamiledyiare what you are looking for. They are ideal for smaller tanks and the pieces have good variation. The price is very reasonable and wood is lightweight.
Hamiledyi does not state the origin of this driftwood. From what we know from the review this is a high tannin count wood. It is likely this wood is a variation of Malaysian Driftwood, which is a common wood found at local fish store. Given it’s budget price, it’s not a finished wood as well. Expect to sand down edges to make it smooth to the touch.
Pros
Small Sizes
Good variation
Price
Cons
Mixed Driftwood โ you do not know the type or source
High tannin count
Raw wood
9. NiloG Cholla Wood – The Choice for Freshwater Shrimp Tanks
If you are looking for wood for a shrimp tank, this is the product to buy. This Cholla Wood by NiloG is a great buy. It is cheap and your shrimp will love you for it as they feed off it all day.
Cholla wood is not for every fish tank. It decays fast and needs an inhabitant that will happily eat it while it decomposes. This is why they are ideal for species of shrimp like Cherry and Amano Shrimp as they will scavenge off the remains.
Pros
Great for shrimp tanks
Cheap
Cons
Decays fast
What Is Aquarium Driftwood?
Aquarium driftwood is wood that has been washed over through a beach, river, or a lake. This driftwood provides shelter and food for inverts and fish in freshwater aquariums. They also provide cover and a source of food for birds that live near the waters. Most driftwood are the remains of trees. Driftwood has also been discussed in Norse mythology. In the mythology, the first humans were formed out of two pieces of driftwood made of ash and elm by the god Odin.
The Trouble with Tannins
Before I go over the types of aquarium driftwood, let’s talk about what Tannins are a natural compound contained in driftwood. They are released into your aquarium as the driftwood soaks. When tannins are released into your aquarium, the compound will discolor your aqyuarium water. At low levels, it will look like a light yellow color and at high concentrations, it will look like the color of tea (as showed by the fishlore forum member GreeksGills) . While tannins will not harm your fish, it is not very pleasing to the eye.
There are ways to mitigate tannins in your aquarium. The first is to boil your driftwood before it goes into your aquarium. You can also add carbon media to remove the discoloration. I will go more into Driftwood prepping later in this post.
Types of Aquarium Driftwood
Before we look at a list of driftwood we can buy, let’s talk about the types of aquarium driftwood available in our hobby. They all have different looks and characteristics.
Bonsai
Bonsai Driftwood is a designer driftwood that is handcrafted by artisans to create unique works of art. These wood pieces resemble a bonsai tree. They are amazing piece alone in an aquarium and are eye catching with live plants growing on them. The favorite type of plant to grow on this driftwood are mosses. They are sharp and not ideal for Fancy Goldfish or Betta Fish Care. They are pricey and each piece is unique. They contain a moderate amount of tannins and will lower pH.
Cholla
Cholla driftwood is one of the cheapest and readily available driftwood you can find. It is native to the Southwest United States. It is actually the dried remains of a Cholla Cactus. It is one of the go to driftwoods for Freshwater Shrimp Tanks. The reason why is because the Cholla wood surface is ideal for harvesting biofilm. It has a moderate tannin count and takes some time to get waterlogged.
Manzanita
Manzanita Driftwood is becoming a highly desired aquarium driftwood for aquascapers. It is wood that comes from shrubs native to Oregon, Texas, California and New Mexico. It has many advantages over other types of driftwood. It has a low tannin count and looks amazing. It has a branch like structure, which creates unique looking scapes. It waterlogs the fastest among all other driftwood available. It is one of the few driftwoods you can buy that is pH neutral. No pH change is a big game changer for those who want driftwood but may have fish that are not compatible with lower pHs. It is very resistant to decomposition. This makes this driftwood very long lasting and strong.
It really is in my mind the driftwood of choice. What’s the catch? Well, it’s difficult to find. The best sources are going to be smaller sellers online.
Mopani
Mopani is a unique looking wood comprised of 2 tone color combinations. It will lower your pH and has a high tannin count. It is becoming a more popular driftwood for aquariums as larger aquarium brands are starting to sell in in stores. It is a readily available driftwood. They are imported from the plains of Namibia by local tribesmen.
Spider Wood
Spiderwood is well known for its varied branched appearance. It is found in Mongolia and looks like a spider (hence the name). It matures into a beautiful Mahogany color in the aquarium. This wood has a low tannin count and is quick to get water logged. Since this is an imported wood, it is usually on the cheaper end compared to others.
Tiger Wood
Tiger wood derived it’s name by its shape. It looks like the strips of a tiger or the claws of one. It is pale in appearance and has a branched look that is thicker than most branch type driftwood. They generally are only available as larger show pieces. This type of driftwood is ideal for attaching ferns and mosses. It has a light amount of tannins and will get waterlogged quickly.
How To Prep for Tank Usage
So now that you know what the best driftwood is to buy, let’s talk about getting them into your aquarium. There are two things we want to do to prep our driftwood for aquarium usage:
Removing Tannins
Waterlogging the wood
There are two options two achieve both. One would be soaking the driftwood. This takes a long time, usually 2-4 weeks. While this may work for very large show pieces, it’s not a fun method for the those of us excited to scape our tanks. Boiling would be our next option and the preferred way of prepping our aquarium driftwood.
The video below by Long Island Fish Guy illustrates the process. When boiling, you want to boil until you the water in the boil pot is clear. You will also want to utilize carbon media to mitigate any residual leeching of tannins afterwords.
If you have a large piece of driftwood, you can boil it in sections boil. Put what you can fit in your pot as you go. If the wood is very large, you may have to consider the soaking method
One thing to note is Tannins do have benefits in an aquarium. It just doesn’t make your aquarium look pleasing to the eye for most. My preference is to purchase driftwood with low tannin count like Manzanita or Spiderwood. This helps with ease of prep and keeps your aquarium clear of that tea color.
How To Attach Live Plants
Attaching live plants to your driftwood really makes your aquascape come alive. There are two type of live plants that are ideal for attaching to driftwood.
For moss, you can use super glue to attach the base of the moss to your driftwood. Below is a great video by Roma Aquatics that shows how to do this. What I love about attaching plants on wood is you can do this outside of your aquarium and take your time with it.
The next video by Fishaholic shows how to attach a column feeding live plant to driftwood. This example is Java Fern. You can do this with any other column feeding live plant. Both methods I’m showing here are done with super glue. I prefer this method over fishing line or tiebacks since glue is invisible and easier to work with in my experience.
FAQ
What Kind is Safe For Tanks?
The safest driftwood are ones sold are pet stores, local fish stores, and online stores. Common trade names that are safe are Manzanita, Tiger, Spider and Bonzai driftwood.
Which Wood Is Ideal?
The best wood for driftwood are the ones sold at pet stores. Of these, Manzanita and Tigerwood are the easiest to deal with because they produce low tannins and waterlog quickly
Is It Good For Freshwater Tanks?
Yes – driftwood is good for freshwater aquariums. Driftwood lowers the pH and softens the water, which most tropical fish and live plants prefer. Your fish see it as a natural habitant and will feel safe with it around them. You can also attach plants and moss to the driftwood to produce a stunning planted structure!
Does It Cause Ammonia?
Driftwood can cause ammonia, if it hasn’t been treated. Untreated wood can contain organic matter that will decay in the aquarium and spike ammonia levels. To avoid this, you can boil driftwood as a safety precaution even if the wood has been treated.
Closing Thoughts
Driftwood adds a lot of beauty to your aquarium. I hope through this post I was able to help you make an informed decision on what the driftwood you want to purchase for your aquarium. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. Thank you for reading and see you next time!
๐ฟ Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Planted Tank & Aquascaping Guide โ your ultimate resource for aquarium plants, aquascaping styles, substrates, and more.
Rock selection is one of the most important and underappreciated decisions in aquascaping. I’ve spent a lot of time sourcing and working with different rock types for my own tanks, and the wrong choice can actually crash your water chemistry โ some rocks leach calcium and raise pH dramatically, which is a serious problem in a planted tank. Beyond chemistry, the right rock defines the entire aesthetic of your aquascape, whether you’re going for a dramatic Seiryu stone Iwagumi or a natural river rock layout. Here’s my breakdown of the best rock types for freshwater aquariums and what you need to know before buying.
What to Look For When Purchasing A Rock for a Freshwater Aquarium
In general, the vast majority of freshwater fish and plants prefer softer water and lower pH. Knowing this fact, we want to avoid rocks that are high in calcium. Rocks high in calcium will alter the water chemistry of our aquarium. It will result in our water becoming hard. They also will alter the pH of the aquarium making our aquarium alkaline in nature. That is great for African Cichlids and Saltwater Tanks, but will be disastrous for most tropical fish we can purchase.
We need to break down rocks further to understand what makes a good freshwater aquarium rock. Let’s dive into the types of rocks.
The Three TypesFor Your Tank
We can separate freshwater aquarium rocks into three categories: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Igneous
Igneous rock is any type of crystalline or glassy rock. These are formed by the cooling and solidification of molten earth material. Aquarium rocks in our trade of this type would include dolerite, gabbro, granite, basalt, and lava rock.
Sedimentary
Sedimentary rock are rocks that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of small particles and subsequent cementation. Aquarium rocks in our trade of this type would include marl, limestone, sandstone, breccia, conglomerate, and shale.
Metamorphic
Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock types. The original rock form was subjected to heat and pressure which cause physical or chemical change. Aquarium rocks in our trade of this type would include quartzite, dolomite, marble, schist, slate, and hornfels.
They Can Alter Chemistry
Now that I explained the types of rocks, let’s talk about the aquariums rocks that can alter the chemistry of our tanks. We can separate them into two types.
Aquarium Rocks that lower pH and soften water
Aquarium Rocks that increase pH and harden water
If we are looking to lower pH and soften our water, we want to use aquarium rocks like sandstone and basalt. If we are looking to increase pH and harden our water, we want to use aquarium rocks like marble and limestone
There are also rocks that serve functions with planted aquariums. For example, lava rocks can be used to fertilize aquatics plants. Granite is one of the safest rocks to use in an aquarium due to its neutral nature. It is also one of the heaviest.
9 That Are Safe For Fresh Tanks
Now that we have a base understanding of rocks for freshwater aquariums, it’s time to talk about the best ones to buy. Below is a recommended list of the best freshwater aquarium rocks you can purchase online. I’ll go in more detail in my reviews of each.
Ohko Dragon Stone is one of the preferred aquarium rocks to use in Iwagumi Aquascapes. These rocks are not only beautiful, they are also natural in nature. They will not alter your pH or hardness being granite based. They will look fantastic in any planted tank setup. They are full of holes, nooks and crannies making them very good rocks for natural shelter for your fish.
These are the hot rocks for pro aquascaping projects these days. Check out the video above from BucePlant to see how amazing they look. Like any preferred aquascaper rock, they do have a higher price tag.
Pros
Rocks do not alter pH or hardness
Great looking rocks
Lots of sizes available
Cons
Price
Best For – Planted Tanks
2. Black Mountain Seiryu Stone – Best Value In Unique-Looking Stones
If you are looking for a unique looking aquarium rock, check out Black Mountain Seiryu Stone. The unique white veins really pop in an aquascape. They will not alter your pH or hardness so you can add them to any aquarium setup. These rocks are hard to find so be on the look out if you like them and want to buy one. The great thing from buying from our link is that Buce sells super high quality Black Seiryu and in packs up to 30lbs!
Quality lava rock is hard to find online. It’s pretty common to see listings of lava rock being used as biomedia or fireplaces. This makes sense given they are great for housing beneficial bacteria and are great stones for fire places. This does limit what you can buy on online though.
When it comes to aquarium lava rock these Black Lava Rocks by BucePlant are exactly what we are looking for. These are large rocks with unique shapes unlike what you will find at most pet stores. If you are looking to quality lava rock, check out their store and selection.
If you want a pro quality aquascaping rock, but the Ohko is out of your budget, I would highly recommend Buce Seiryu Rock. Seiryu is the godfather of all aquascaping rocks. These are hand picked stones from Buce. With their excellent customer service and high quality reviews, you can’t go wrong with them!
You will not be disappointed in going with them! Great details and texture comes with these rocks.
Pros
Great rock specimens
Great reviews and testimonials
Hand picked stones
Cons
Price
Best For – Planted Tanks
5. BucePlant WYSIWYG Stones – For the Pro Aquascapers
We start off this list with high end aquarium rocks. These rocks offered by BucePlant are what we call in the industry What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) rocks. This seller lists individual rocks or sets of rocks for you to purchase and you get the exact rocks in the picture. This is the best way to get large aquarium rocks for aquascapes if you are looking to do big projects.
In my mind, WYSIWYG vendors are the sellers to go to if you are looking for a large display stone. These are excellent for planted tanks and highly recommended if they are within your budget.
Pros
You get exactly what you see in the photo (WYSIWYG)
Large aquarium rocks available
High quality rocks
Cons
Limited quantities
Expensive
Best For – Planted Tanks
6. Lifegard Aquatics Redwood Petrified Stone – Made For You Aquascape Sets!
Are you looking for a done for you aquascape set? If so, the Lifegard Aquatics Petrified Wood Sets are right up your ally. These aquarium rocks are sold in packages for specific tank sizes. All you do is order the place for your aquarium and you are good to go. No need to guess or pick rocks. These sets use pertified wood instead of stone. As a result, the look is very unique for your aquascape.
Lifegard also offers another variant called the Klondike Petrified Stone set if you are looking for a different shade or color. I love these sets for first time aquascapers. It is wood versus stone, which may bother a purist, but not a problem for a newcomer. The price is pretty reasonable as well!
Pros
Will not alter pH or hardness
Done for you sets
Unique look
Cons
It’s wood versus stone – some purists may not be fans
Best For – Planted Tanks
7. Penn-Plax Deco-Replicas Ornament Series – Great for Territorial Fish
Penn-Plax Deco-Replicas Ornament Series are resin ornaments that resemble natural granite. They are great for territorial fish like cichlids. Each aquarium rock acts like an individual home or condo for your fish. Because they are resin based, so they do not affect your water chemistry and are very easy to clean due their smooth outer surface. They are also very easy to stack and create a community of homes.
The thing I do not like with these rocks is they are rough on the inside. This is due to their resin makeup. The resin has been smoothed out on the outside but not on the inside. This leads to rough and sharp edges inside the structure. This does not make them safe for delicate species like Betta Fish. You can make them smooth with a file, but given their price point it’s probably better to look at another product if you have delicate fish.
Pros
Cheap
Easy to clean
Great for territorial fish
Cons
Rough on the inside – not safe for delicate fish like Bettas
Best For – Cichlids
8. Small World Slate & Stone – Slate for a Great Price
These Slate Aquarium Rocks by Small World are an amazing deal. The product pictured above is the 5-7 inch stone sets. These are high-quality slate pieces sourced from the USA. Small World Slate and Stone is a small family-run business and its customer service is top-notch.
Slate will not alter your pH or hardness. They are great for Aquascaping and for creating caves and structures. They are also great for reptiles since they hold heat well. Slate is one of the most popular stones for garden and pond hardscaping.
Slate is easy to break or crack. Be very careful with handling the stones as they can chip easily.
If you own African Cichlids, these limestone rocks are perfect for them. Texas Holey Rock has several benefits for African Cichlids. Being made of calcium carbonate, these rocks buffer pH and hardness, which solves your aquarium water chemistry issues with Africans. The holes are great for shelter and curb aggressively in your freshwater tank.
These rocks are sourced locally in Austin, Texas. The team selects these rocks to take care to find quality specimens for aquarium usage. The Company was built by a Cichlid tank owner who understands the need for quality hardscaping.
Given their limestone makeup, these rocks are only appropriate for fish that need a higher pH or hard water. The white appearance is also not for everyone. You can mitigate the white look by using low-light aquarium plants like Java Fern, and Java Moss which easily attach to these rocks.
Pros
Buffers pH and hardness for African Cichlids
Hand picked selection
Holes are great for shelter
Cons
White appearance is not for everyone
Only for fish that need hard water and higher pH
Best For – African Cichlids
Our Expert Pick
I listed a number of aquarium rock selections. Which one is best for you? I’m going to split these in several categories and explain.
The safest rocks are ones you can purchase at a pet store, local fish store, or online. That being said, the best rocks to use are Ohko dragon stone, Seiryu Stone, and Lava Rock. You can also use rocks like slate for building levels and Holey Rock for setups that require hard water or higher pH.
Can You Put Any Kind In A Fish Tank?
No. You cannot just put any rock in a fish tank. Some rocks will alter the chemistry of the water like its pH or hardness, which can have negative effects on your fish and plants. Rocks collected from outside or rivers may also contain organic material, which may die off and cause ammonia spikes. It’s best to purchase your rocks from a reputable pet store whether in person or online.
Can Live Stones Be Used In Fresh Tanks?
No. Live rock is rock that is either pulled from the oceans or grown aquaculturally to be used in saltwater tanks. They contain saltwater bacteria and organisms, which would die off if placed in a freshwater tank.
Which Ones Raise the pH in the Tank?
Rocks that are made of calcium carbonate like limestone will raise the pH in an aquarium. These rocks are ideal for fish that prefer higher pH and hard water like African Cichlids.
Conclusion
Aquarium rocks can really be striking backdrops in your fish tank when you find the rest specimens. I hope this post helped you find what you were looking for. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Thanks for reading.
๐ฟ Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Planted Tank & Aquascaping Guide โ your ultimate resource for aquarium plants, aquascaping styles, substrates, and more.
Rimless aquariums are something I genuinely love โ the clean, borderless look transforms a tank into living art, and it’s the aesthetic I gravitate toward for aquascaping builds. The difference between a rimless and a standard braced tank is immediately obvious: you get an unobstructed view from every angle, which makes a huge difference in how planted tanks and reef setups are photographed and enjoyed. After working with rimless tanks of various sizes and brands over the years, I can tell you which builds are worth the premium price and which cut corners on glass thickness and silicone quality.
Before we start, I will disclose there will be affiliate links in this post where I may get a commission should you choose to make a purchase at no charge to you.
In a hurry? For a freshwater rimless aquarium I recommend UNS Systems for a saltwater rimless aquarium I recommend Waterbox.
What To Look For When Buying It
Before we start comparing rimless aquariums, we need to talk about what to look for when purchasing one. A number of manufacturers have hopped on the rimless aquarium bandwagon and they are not all created equal.
First things first, let’s talk about what you want. What are your goals? Are you looking to do a planted tank? Are you looking to do a reef tank? Are you desiring an all in one fish tank setup? What is your budget? These are all questions you want to write down and know before you go comparison shopping because rimless aquariums are designed for multiple specialty tanks so there should be a rimless aquarium for you once you know what you want to do with your fish tank build.
For the aquariums I’m reviewing today, this is my criteria:
Quality
Features and Accessories
Brand Name
Price
The Candidates
Now that we know what to look for, the types of rimless tanks available, and what makes them an amazing buy, it’s time to talk about the best rimless aquariums out there. The list below is our picks after client field testing and our own experience with these manufacturers. There is a rimless aquarium for everyone on this list. Let’s begin!
If I take this post from a pure rimless tank view, the Ultum Nature Systems Rimless Tanks are in a class of their own. These are without a doubt the world class ultra lean best rimless tanks you can purchase today. German engineering with 45 degree precision cut mitered edges. The Ultum Nature Systems rimless tank is designed with low iron glass that is 91% Diamant glass and brands with the UN systems logo on the bottom. When guests visit your home and see how awesome your glass tank looks, they will know UNS is the designer of your rimless aquarium. It’s a true work of art.
These rimless aquariums are available in many sizes and professionally shipped to your door. Shipping large fish tanks has always been a major pain. Ultum Nature Systems does not ship cheap. Their larger fish tanks are shipped in crates and carefully packaged. I have seen many all in one fish tanks shipped poor and cracked upon delivery. You do not have to worry about that drama with UNS. The comfort of knowing you won’t have to get multiple rimless tanks shipped until it arrives undamaged is not a concern with this brand.
The other thing I love about these fish tanks are the furniture. The furniture options are amazing. They are high-end professional manufactured cabinets. They fit flush with your UNS rimless tank. You don’t have to worry about getting a custom made cabinet or finding a standard cabinet that fits. UNS offers it all for you in one complete professional package. It’s no wonder why they are the top choice for professional aquascapers. Just look at the cabinet video below from Ultum Nature Systems. The cabinet just screams world class quality.
UNS tanks come in many sizes. From a rimless nano fish tank all the way up to a massive 150+ gallon rimless aquarium, there is a size for everyone at every budget.
There are two cons with Ultum Nature Systems. The first is they are solely focused on the freshwater hobby, so they do not make a reef ready rimless aquarium. It is a pure rimless aquarium through and through with UNS though they do offer All In One Tanks. They will also be comparatively expensive compared to other fish tanks at their size. In my opinion, you get what you pay for. This is a world class brand and rimless aquarium. You can’t go wrong purchasing one. See the full UNS Aquarium Review.
If I think about the best value in rimless tanks today, without a doubt I would say Waterboxdelivers. Waterbox primarily delivers reef ready aquariums. Waterbox reef ready systems have the best plumbing system available for a ready to run fish tank today. Their plumbing system is called the Platinum Reed Plumbing system. It is built with a true manifold system with quality colored PVC and unions for easy maintenance. Their overflow system is a true BeanAnimal, which is the reef standard in today’s modern reef.
Waterbox sumps are the best you can buy for a ready to run fish tank. They are multistage designs and made of rimless glass.
Waterbox and Red Sea have competed head to head for a number of years. There are die-hard fans for each brand. While I felt Waterbox always had the better designs and features, they have completely separated themselves from Red Sea with the introduction of their freshwater systems, the Clear models. The Clear models are hard to find at this time because supplies are limited, but once they have full production they will have complete glass tank designs for both freshwater and saltwater hobbyists.
These are expensive tanks no doubt, however, the construction and quality for their prices earns the best value among all rimless tanks on this list. It is a well deserved distinction by Waterbox. Excellent aquariums overall. See the full Waterbox Aquariums review.
This rimless aquarium by Laden is great for planted tanks. They are just what we are looking for when we are creating a planted tank aquascape. This low iron glass tank is expertly crafted and they are available in multiple sizes. The rimless aquarium I have linked in this post I feel is the ideal size for many first time aquascaping projects.
Landen aquariums are only available online, which makes them perfect for those who cannot purchase rimless tanks locally. They are well known for their great packaging that ensures your glass aquarium arrives undamaged from shipping.
The only cons I have with this tank is the price. You get what you pay for with this tank. It’s one of the better bare bones low iron glass rimless aquariums on the market.
Current’s Serene line offers a unique opportunity for Freshwater Aquarists. Comes with a filter, stand, light. You can even pick an aquascaping package!
Are you looking for a large all-in-one aquarium for a freshwater tank that is also rimless? There has been a major gap in the market, as the original premium all-in-one rimless tanks started with reef tanks. As freshwater aquascaping has become more popular in the US, you have seen an introduction of lines like Waterbox getting into freshwater fish tanks and now you have Current USA getting into the Freshwater premium line now.
The Serene Aquarium offers you a 4 foot long glass aquarium measuring 48in. x 18in. x 18in. It is a low iron glass rimless tank with a frosted background film pre-installed. This gives you the white background look that is loved by aquascapers. The inlet and return lines are also frosted to blend into the aquarium.
Did I mention that Current also includes a backlight light? This backlight is something that has been missing in every freshwater setup I have come across. Current addresses this and doesn’t overcharge for it like ADA does (the only other manufacturer who supplies a backlight option!)
The cabinet is solid wood with a reclaimed wood finish. This gives it a neutral color that blends well in a lot of modern homes. It also has soft touch doors and an open structure that gives you easy access to the inside without a bulky support beam in the center of it.
The Serene also comes with an LED light , a hidden OASE canister filter, and a Hydor inline heater. All of these items are pre-installed and ready to go for you. This makes the system plug-in and play and easy to maintain.
There are also other options you can get with this rimless glass aquarium. This tank comes with aquascape bundles you can purchase that have been designed by professional aquascapers. The first is a Riverwood scape that is displayed in the video below and the second is the Manzanita scape. Both options are easy to install in your aquarium and will give it an eye popping design that will even be the envy of your planted tank friends!
So what’s the catch? Well, it’s fairly expensive. Even at its price, it’s an amazing value. You get a high quality system and the price is comparable to Waterbox’s freshwater rimless line. I do feel Current does need to have other options like a planted tank variant, which you could get a killer canister filter like an OASE and an option to swap out the LED light for a Serene Pro RGB LED light. I am a huge fan of both products when it comes to planted tank setups.
The Fluval Sea Evo is a great rimless glass aquarium if you are looking for a nano reef tank. This fish tank is designed with beginners in mind, as they have everything that you would want to get you started. This tank is so well loved that it is the official tank of Biota’s sustainable reef kits. Biota, if you do not know, are huge pioneers in our industry. They were the first mass producers of the tank raised Tang and Clown Trigger. If there is a choice of a cutting edge breeder in our industry, this is a product to look into.
The Fluval has it all to get started. It comes with competent LED lighting that acts like a cover. The media chambers are good enough and the return pump is strong enough for corals. The main issue with this Evo aquarium tank is that you have to know what it is designed for. It is designed for low light corals and small reef fish. If you keep that in mind, you can build an amazing and easy to keep nano reef tank.
The biggest issue with this fish tank is the heat management. This is a big concern if you live in a warmer climate. Because the tank is small and covered, heat gets trapped during hot days. Make sure you have adequate AC coverage in the area you place your Fluval Evo in.
The JBJ Rimless Flat Panel, in my mind, is the best starter saltwater reef aquarium set you can purchase today. It has the perfect dimensions for aquascaping. The JBJ Rimless is a reef tank that is 36 x 24 inches. 3 feet is long enough for territory for small fish, and 2 feet for the width is plently for having the space to sort rocks and corals for viewing.
It does mean that the LED light will be a bit more expensive, but the added gallon capacity of a 65 gallon tank is ideal. It is also sumpless, which means transitioning to saltwater even easier. It has large enough bays to house standard automation like auto top of systems and even a small protein skimmer. The JBJ Rimless is priced competitively as well. It seems expensive at first glance, but given you are getting the cabinet, it’s not as bad as you may believe.
However, the JBJ cabinet, while looking great from the outside, is not the highest quality.
Nuvo Aquariums are well known in the saltwater tank hobby as one of the best rimless aquariums you can buy. This Lagoon model from Nuvo does not disappoint. It comes with a great filter media chamber or the option to use a filter sock. The return pump is a DC pump that is power and very reliable. The dual outlets are great for getting your flow dialed in correctly. I also really like that they added their mesh screen lids. Nuvo designs a number of accessories for their aquariums including protein skimmers, media reactors, and wavemakers, so going with their line will always mean you can find accessories that will fit your fish tank.
The main thing not to like about this tank is the height of the aquarium. It only stands at 12 inches in height. That’s not stellar for a display tank. A 16″ height would be preferable. The price is on the high end, but you get what you pay for with this aquarium.
All in One tanks are great for quick fish tank set ups, however others want to set up a complete sump filtration system. Not everyone likes to drill an aquarium, and this solution by Nuvo is an excellent choice. It comes complete with a glass overflow that is connected to the back of the aquarium. As the overflow does not take up space inside the aquarium, you have full access to your fish tank for aquascaping. This is something that not even ghost overflow can provide!
Because the overflow is built into the system, you do not have to worry about leaking issues when you start up. Leak issues are always a pain to deal with. I also deal with them when working with external overflows. All overflows have their quirks. This EXT line from Nuvo offers a hassale free solution. This is an excellent choice if you are looking for a sumped tank as a beginner.
The major downfalls for me is that the overflow is a Durso versus a Bean Animal. In Nuvo’s difference though, a Bean Animal overflow would have taken up a lot of space. It is also fairly expensive compared to drilling a tank yourself.
The Lifegard Crystal Aquarium is a great value for those looking for a rimless aquarium. The price for these fish tanks are tough to beat. This ultra low iron glass aquarium comes with a traditional all in one chamber where you can place your media and equipment in the back. They utilize bio balls for their biological media, which I feel is “old school” in this day and age. The pump that comes with the tank is stronger than most I’ve seen included in all in one tanks. It may need to be adjusted down for those with planted tanks.
The main “con” here is the media included. Bio balls are just weird to me these days. I would prefer a media chamber with multiple stages so I can put whatever I want in it like Innovative offers. The affordable price for this aquarium tank makes it definitely worth a consideration!
The Red Sea Reefer is the original ready to run reef tank that started it all. For a long time in the saltwater hobby if you wanted to create a high quality reef setup, you were on your own to pick the glass aquarium, get a custom made stand, and built a sump. Red Sea changed all of that with the release of the Reefer. Since then, many competitors have appeared to challenge their place in the market that they created.
The Reefer series has been unchanged for the most part for many years. It still uses simple to install components and high quality low iron glass with a Bean Animal overflow design. They are used by many hobbyists today, which means getting one approachable because there are many peers to get advice from who are running these aquariums.
Their latest V3 refresh puts their tanks on par with the WaterBox systems. They are using a better sump design that is adjustable and they switch over to colored PvC and a longer warranty. The ATO system, while it comes standard, is ancient with a standard float valve. I’d rather have been nix this and use better quality PVC or design a manifold.
Overall, the Red Sea brand is a high quality one and their success with their tanks cannot be denied. The community is also amazing. Read more about our in-depth Red Sea Reefer Review.
The SCA 66 Gallon Rimless Cube Aquarium is a STARFIRE glass (low iron glass) cube tank that will blow you away. It’s simply amazing. I love the dimensions. The 80 gallon rimless aquarium shown here is 32 x 24 x 24. 24 inches of width and height is great working space to build the aquascape of your dreams. I also love that SC builds quality overflows. They make quality Druso overflows that won’t drive you crazy with their noise. They will also create full packages that come complete with a sump and protein skimmer.
For example this 66 gallon rimless aquarium comes with an aquarium kit of the main essentials to get started. The price is amazing for what you get. It still has the 24 inches of width like the 80 gallon rimless fish tank and only sacrifices 4 inches of height. I know many reefers who swear by SCA and have built incredible display tanks with them. They are the ultimate valued prices reef ready systems in our industry!
I can go on and on about how much I like SC Aquariums, but there is even a nicer aquarium from them that I’m about to review next. What do I not like? It’s the stand if you get the plug and play (PnP) system like the 66 gallon rimless aquarium shown above. It’s a lower quality stand. The next fish tank from SC Aquarium addresses that issue.
Pros
Amazing dimensions
Reef Ready
Great price for a high end aquarium
Cons
If you buy SC’s stands – they are lower quality and not tall
Best For – Reef Tanks
Our Expert Pick
The moment has come to crown the best rimless aquarium. As always I offer multiple “best of” here as there are many of you looking for different types of fish tanks.
Best Rimless Aquarium for Planted Tanks – UNS Aquariums
Best Rimless Aquarium for Nano Reef Tanks – Fluval Evo
What Is It? How Do They Work and How Are they Constructed?
A rimless aquarium is a fish tank that lacks bracing. In a typical aquarium, they are manufactured by siliconing the glass pieces together than supporting the silicon joints with a plastic brace or rimless around the bottom and top of the tank. Fish tanks have been constructed in this fashion for many years. They are produced at mass scale, are cheap, and very durable due to the bracing.
A rimless aquarium is constructed using what we call the direct injection method. Silicon is injected directly into the joint and pieces are squeezed together. The injection method is a very precise method. Doing it correctly makes for a clean look without any silicon sticking out of the edges. There are a lot of DIY videos out there that should this process and you can definitely try this yourself. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a lot of experience in building fish tanks.
Traditional vs Low Iron Glass
Another big selling point with rimless aquariums is that many are constructed with low iron glass. All manufacturers use different names for this. Some call it Starfire glass others call it ultra clear others diamond grade. Whatever they want to call or market it as it is all low iron glass at the end of the day. Low iron glass removes that green tint you will see in traditional glass. The larger the fish tank, the more noticeable of a difference you will see between a low iron glass tank vs a traditional glass tank.
Types
As I stated earlier in the post, there are various types of rimless aquariums you can purchase out there. Let me go over the various types and what they are best for.
Bare Bones
This is just the glass aquarium itself. These types of aquariums are best for planted tank setups. Many planted tank setups and aquascape what a completely clear background to start. Since they are typically using canister filters they have no need for an overflow system. A transparent background is perfect for a planted tank to really showcase light for that mountain or landscape like look that many aquascapers are looking to do.
All In One
An all in one rimless aquarium are designed to be a complete aquarium kit. They come with a chamber at the side or back of the fish tank. The chamber has a media chamber where you can add your desired filter media and will have a return and sometimes an optional 2nd chamber for you to add additional equipment like a protein skimmer or auto top off unit. These types of tanks are great first time reef or saltwater tanks. They can make a great freshwater fish tank, though planted tank setups may need additional modifications to add an AquariumCO2 system and reduce the flow depending on the livestock selection.
Reef Ready
A Reef ready rimless aquarium is a tank with a built in overflow. They typically are drilled at the bottom and will use a durso overflow. High end aquariums of this style will sometimes be built using bean animal overflows. These are aquariums are designed to be used with an aquarium sump. They are best suited for high end reef tanks. These tanks start you off with a great foundation and are easy to install.
Why Do You Need One?
Let’s talk about why you would want a rimless aquarium. Aside from the appealing look there are other great reasons to purchase one:
Many rimless aquariums are made of low iron glass. The larger these tanks are the bigger the difference. This provides a clear unfiltered view to your aquarium displaying it’s true beauty. Only an acrylic tank can match the clarity of a low iron glass aquarium.
You have a clear view of your water line with a rimless aquarium. This gives your fish tank a more natural look.
Many rimless aquariums come in cube form. While not the best for most fish, this can save you a lot of money down the road when it comes to purchasing lights as many LED lights are designed for 2 x 2 foot.
For you saltwater tank owners, you won’t have to deal with that annoying salt creep on the braces of your tank. If you ever owned a euro-braced tank, the difference is night and day on the salt creep you can accumulate.
They are designed for open tops, creating the best gas exchange possible for your aquarium.
Tips and Tricks
Here are a few tips and tricks to know when owning a rimless aquarium.
Place it on a flat solid surface
A Rimless aquarium cannot be placed on budget build aquarium stands. These are the usual particle board aquarium stands you will see at chain pet stores. Here is a picture to show you what I’m talking about:
If you place your rimless aquarium on a stand like this, the fish tank will have not support at the bottom and will crack under the pressure of your water. Do not make this expensive mistake! Most rimless aquariums will come with a self leveling mat to place on your surface. Make sure you use it. If you need to purchase one, here is a link for a self leveling mat.
Install a Stylish LED Light
A rimless aquarium’s look is compromised by a bulky and ugly looking LED light fixture. There are two ways to tackle this issue. Either purchase a lightweight Reef LED system (for saltwater) or Planted LED system that can mount on the rim of your aquarium or hang your light fixtures. On many high end aquarium installs, light fixtures are hung on the ceiling or a cabinet installed hanger is placed to hang the lights. Do yourself a favor and purchase the right looking LED lights so you do not take away from the sleek look of your aquarium.
Wipe Down The Top
Just use a clean towel or paper towel wipe down the top of your aquarium. Dust likes to collect up here so you will want to keep the area clean to not deter from the view of your creation.
Conclusion
Did you find the best rimless aquarium for you? Have any questions? Please leave a comment below if you do. I love hearing from my readers. I hope you are able to make a better informed decision on your purchase. Thank you for reading and see you next time!
๐ง Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Aquarium Equipment & Gear Guide โ your ultimate resource for filters, heaters, lights, pumps, tanks, and more.
A dedicated frag tank changes how you approach coral keeping โ suddenly you’re not just maintaining a reef, you’re growing it. I’ve watched reef keepers make the transition and it consistently deepens their involvement in the hobby. A frag tank doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, but there are a few things that matter: stable water, good flow, and enough light intensity to actually grow corals, not just keep them alive.
A frag tank is a start of getting serious in the coral growing and fragging hobby. I remember it being very exciting when I fragged my first coral and really started to get into the coral fragging scene. I would meet up with local reef clubs and get frags for cheap or trade my own frags for some that I never owned. Not to mention it was a great way to build up credit at the local fish store and pay for supplies and salt!
Whatever your reasons are to build a frag tank, you are on your way to really diving into the world of coral farming and the reef enthusiast world. I am excited that you found this blog post. Today I’m going to go over the best frag tanks you can purchase. As a quick disclosure, this post will contain affiliate links where I may get a commission if you happen to make a purchase at no extra cost to you. With that aside, let’s get started!
What is a Frag Tank?
The very first question some ask me is what is a frag tank and why the heck do I want it. A frag tank is a dedicated tank where corals are to be grown. These corals come from your main tank or display tank where they are cut or fragged and are placed into a frag tank where they can heal and grow in an ideal and clean environment.
Types of Tanks
There are actually multiple ways a frag tank is created. I’ll go through a few common examples and their pros and cons.
The Display
This is how most of us get started with coral fragging. We purchase a magnetic coral rack and place our coral frags on them. It’s a nice way to piece frags in our display and it saves money. The problem is that if you have a lot of frags and racks, it can really take away from the beauty of your display tank. Racks can be an eyesore.
The Sump
This is usually done in Aquarium Sumps and sometimes in customer sumps where a fourth chamber is used to create a section to grow out frags. A grow out light made for nano reef tanks is installed to grow the frags. These are great frag tanks that can also save you money if you have the space in your sump.
The biggest downfall with this type of frag tank is that sumps are usually hidden away in your cabinet. The other problem is that the flow is dictated by your overflow and your return. You can try to work around it by installed an aquarium wavemaker, but ultimately there is little room to work with here. This brings us to our next frag tank.
The Integrated
An integrated frag tank is a separate aquarium that is connected to your display either through your plumbing. The tank is placed in a separate area, but shares the water from your display. This is a great way to connect the nutrients and stable parameters of your display tank while running your frag tank away from your main display fish and inverts.
The major problem you have with an integrated frag tank is because the tanks are connected, if you have a coral pest outbreak both tanks will get infested. This keeps you from being able to protect your frags and display tank in the event of an outbreak. This brings us to our last frag tank
The standalone frag tank is a self operating frag tank with it’s own filtration and equipment . The standalone frag tank biggest advantage is it is separate from your display tank. This allows you to keep your display tank from getting infected with coral pests if an outbreak occurs and allows you control the parameters in your frag tank separately.
The disadvantage with a standalone frag tank is they are the most expensive to setup and due to their smaller size, they are a harder to keep stable compared to the other frag tank types. The standalone frag tank is what most advanced reef eventually go to because it gives them so much flexibility and allows them to grow coral frags at scale.
A Quick Comparision
Now that we have identified that the standalone frag tank is the the go to for advanced reefers, lets look at several available on the market today.
The Nuvo Fusion 25 Lagoon I would consider the perfect frag tank. This tank from Nuvo has it all. At 12 inches in height it is the perfect size for a frag tank. The shallow height allows you to have high par with less powerful Reef LEDs and you can keep your flow dialed in much easier.
This Nuvo tank is along made of ultra clear class given you amazing clarity to show off your frags. The mighty jet DC pump is one of the best aquarium return pumps you can purchase for an all in one tank. The dual outlets are great to spread out your flow and the aquarium comes with a mesh lid to protect any high flying wrasses you may decide to house to control pests.
The only big downfall I see to this tank is the price. It’s worth the investment though.
When people come to me and ask how to build a frag tank for cheap, my first suggestion is to purchase a standard display tank during a chain pet store dollar per gallon sale. The best frag tank for when these tanks go on special is the 20 gallon long aquarium. This 30″ long tank has great dimensions to get your started. With it only being 12 inches in height, it is shallow enough to get proper PAR with most Reef LEDs. I recommend the Fiji Cube All in One Kit when using these tanks.
This kit will convert your cheap tank into a premium frag tank. This will allow you to place filtration in the back and hide all your equipment getting you clear view of your corals. I feel that all in one tanks work amazingly well for frag tanks and this retrofit kit is perfect. If you can find yourself a 33 gallon long aquarium, you can build out an even better frag tank. A 33 gallon long aquarium is 48 inches long, by 12 inches wide, by 12 inches high. The 20 gallon all-in-one kit will fit this 33 gallon tank giving you more space to work with.
The only downfall with this setup is that the pump that comes with it is not powerful. You will want to supplement flow with a wavemaker. The kit is also considered pricey to some.
Pros
Comes with Filter media box, pump, and return line
Easy to install
Works with cheap standard tanks at chain pet stores
Lifegard’s Crystal Aquarium is an ultra clear glass aquarium with the all in one compartments built in. It holds 24 gallons of water, which is plenty to get you started. It is a solid package with an attractive price point.
The main issue with this tank are the dimensions. At 24″ long x 15″ wide x 16″ inches high it’s on the higher end of height. This does give you space to house different light demand corals so this can be seen as a benefit. The pump is also designed for freshwater tanks, so it is not as powerful as it should be for a frag tank. Because it is a glass tank, it is not portable like an acrylic would be.
Modular Marine is a manufacturer that I have really enjoyed seeing come to its own over the years. They have had an eBay store for many years and have been well known for delivery high quality acrylic and 3d printed products over the years in the state of Texas and beyond. The recently started to make their own frag tanks which I’m excited to talk about.
This particular frag tank is unique to the others on this list in that the overflow is eternal. This means that it needs to be mated to a sump. If you are looking at running middle frag tanks, this can be a great build for you because you can plumb all your frag tanks into a single sump adding to extra stability into your system.
These frag tanks are more expensive than others on the list, but I really like the features they offer.
If you are looking for small frag tanks that you can take with you to a frag swap or event, then LuckReef’s Frag tanks are for you. These frag tanks come in multiple custom sizes with low depths. This makes it easy for you to get the right flow and easily setup for your show. Their prices are attractive for the sizes they sell. They only sell on eBay, but my personal experience with them have been amazing and they readily answer your messages and provide great customer support.
Pros
Good price point
Great dimensions
Acrylic – very portable for frag shows
Cons
Bare bones – no pump or media
Editor’s Pick
There are two clear winners in this list. The Nuvo Fusion Lagoon is an amazing starter frag tank if you have the budget for it. If you are going for a frag tank to take on frag swaps, LuckReefis the way to go.
If you are going the DIY route, the Fiji Cube kit is a great value to go with.
Conclusion
Frag tanks are a great way to get into coral propagation and trading with friends. At high scale you can make some good money selling corals locally. I hope this blog gets you off on the right foot. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Thanks for reading.
Air pumps are one of those pieces of equipment I’ve tested more times than I can count โ from whisper-quiet USB models to heavy-duty units running multiple sponge filters at once. After 25 years in this hobby, I’ve learned that noise, output consistency, and durability vary wildly between brands, and the wrong choice leads to a humming annoyance on your nightstand or a dead pump mid-cycle. In this guide I’m breaking down the models that have actually held up in my experience.
Are you struggling with finding a quiet aquarium air pump?
In this blog, we share the best aquarium air pumps, from small sized ones to ones meant for larger setups.
With over 25 years of experience in the aquarium hobby, Iโve assisted countless clients, hobbyists, and readers like you in finding quality equipment that works. Iโve personally tested these products in real world scenarios to determine the quietest and highest quality air pumps on the market.
For those of you in a hurry, let’s get to the top picks right away. First off, if you want the best quality and the quietest out there the Eheim Air is a clear choice. This is the quiet air pump on the market and the Eheim brand is well known for last forever. The best value would be the M series by Fluval. It’s as cheap as lesser brands and still has the Fluval name behind it. It’s also pretty powerful for its size. Lastly, the tetra whisper is the go to for budget air pump. It has good features for the price and very easy to find even in chain pet stores.
The Candidates – A Quick Overview
There are many types of Air Pumps available today, but what is the best out there? The following air pumps have been reviewed with durability, function, and quiet operation in mind. There were many air pumps that did not make the cut. There were several that we cut from this list because we have field experience with these. The ones that I dropped are too loud, very expensive, or not very reliable. Below are the air pumps I would recommend.
The Eheim Air Pumps are without a doubt the quietest aquarium air pumps you can buy on the market today. They are powerful, quiet, and well-made. After all, Eheim is well known for producing excellent aquarium equipment for the hobby. The other great thing about this air pump is the diffuser that it comes with is pretty good. This eliminates the guesswork of having to buy an air stone. They also give you a check valve in the box. It is a well-engineered and well-thought-out package.
It is a plug-in-only air pump. This means if you want an air pump with backup abilities you will need need to shop for another unit. You could also buy a separate battery-powered air pump. The Eheim pump is on the pricey side among the plug-in air pumps on the list.
The Fluval Q Series Air Pumps offer an entry-level price with the brand name we love in Fluval. Fluval, as they have always done, backs up their equipment with a generous 2-year warranty on this air pump model. For a brand name air pump, it has a get price point and should definitely be a consideration over cheaper Chinese-made units out there. It is a powerful unit with dual air outlets.
Due to the unit’s power, it does give off more noise than I would like. The sound level is more equal to lesser brand names. This is disappointing for a Fluval branded air pump. But given they are designed for larger tank capacities, it may be worth looking at if noise isn’t a concern for you. The price point for a brand name air pump is great.
The Tetra Whisper Air Pump is a staple in our industry. Tetra and their name brand Whisper have been what they are known for. The air pump is their major item in the Whisper lineup. The Tetra Whisper has a good balance of features. It is very cheap compared to the others on this list and it is quiet. It also doesn’t look that bad in your cabinet or hanging outside of your tank due to its unique shape. I guess you could say there is a bit of a cool feature with its not boxy look.
It is cheap and gets the job done. If you are looking for value, the Tetra Whisper is for you!
The Tetra AP Series Air Pumps are pumps designed for larger tanks. This is Tetra’s best product in the Aquarium trade. It is super quiet for how powerful it is. It is not as quiet as the Ehiem air pump. But, it is close and operates at much larger aquarium capacities — up to 300 gallons in fact. Even with its large operating capacity, it still retails at a great price. To top it all off, Tetra backs this air pump with a limited lifetime guarantee. What isn’t there to like here?
The only grip I have with this air pump is it only comes with a single airline outlet for the AP 150 outlet. That is fixed with a proper Gang Valve.
Pros
Quiet for a large air pump
Value Priced
Limited lifetime guarantee
Cons
AP 150 only has one airline hose outlet
5. Cobalt Rescue – Great Unit With Back-up Capability
The Cobalt Aquatics Rescue Air Pumps is our first pump on the list with backup capability. It comes with an internal battery that can power the air pump for 24 hours in the event of a power outage. Add to the fact that it can be plugged in, this unit afters a primary air pump with power outage backup. It has a good amount of power output and should suit a medium-sized fish tank.
Given that it is a unit that offers a battery backup function, it is on the pricier side. It has also been reported as loud compared to some of the more quiet models that we will be looking at later. If noise isn’t that much of a concern for you and you want a power backup option, this unit would be a great pick for you.
Pros
Backup capability with internal that lasts up to 24 hrs
Powerful out of the box – will suit most aquariums
Not as quiet as other models
Cons
Expensive
Louder than other models
6. Penn Plax Silent – A Quality Battery Powered Unit
The Penn Plex Silient Air B 11 is the perfect battery-powered air pump. It has a good amount of power, being able to handle tanks up to 29 gallons. The unit is powered by 2 D batteries that should give you a life of about 6-8 hours. The auto-on feature is a nice bonus as you can plug this into your outlet and it will monitor if a power outage occurs. If an outage occurs, the battery-powered unit will turn on.
This is great piece of mind if you go out of town or away from your aquarium and an outage occurs. I feel that every aquarium owner should have one of these units. They will save your livestock one day.
It is more expensive than other battery powered air pumps on the market. Yet, the generic and cheaper alternatives out there are not very reliable. This is a piece of equipment you pull out when your pet’s lives are in danger. I’d rather spend more for something I know that is going to work. Going for a cheap unit that may or may not work when it is most needed can be disastrous. This unit is not built for quiet. In fact, it is the loudest air pump on this list by far. But, that’s not it’s function. It exists to save your pets lives in the event of a power outage. This is an air pump you should buy today as part of your emergency planning.
Pros
Battery Powered
Good power – works for up to 29 gallons
Auto On Feature
Cons
More expensive than other battery powered air pumps
Loud
7. Deep Blue Professional Hurricane Category 5 – The Ultimate In Battery Powered Backup Units
Armed with a lead acid battery pack, this unit does not mess around with its battery backup capacity. It not only comes with a 4.0 Ah battery out of the box, it will also operate with 12 Ah. It is some great piece of mind to know you can work the unit with these larger batteries if needed. Note that if you use a 12 Ah battery you will not be able to house the battery in the unit. It is a powerful air pump that is designed for mid-size aquarium. With dual airline outlets, this unit can serve as your primary air pump as well as your backup. This has everything you want in a good air pump.
You get what you pay for with this unit. It is the most expensive air pump on the list and its larger size will produce more noise than the Eheim. If you have a mid-size tank and want to protect your investment out of the box, this is the unit to buy.
Pros
Battery backup that will run for days not hours!
Powerful
Dual airline outlets
Cons
Expensive
Louder than others on the list
What Are They?
Aquarium air pumps are a piece of equipment that delivers oxygen to your aquarium. Air pumps are external devices. They need to be placed outside of your aquarium, which means they are not waterproof. The air they generate is delivered through airline tubing. You can use accessories like air stones and bubble decorations.
Air stones can distribute oxygen while bubble decorations add interest to your aquarium. They work in both freshwater and saltwater tanks. For saltwater, they tend to be used with wood stones in applications such as Protein Skimmers. Since saltwater fish tanks need to have more current than freshwater fish tanks, a wave maker is a better fit for them.
The mechanics of an aquarium air pump are actually pretty simple (image source). You have a magnet, which is the tan-colored part above that turns on and of. As the magnet turns on and off, the lever on the bottom left of the photo moves up and down. This movement from the level pumps the rubber part in the middle called the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the part that takes in air and pushes it out to the airline tubing.
Do I Need It?
The main reason to get an aquarium air pump would be to provide oxygen in the tank. The most common application for an aquarium air pump is with fish that need rich oxygen. Discus (due to higher temperatures) or Goldfish (Due to their size) are two examples. They are also great to use if you want to connect them to a Sponge Filteror Air Pump Powered Protein Skimmers.
Pumps versus Wavemakers
I do get this question a lot. Why should I get an aquarium air pump over a wavemaker? Aquarium Wavemakers are great solutions for water movement and aeration. Yet, they are not for every aquarium setup. In freshwater tanks, there are certain setups where an air pump is more appropriate. For example, fish like African Cichlids need current. Other fish like Goldfishand Betta Fish, want calmer waters. With an aquarium air pump, you can have oxygen-rich water without having a current that is too strong for fish.
Types
There are three types of air pumps in general. They are:
Plug-in
Battery Powered
Battery Backup
Plug-In
This is going to be the more common air pump you come across. They plug into your outlet and run all day. Super simple and for the most part very reliable. They do not have an on and off switch and are meant to run 24-7. You can if you want to control their operation if you have a controllable power outlet.
Battery Powered
These air pumps operate off batteries. They are smaller air pumps and come in handy in the event of a power outage. The batteries tend to last a good while – usually around 8 hours. All battery-powered air pumps are unfortunately very loud. It’s simply not their main design to be quiet. They are designed to be used in a pinch. They are not designed to be your primary air pump in your aquarium. I would recommend that you have a battery-powered air pump on hand for emergencies. They will save your fish tank one day.
Battery Backup
This air pump is a combination of the two previous types of air pumps. They plug into your outlet and have a bay to place backup batteries in the unit. When the power goes out, the battery backup will kick in to keep your fish tank oxygenated. Lack of oxygen is one of the major reasons for a tank crash during a power outage. A high-end unit will likely save your aquarium one day from a power outage. They are priceless units.
Accessories – Getting the Essentials
So we have got through all the best aquarium air pumps available to buy today. Before you go get your air pump, let’s talk about all the essential accessories. You will want to look into these before setting everything up. They are:
Airline Tubing
Air Check Valve
Air Control Valve
Airstone/Bubblers
Airline Connector
Gang Valve
Airline Tubing
These connect your air pump to your air stone, bubble, or sponge filter The tubing transfers the airflow to your fish tank. They are very cheap to obtain and just about any you purchase will be very reliable. I would recommend Penn Plax’s Airline Tubing or Lee’s brand if shopping locally. All you do is measure and cut to length and you are good to go.
Airline Check Valve
An Airline Check Valve is an accessory that will prevent your airline tubes from siphoning water out of your aquarium. This can occur in the event of a power outage or equipment failure. They are a must for any air pump application.
Control Valve
An Air Control Valve is an accessory that allows you to have more precise control over your Air Pump’s output. They work by turning the valve to reduce or increase the airflow. For control valves, I prefer the ones made by Fluval.
Stones and Bubblers
An air stone or aquarium bubbler helps better distribute the oxygen into your aquarium. Without either, the airline connected to your air pump will generate big bubbles. These large bubbles can be loud and disruptive to your water line. In a freshwater fish tank, we prefer a smooth distribution of bubbles.
The finer the better as this provides more rich oxygen into the aquarium. Air stones are the standard that most of us in the hobby are used to and provide fine bubbles. Bubblers are more expensive than air stones and take it a step up producing a fine mist of bubbles. Air stones are cheap and get the job done, but if you want the best, go with a bubbler.
Airline Connectors
Airline Connectorsare plastic pieces that allow you to split your airline in two or to connect your airline at 90-degree angles. They come in handy when you have a lot of airlines that you need to work with. Airline tubes can get bent reducing the output of your pump. The connectors will create a good directional change for you preventing the issue.
Gang Valve
A gang valve is an air pump accessory that will split your airline output into multiple lines. It also has the added benefit of being able to control the airflow of each line. It’s a combination of an air control valve and airline connectors. I would recommend Penn Plax’s Gang Valve if you are looking to get one.
How to Reduce the Noise From Your Unit
A common question I get from readers is how do I reduce the noise from my air pump. Of all the features and models I listed on this best of the post, the primary concern with an air pump is noise. The unfortunate truth is that all air pumps make a sound. There are two things we can work on here when it comes to noise:
Quality of sound
Reducing sound
The quality or the type of sound that your air pump produces is a major factor. A lower-quality air pump will rattle and bump while the higher-quality brands like Eheims will hum along. An air pump that hum along tends to not annoy people, even if they are louder than the ones that rattle.
Reducing the sound itself is the next thing we can work on. We can do the following to further reduce the noise produced by our air pump:
Raise the depth of our airstones
Moving the air pump to a different location
Fill any unused airline outlets
Raise the Depth of Your Stones
For smaller pumps, they will work harder the deeper your air stones are placed in the tank. You can solve this by moving the air stones up or considering purchasing a larger air pump that can operate at those depths without having to work hard.
Move It To A Different Location
Air pump location is a very important factor. If they are leaning on something, they can create more vibrations that can create more noise. Even the surface it sits on could create a problem. If the surface is an issue, you can consider moving it or placing the air pump on a Neoprene Mat.
If you have an Aquarium Cabinet with doors, placing the air pump inside the cabinet can muffle the noise. Keep in mind that many budget built aquarium cabinets are made of particle board. A particle board and an air pump are a bad combination. Consider a neoprene mat to migrate the noise if you are using such a cabinet. Oak cabinets fare a lot better at noise absorption.
Fill Any Unused Airline Outlets
Some of the air pumps we have featured in this post have multiple airline outlets. This is great for having the ability to use multiple airlines out of the box, but can also create a problem if you do not utilize them. Unused airline outlets will be noisy as the air pump will push air to these outlets even if unused. To reduce the noise, one way would be to plug in airline tubing to the unused outlet. It will generate less noise than if the outlet was left open.
FAQS
Can A Unit Be Too Strong For A Fish Tank?
Yes, an air pump can be too strong for a fish tank. If they are oversized, they can disrupt the water surface too much causing stress on your livestock. It’s best to either buy a smaller air pump or split the outlets so they can be spread out to other parts of the tank.
Should I Turn It Off At Night?
No. It’s not necessary to turn off your air pump at night. However, you can if you wish to disconnect it if your air pump is not connected to your filtration system, like a sponge filter
Do Fish Like Stones and Bubblers?
Yes, but not because they actually like the way it looks. Air stones distribute air more calmly than just your airline and the added oxygen benefits your fish. So in that way, fish do like air stones in their tank.
Do I Need One If I Have A Filter?
You typically will not need an air pump if you have a capable filter. However, there are certain fish where added oxygen would benefit them like Discus fish. Air pumps also become more important if a tank is overcrowded because oxygen starts to become scarce.
Conclusion
We went through quiet a lot today. We learned about how air pumps work. What different models are available for purchase. We looked at accessories for our air pump. We then provided a few pro tips to make your pump as quiet as possible.
The fact of the matter is air pumps do generate noise. There is no way around that. But, we want to reduce that noise as much as possible. We want a quality air pump that produces a sound that will not annoy us. An air pump should produce a smooth sound versus a banging or clanging sound. If you have any questions below, please leave them in the comments. Thanks for reading.
๐ง Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Aquarium Equipment & Gear Guide โ your ultimate resource for filters, heaters, lights, pumps, tanks, and more.
Following up our Best Aquarium Wavemakers Review post, it would be natural for me to write about the best aquarium return pumps next. Return pumps are an essential component for many fish tanks. They are used in all-in-one tanks, water changing stations, and in aquariums sumps or refugium sumps. It is the heart of the aquarium and thus the very piece of equipment in your setup that you do not want to fail. You can argue that next to an Aquarium Heater, a failed return pump can be disastrous not only for your livestock, but to your home in the event of a flood or leak.
The goal with this post is not to point you to the cheapest aquarium return pumps or the most expensive ones. I’m going to point you to the highest quality and reliable pumps available today on the market. This is a component of your system that you should not skim on. You want an aquarium return pump to last forever, be quiet, and to be relevantly maintenance free.
What Is An Aquarium Return Pump?
The first question you may be asking is why do I have to use a return pump versus say a wavemaker or powerhead. The main difference here is that return pumps are designed to pump water uphill and are made to handle head pressure. Wavemakers are meant to pump water within the aquarium and a powerhead is not suited to handle the head pressure that a return pump is design to take.ย
AC vs. DC Return Pumps
Return pump manufacturers have been really pushing DC return pumps a lot recently. It makes a lot of sense given the control features that DC pumps offer. Nearly all DC return pumps are controllable with precision and have feed modes to instantly shut off the water pump when feeding your fish, plants, or corals. Some return pump come with smart phone apps that makes monitoring and setup a breeze. They are also a lot more energy efficient.
However, they come with some big advantages. Reliability is the number one concern I would have with a return pump. You see, a large number of DC return pumps are made in China and the same manufacturer often makes several re-branded pumps (e.g. – Jabeos). Sometimes the quality control simply isn’t there. Other times, the warranties are very short because the manufacturers are well aware of the issues — especially if they operate in saltwater aquariums. A DC controller with have 3 failure points that you will need to deal with:
The controller
The power supply
The motor
The motor will be the most reliable part of your DC return pump and the controller will be the least reliable. Often times when I see a DC return pump failure, it will usually be the controller.
AC pumps are a tried and true in this industry. The benchmark of this engineering comes from Italy. Italian engineers had developed the Askoll Motor Block.
Askolls motor blocks are known for their extreme reliability in the aquarium trade with many motor blocks easily lasting over 10 years. The manufactures will also back up their models with long-term warranties, typically at least 3 years or more! The motor block is the only failure point to be concerned with on an AC aquarium return pump. As you can see, they are very worry free!
AC pumps also come with some big disadvantages over DC pumps. Several are not adjustable aside from the flow rate reducer, which means the pump will always run at full power and the decreased flow rate results in head pressure (e.g. – more wear and tear). Nearly all will not have a feed feature and the energy consumption is a lot more. Several AC pumps are also loud, which is a big consideration if you are working with a setup in a study or bedroom.
Internal Versus External
An internal return pump can only be run submerged in water.
An external return pump is made to operate solely outside of the water. They can handle pushing water over long distances due to their designs. Nearly any return meant to work externally only is going to be extremely reliable. Not having the pump inside the water, especially not in saltwater increases the reliability of a return pump immensely. Many of these pumps will operate for years without maintenance. They will also offer the higher flow rate. They are commercial sized external water pumps that can handle flow rates for large displays, ponds, and fish stores.
The main drawbacks with external return pumps are that they are large, loud, and expensive. An external return pump is best operated for people who have basement sumps or fish rooms where water needs to travel long distances.
Our Criteria
Having criteria to rate these pumps are important. Here is what we looked at
Warranty – A quality brand is backed with a long warranty. 1 year or less on the warranty is suspect in our mind
Gallons Per Hour (GPH) – The GPH output of these pumps are very important and even more so if they operate will under longer distances
Noise – A funny thing about DC pumps is they can be noiser than AC pumps because of the DC “whine”
Price – While great pumps can be expensive, they aren’t for everyone. I want to find good pumps for every budget.
Top of List
Below is the list of recommended aquarium return pumps. They range between AC & DC pumps and external and submersible. All will have uses in your aquarium.
I have gotten comments from readers and folks I know that I am an anti DC pump hobbyist. There is one DC return pump that completely closes the door on the anti DC pump view I have. It is the Sicce Syncra SDCreturn pump. Without a doubt, this is the best DC pump you can purchase hands down on the market. Nothing comes close to it. It is a version of the legendary Syncra AC pumps now in DC form.
This is a well engineered DC pump that is built in Italy. Sicce continues to stick with its high quality manufacturing and R&D process that has earned its reputation for long lasting pumps. This is the only DC pump I have seen that is backed by a 5 year warranty. There is only one other that I know that exceeds this warranty — and those pumps are nearly 3 times the price of the SDC!
Not only do you go the great reliability of Sicce, but the controller is excellent. It runs of a mobile app. It runs off wifi, so this is a completely mobile app unlike the Current USA bluetooth accessories that require you to have a device nearby. You can run the app on your phone and it will alert you if the pump goes offline. For a piece of equipment as critical as a return pump, that is big time piece of mind.It has the same closed pump feature that the EcoTech pumps have as well.
This is the DC pump to buy if you want a DC pump. Unfortunately, it comes with a high price tag. It should last you a lifetime like all Sicce pumps — something that nearly all DC pump manufacturers these days cannot say with confidence. The Sicce Syncra SDC is now my pump of choice for all premium builds. See Full Review.
Pros
Sicce name and quality – made in Italy not in China!
5 year warranty on a DC Pump!
Fully controllable via mobile app
Cons
Expensive
2. Sicce Syndra – Quiet & Reliable Unit That Lasts A Lifetime
The Sicce Syndra aquarium return pump is the first pump I recommend to clients when building an aquarium. Their final selection will vary depending on their budget and their desire for control on their return pump, but the Sicce is also the benchmark I start with. I always start with a Sicce pump because they have the best engineering, best reliability, and best warranties in the industry.
I didn’t even mention how quiet they are. They are insanely quiet. Many DC pumps are louder than these in comparison. It’s all due to their 35+ years of Italian engineering and care in manufacturing. The pump is equipped with a synchronous motor and advanced rotor which cuts down on the noise significantly.
Sicce tops off all these features with a gold standard best in industry 5 year warranty. No maker unless you spending way more in the DC category (looking at you Abyzz) offers a warranty like this. There is absolute confidence from Sicce that this pump will serve you for a lifetime. I have seen many of these pumps in tanks run smoothly for years.
Sicce’s reliable and engineer are well earned and as a result, these pumps are on the pricey side. However, knowing that the return pump is the heart of an aquarium system I see no problem in spending a little more for a pump that will offer me a lifetime of worry free operation.
The Jabeo DCP Sine Wave return pump is the first Jabeo return pump that I am comfortable putting under a recommended list. Everyone is always asking me if Jabeos are worth buying and in the past I was 100% against them because of reliability issues. This particular model however, has my interest because of the Sine Wave technology that makes them crazy quiet. Sine Wave removes that annoying humming noise so common with your average DC pump.
It’s frankly annoying to the ear to hear it throughout the day. I know some clients who hate that DC hum so much that they end up going with a Sicce AC pump instead because they can’t stand it! The Sine Wave tech on this pump puts out about 25% less noise then the previous Jabeo generation (the DCS).
This pump features a controller than can adjust the pump from 30% to 100% power and comes with a feed mode that will shut off the pump for 10 minutes. Perfect for coral feeding or hand feeding shy inhabitants in your tank. This pump is also compatible with Jabeo’s battery backup (the IceCap battery backup will also work) solution giving you hours of operation in the event of a power outage.
The DCP Sine Wave is also the one variant of Jabeo that you will not see clones for. There are a lot and I mean A LOT of Jabeo clones and even American sellers who rebrand Jabeo pumps like Simplicity, but the Sine Wave tech is exclusive to the Jabeo brand so if you are going to use a Chinese made DC pump that is not a major brand, this is the one to look at.
Now let’s talk about issues with this pump. In my own personal experience, the controller is the Achilles heal of this unit. It is fairly common to have a unit shipped with a faulty controller and it will generally fail right away. I’m not sure why they fail so much, but make absolutely certain that you purchase this pump from a seller who can ship you a replacement fast and with no added cost if you have to return it (like Amazon).
Once you have a working controller, these units last a decent amount of time. They haven’t been out for too long, but I do know of several installs with these going two years now and still working like new. Given the price of these units, that’s pretty good if you are working with a budget.
Pros
Cheap!
Sine Wave tech = more silent than many DC Pumps
Lots of output options available
Cons
Controller reliability
4. Current USA EFlux – Affordable DC Power and Reliability
Current USA starts off our list with a very competent Eflux DC Pump offering. This water pump is well made with a controller that can adjust the flow rate from 1% to 100% using a dial. It has the advantage of hooking integrating with the Eflux Wavemakers and Loop LEDs for a complete package. It is a compact for the power it brings and I really like the rubber feet that come with it so you don’t have to worry about placing a silicon mat underneath it.
Current USA’s customer service has also been in my experience excellent and one of the reasons I go with them for many system components.
The main thing I don’t like about this DC return pump is the lack of a true feed mode. There isn’t even an option to do a feed mode out of the box. You get a feed mode when it’s linked to the Loop Led manifold or the Bluetooth accessory, but the feed mode is a 30% dial down mode not complete shut off. This makes it disappointing if you want a button for a feed mode, but since I tend to hook systems up with switch boards or a controller it is a non issue for me.
I would say this is the weakest offering of the Loop trio though, with the EFlux wavemakers being the strongest product offer of theirs.
The Fluval Sea SP series return pumps are a throw back to the reliable Askoll motor design. Italian engineered and backed by a benchmark 3 year warranty, the Fluval Sea offeres reliable, powerful, and quiet operation. Yes, that is right, these Fluval Sea have been reported to be quieter than old generation Jabeo DC pumps. They can also be run internally or externally. It is a great all around pump.
My main nitpick with this water pump is there is no flow rate regulator out of the box. In order to tune down this pump, you are required to use a gate valve in your plumbing. While a gate valve is recommended in any sump design, this can be an added expense and time cost for some who is looking to save on design costs. These are all power hungry and large pumps so don’t expect energy savings from them.
Pros
Askoll Motor & Italian engineering
Lots of GPH sizes for an AC pump
Runs internal or external
Cons
Water pump does not have a flow rate regulator out of the box
Large compared to DC pumps
High wattage consumption
6. EcoTech Vectra – High End DC Unit With Smart Phone App Features
The EcoTech Vectra is loaded with lots of smart features like auto calibration which will adjust itself automatically to the overflow drain of your tank. It is compatible with the EcoTech battery backup system, which can power the water pump for a couple of days. It can work with the ReefLink app giving you full access to your operations on your computer.
My favorite offering is the closed mode. I am a big fan of doing closed loop systems – especially for smaller tanks where you can eliminate a wavemaker and have more room for your corals and fish. The closed loop options offer wavemaking features like gyre and reef crest random modes giving you the random flow rate you need for a reef tank.
As with all EcoTech products, this is an expensive DC return pump. I’m not too upset about the price though. It’s the warranty that really bugs me. EcoTech only backs this up with a 1 year warranty, which is a big shame for a return pump that is supposed to be the heart of the aquarium.
The Eheim Hobby Pump is an extremely reliable aquarium return pump that has been around for many years in the hobby. I know a number of hobbyists who use this water pump with many still running after over 15 years of usage. The reliability of these pumps are virtually unmatched. They only come in smaller gallon per hour outputs, but for the what they are capable of, they are great additions to a system.
Unfortunately, as of this post, they are becoming more and more difficult to find as the manufacturer is phasing them out for a more mainstream and cheaper pump. If you can find these pumps for sale, they are worth every penny for their reliability.
The Eheim CompactON aquarium return pumps are the newest generation of pumps from Eheim. These pumps are the successor of Eheim’s popular Compact+ series pumps. What you get here is a compact fit that fits in tight sumps and all in one aquariums with the reliability of the the Eheim name. The ceramic bearing construction makes for a silent water pump. There is an easy to access adjustment dial near the outlet to adjust the flow rate. It comes with accessories so you can either do a hard or soft plumbing install.
Like many Eheim products, these pumps are on the pricer side of AC return pumps, but you are getting a more reliable water pump spending more.
Pros
Eheim Name
Has accessories for soft and hard plumbing installs
Small footprint
Cons
Expensive
Hard to find
9. Iwaki External – Japanese Quality with Long-Term Reliability
The Iwaki Magdrive Pumpsare the first external aquarium pump on this list. Iwaki is a very well known brand in the aquarium and pond industry due to their reliability and performance. The main difference between these aquariums and internal return pumps is the head pressure they can handle. They can work across longer distances making them perfect for basement sump and fish room installs.
External pumps come with a number of drawbacks. They are big and loud and can only be installed externally. They are not ideal for below the cabinet installs due to this and really are best for separate room installs. They are expensive, but one of these will last a lifetime and well worth the money if you have a specialized install.
Pros
High quality build and motor
Handles a lot of headpressure (great for basement sumps/fishrooms)
The MightyJet DC Pump by Innovative is the perfect aquarium return pump to upgrade to if you are looking for a DC powered pump in your all in one aquarium. They come in either 326 GPH or 538 GPH sizes, with both models being small enough to fit in the return chamber of your all in one.
It has many of the features you would expect with a DC pump drawing little power, having a feed mode, and being fully adjustable. The 326 GPH model uses only 15 watts at 100% so in a backup situation it can be dialed down and can operate for a long-term with a UPS or battery backup system.
Because this is a name brand DC pump, they are expensive given the output. There is also no sound dampening features like silicone or rubber feet like you get with the Current USA and other name brand DC offerings. It is a great water pump that works for all in one tanks and should also be a consideration for those if you running nano reef tanks with sumps.
Pros
Small enough to fit in all in one aquarium chambers
Good GPH output given size
Fully adjustable
Cons
Expensive compared to similar AC powered pumps
No sound dampening feet
11. Panworld External – The Choice for Basement Sumps
Panworld External Pumps offer a very reliable return pump for a reason price. I see many basement sumps and fish rooms run these pumps for years. They are pretty common place in the reefing community with their great price point and reliability.
Panworld’s price point comes from their 26 years of pump manufacturing experience, using Japanese pump technology and having manufacturing based in Taiwan.
As with any external pump, they are best for applications where you are moving water to an outside location like a basement or a fishroom. They are too big and bulky to be placed underneath cabinets and they are loud. They are amazing to use in water changing stations and various other external applications.
Pros
Cheap for an external return pump
Sturdy and reliable
Cons
Big and bulky
Loud
Only works externally
12. ReeFlo – Lots of Power for External Applications
Did I mention that external return pumps are loud? Well, the Reeflo External Return Pumps kick that concern to the curb. Don’t believe me? Just check out this field test video below and hear it yourself:
Pretty quiet isn’t it? Not only are they quiet, but they are very powerful. The entry level dart models produce a flow rate of 2600 GPH and their gold models can easily push out 5500+ GPH!. These are the pumps for you monster keepers or those with big fish rooms with lots of water to move.
These pumps are built in the USA and small business owned. The motors are fully rebuild-able meaning that you are can ensure that these pumps will operate for a lifetime. All the pumps come with multiple year warranties for worry free operation and purchase.
They are expensive external pumps, but if I was looking for an external water pump for my fish room or basement and silence is a huge priority – this would be the pump I would be looking at.
Pros
Very powerful flow rate (high GPH)
More silent than other external return pumps
Rebuild-able motors
Cons
Expensive
Big and bulky
13. Reef Octopus VarioS – Quality Marine Brand DC Unit
The Reef Octopus VarioS return pump offers a fully controllable DC pump. This pump is controller ready, being able to connect with controllers like the Neptune Apex and is meant for aquarists looking for high end equipment.
The controller is pretty comprehensive on it’s own offering a 15 or 16 minute feed mode and several speed settings.
The reef octopus is an expensive return pump, but those looking for a controller ready water pump won’t be disappointed by its performance. It is considered one of the best values for high end name brand DC pumps in the hobby. Reef octopus has a great brand name in our hobby.
Pros
Aquarium controller ready
Very comprehensive controller
Cons
Expensive
Only a 2 year warranty
Our Recommendations
If you have been reading our other articles, you may be aware of our Sicce bias, but there are options available for every type of build from the list presented above. Below are category recommendations:
Best External Pump – Panworld(Budget) or Reeflo (Premium)
How Many GPH Should My Unit Be?
When selecting a return pump, it is very important to know how many gallons per hour you need and how much water is going to be pushed distance wise. As the distance increases, there is loss on the flow called headloss. Here is a link to a headloss calculator so you can do a best estimate. I would recommend that you slightly oversize your return pump and use the pump’s control features or a gate value to reduce the flow rate to get it to the proper gallons per hour that you need. You may also decided to run additional equipment using a PVC manifold so oversizing would have it’s advantages if you go that route.
Closing Thoughts
Return pumps in my early years of building aquariums with sumps was a very nerve wracking experience. There are many out there and figuring out what the proper gallons per hour that you need and making head loss calculations just made you nervous if you purchased a pump that was too small or too big. DC pumps have really taken out the guess work with their ability to adjust power with the controller and not worry about added stress to the pump over time by having an over-sized and highly restricted return pump.
AC pumps are still extremely valuable with their reliability and performance. If you take your time research the output that you need and get an appropriate gate valve you are set for worry free successor with an AC pump.
I hope this guide helped you in making your decision. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment and I will do the best I can to address them. Thanks for reading!
๐ง Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Aquarium Equipment & Gear Guide โ your ultimate resource for filters, heaters, lights, pumps, tanks, and more.
Reef LED lighting is one of the most important โ and most confusing โ equipment decisions you’ll make. The wrong fixture wastes money and stunts coral growth; the right one can keep SPS thriving for years. I’ve run a 125-gallon reef and evaluated a lot of fixtures over the years, so I have a clear sense of what separates good reef LEDs from the overhyped ones. Here are my top picks across different price points.
Are you struggling trying to find a quality lighting system for your reef tank?
In this blog, we share the best products for reef tank lighting, from LED Lighting systems to hybrid systems. I will also include PAR ratings as I have them available.
With over 25 years of experience in the aquarium hobby, Iโve assisted countless clients, hobbyists, and readers like you in overcoming their lighting issues with their corals (and believe me, it’s complicated navigating this just relying on what manufacturers tell you). Iโve personally tested these products in real world scenarios, installed several of these systems in client tanks and my own to determine the best LED lighting for reef tanks on the market.
There are a lot of light choices that fit multiple budgets and needs, but you may be wondering what I would suggest off the bat. Since, reefer needs differ, we have the following recommendations based on the criteria below:
The list below contains the best LED lights for reef tanks available for purchase today and the ones we considered in our review. The lights listed here cover all types of reef tank setups as well as all budgets.
The best reef LED on the market. The first fully complete LED unit that actually will work with SPS tanks. Complete with APEX integration and diffusors
A manufacturer finally address all the issues and hang ups I’ve ever had about LEDs in reef tanks. The new Neptune Sky reminds me of the feeling I got when I first saw the SICCE Syndra SDC, the best aquarium return pump I’ve seen. Like DC pumps, LED lights have major drawbacks that manufacturers are unwilling to talk about. The main issue is shadowing when it comes to SPS tanks.
Previous manufacturers tried to get around this by amping up the PAR in their lights, using various lenses, and working through the spectrum issues. It wasn’t until EcoTech released their G4 units that you had a competent LED that you could be comfortable with SPS tanks.
The Neptune Sky takes it a step further though. EcoTech’s Radion G5 held this top spot for a few years. I would recommend that light to anyone who was very serious about growing corals like a pro. I can say that the Neptune Sky has upended EcoTech’s Radion as the best reef LEDs on the market. Let’s look at some features that Neptune lays out. They are very aware of the past limitations of Reef LEDs.
The video from Neptune openly admits the looming problem LEDs have how for years. Deep down, metal halides and T5s have been the gold standard for spectrum and coral growth for years. Nothing, not even the highest quality LEDs could do what this combo did for SPS corals.
LEDs by their very nature are focused lights, which are not ideal for SPS corals. It creates shadowing and hotspots. The Sky changes all of this. It is an attempt to mimic how the sun interacts with the ocean. You get 104 LEDs in the unit with an integrated diffusor. For the life of me, I could not understand why for so many years LED manufacturers didn’t put in a diffusor while planted LED systems like Twinstar did (because plants naturally shadow!).
This is also the first unit I’ve seen that can handle more than a 24″ footprint. The Sky can handle up to 36″ per unit, making this effectively cheaper than the EcoTech for 3 and 6 foot long reef tanks. Say bye to the disco effect from lower quality lights and shadowing from other fixtures. This is a complete light for the serious coral enthustiast.
The Sky, if you can afford it, is the ultimate reef light. If you are on a lower budget, there are other options that can accommodate you. It’s also best for mixed and SPS coral reefs. If you are looking to grow low light corals, it’s probably overkill unless you desire designer soft corals like bounce mushrooms and fancy zoas.
Best For: SPS and high end reefs
Pros
A complete LED light for SPS tanks
Neptune APEX integration
Covers 36″ per light
Cons
Expensive
Not beginner friendly to setup
2. Current USA Orbit Marine IC Pros – Comprehensive Unit With Controller Package
The Current USA Orbit Marine IC Pros are newly improved with a mobile app and bluetooth compatibility. This light comes with its very own app that can power not only the aquarium LED system itself, but can control the Orbit Marine EFlux Wavemaker and EFlux Return Pump for a completely integrated package. I feel that these IC Pros have its best value with their 36″ and 72″ model as it represents a VERY attractive purchase for those of us with 3 and 6 foot long mixed reef tanks.
The Current USA Orbit Marine controller itself runs off a mobile app and is pretty easy to use and program. It comes with a ramp up and ramp down feature that is is a standard 2 hour ramp up and ramp down. You can adjust the daytime, sunset, and night settings so your reef tank can adjust it’s lighting accordingly as the day goes on. Check out this sneak peak video from current on how it works.
When paired with the Eflux Wavemaker, you can you can adjust the flow and use the gyre settings when using 2 wavemakers and even use a feed feature that will shut off the pumps when feeding. There are other features of the aquarium led light like a lighting and cloudy weather feature, but I feel they are more for the cool factor than function.
The lights themselves are moderately powerful, which makes them idiot proof for beginner reefers as Orbit Marine publishes PAR output information on their website for easy reference and tuning. This makes the Current USA Orbit Marine one of the best user friendly led lights on the market. You can see the PAR ratings below. This makes them perfect for softie, LPS, and easy to care for SPS corals.
The final great point for the Current USA Orbit Marine is the mount. The led aquarium light can be rim mounted for a very clean and modern look. Most lights that cover this long of a tank have to be hung on a ceiling or mounted on the tank with brackets which both have downfalls (some people don’t want to put holes in their ceiling and the bracket mount can look ugly).
The cons I have this unit is that you will need to purchase the Current USA Orbit Marine Heavyweight mount if you have a larger glass rimmed tank like a 125 gallon tank as the standard rim mount will only work for rimless a marine aquarium. Now that the Pro model is available with the bluetooth package, it is a greater value than it was in the past!
As you can see from the photo above, this unit is perfected suited for a mixed reef tank. This system has great value for those looking at 3 and 6 foot tanks. The Current USA Orbit Marine IC Pros are best for mixed reefs up to mixed reefs with starter SPS corals.
For Mixed Tanks with some SPS (starter SPS only)
Pros
Great value – especially for larger tanks
Love the integration of the controller to their wavemakers and return pump
Can be rim mounted giving a very clean and modern look
PAR output readily available from Current USA Orbit Marine
Cons
Not suited for heavy SPS tanks
The lights themselves are easy to crack since they are so lightweight
Heavyweight mount rim accessory for larger tanks can be a little pricey
3. Viparspectra – Budget Unit With a Quality Black Box
The Viparspectra LED Aquarium Light is your traditional “Chinese Black Box”, but they have a more reliable name brand and recognition in the industry. What I like about these lights is that there are a lot of success stories using these lights in mixed reefs and SPS tanks. The main reason why they can work in SPS tanks is the how powerful they are.
The PAR output of these led lights is in the Radion territory. So you are getting a cheap light with the power behind that with proven field cases where they have grown high end and more difficult to keep corals. The price for this led light are hard to beat!
The price comes at a cost though. The LED light is very bare bones as it only has a timer built in and a dimmer to tone down the intensity. There is no ramp up or ramp down and there is no mobile app that powers this. They are traditionally bulky units , like all black boxes, so they do not look pretty when hung and really are best hidden in a canopy vs. a rimless marine aquarium setup. For those of you concerned with the electronics rating, the competiting Mars Aqua unit is UL rated. I just prefer the Viparspectra.
A note for those of you running heavy SPS tanks. These units are best modified by removing the lenses to reduce the hot spots, reduce the disco effect, and spreading out the PAR distribution. Here is a video showing how to perform such a function. The video is a Mars Aqua light, but the operation is still the same.
It pains me to drop the Radion to a #4 spot, since there is a reason why big time coral sellers like World Wide Corals and major pro reefers use the EcoTech Radion G5s to light their reef tanks. Two reasons why – full spectrum controllability and power.
The EcoTech Radion controllability is second to none in the industry. The Radions led lights are powered by a cloud-based command center known as EcoSmart Live that runs off a web browser. The software updates the lighting system automatically and there are various lighting modes available from many hobbyists.
The Reeflink that is separately available allows you to connect your Radions via smartphone vs. through the standard USB functionality that the unit comes with. The spectrum of the lights can be changed, the intensity can be adjusted, the lighting schedule can be modified. It’s really unlimited flexibility with these units.
The Radions can be mounted with various options including rail mounted or our favorite, rim mounted. A diffuser kit is can also be purchased separately in order to reduce PAR and eliminate hot spots and mitigate shadowing.
Power is what it is all about with these units. They are VERY powerful and can easily burn corals when running at 100%. As a result, a lot of tuning is required and recommended with a PAR meter, but this unit is made for hardcore reef junkies so the intensity makes sense.
The biggest con with this unit is the price. They are the most expensive led lights on this unit as well as the most feature rich. They are not plug and play and require tuning to get correct. For more information – see our full review.
Best For: High End Mixed Reefs, SPS Dominant (with diffuser and hybrid solutions), Commercial Use
Pros
Nearly unlimited customization
Powerful lights – can handle hardcore light intensive corals
Industry standard among commercial coral growers
Cons
Very expensive
Not plug and play – requires tuning though not as much as the G4
5. Hipargergo Aqua Knight – Incredible Value and a Great Choice for Smaller Tanks
If you are building a nano reef or similar under 40 gallon reef tank, the Hipargergo Aqua Knight is a strong consideration for the light of choice. It is a very affordable light, being the least expensive unit on this list, but also very powerful and competent to be used in most mixed reef setups.
It is a small aquarium light with a small light spread, making this a perfect light for nano reef tanks under 40 gallons. What I really love about this led light is the manufacturer completely backs up their lights with a 30 day money back guarantee and are happy to answer your questions 24-7. You really can’t go wrong with this light if you have a smaller reef tank. In fact, Inappropriate Reefer used this light in his 10 gallon nano reef build.
The main drawback of this aquarium light is its size. This is a very affordable led light, but it serves only nano reef tanks. The touch sensitivity can be annoying because they don’t always read correctly when you touch them. It’s so bad sometimes you have to pray that the light is reading your touches.
Finally, while it does come with a rim mount, the mount itself can be too long for some nano reef setups. Overall though, this is the choice if you are building a nano reef and well below name brand offerings like the AI Prime HD and Kessil A80.
For Nano Setups
Pros
Cheap price
Powerful for their size and “idiot proof” to use
Adjustable 2 channel light system
Cons
Small light spread, best for nano reefs
Touch sensitive controls can be a bit finicky
Mount is too long for some nano tanks and doesn’t adjust
6. Hydra Series – A Cheaper Radion With Lots of Customization
For those of you interested in a EcoTech Radion, but are slightly out of budget for one, the Hydra Series LED Lights by sister Company AquaIllumination are a light to look at.
The big advantage over the Radion is that all Hydra series lights do not need a controller. They function of a wonderful smartphone app. The app for this led light has incredible customization, allowing you to modifying your spectrum settings, manage up to 30 lights at once, and set up timers. There is even a coral accumulation setting that allows you to introduce new corals safely into your system. All of this on a smartphone that you can use anywhere in the world and at no additional cost!
The Hydra series comes in both the Hydra 32 and Hydra 64 models that will satisfy the vast majority of reefer’s need. AI makes a number of different led light mount options with a rail kit, rim mount kits, and even a flex arm solution so you can work with what they have to pull off the look that you want.
They even come in white or black. For those with smaller aquariums like nano tanks, the AI Prime HD offers similar functionality. In 2020, a new Hydra 64 model debuted with more features, more power, but at a higher price.
So what are the drawbacks of this led light? Well, even though it’s cheaper than the Radions, they are still on the expensive side for many reefers. PAR wise, they aren’t as powerful as Radions and will definitely need a hybrid solution for heavy SPS as a diffuser kit is not available. The Hydra led light will serve the vast majority of reefers well alone though and are well worth the money.
For Mixed Corals
Pros
Included mobile app is easily the best on this list with great customization
AI makes various light mounts that fit your needs and looks
Many purchase options available for your tank setup even for nano reefs
Cons
Still on the expensive for many reefers
No diffuser kit for heavy SPS tanks – you should go hybrids for heavy SPS
Kessil is very well known in the industry with high quality lights best suited for mixed reefs that are about as plug and play as you get. Kessil’s next gen A360X is an upgrade of the original A360offering 25% more light output with a 30% smaller package. Kessil’s design on this led aquarium light have already been pretty bulletproof and nothing like other units you have seen.
This Kessil led aquarium light is sealed. I have witnessed old A360s accidentally getting dropped in water and still working like nothing happened!. Kessil’s roots go further back than just reef lighting. They are a professional company started by a biologist, computer scientist, and physicist. The parent Company is Dicon Fiberoptics. The Company has been specializing in elite quality lighting for over 30 years and they have a quality manufacturing and QA process.
While Kessil does sell a spectrum controller, the default spectrum that Kessil supplies you with has been heavily researched by their R&D department. You shouldn’t need to adjust it as Kessil really goes out there to make sure you have everything you need to succeed with their led aquarium light out of the box. The intensity and spectrum can be adjusted on board with the knobs on top of the unit. In addition to the A360X, Kessil offers a similar built A80that is ideal for nano reef tanks.
My main gripes with this next gen model is the price. I was expecting these new models to be around the same price as the old A360 led aquarium light, but they are still at a premium price that venture into Hydra territory. This puts them it out of reach for some reefers.
The PAR output still isn’t that high, but that has always been Kessil’s thing as they design these led lights for mixed reefs and know that heavy SPS tanks need a hybrid system with LEDs. You still need a spectral controller to adjust your spectrum and a mobile app would have been nice.
However, at the end of the day this is a Kessil branded led aquarium light. Kessil’s construction and commitment to quality is top notch. Their reputation speaks for itself.
For Mixed Corals
Pros
Bullet proof design – these units can take a beating!
Top of the line spectrum colors
Still idiot proof like the last gen, no need to adjust like other high end units
Cons
The next gen model is more expensive than the old 360s
The Kessil AP9X is Kessil’s top of the line led aquarium light. It still offers the idiot proof plug and play out of the box functionality like other Kessil units, but in a larger comprehensive light that is ideal for 36″ x 24″ for SPS tanks and 48″ x 24″ for mixed reefs.
This light addresses my biggest gripes with all Kessil aquarium led light systems, the lack of a fully functional mobile app. The AP9X comes with a mobile app that has all the features that you want. It has a manual mode, program mode, a coral accumulation mode, lunar cycle, weather effects and more!
The main drawback of this aquarium led light is the price. While a single unit can serve a 48″ long mixed reef well, it still is a pretty expensive led lighting system. It also is not as compact as the Kessil 360Xs and the PAR performance is mildly powered like most Kessils (since they are all designed to run without adjustments out of the box).
For Mixed Corals
Pros
Plug and play idiot proof pro level light
Great mobile app included with full customization
Multiple mount options including a rim mount
Cons
Expensive
Not compact
Not as powerful PAR wise as the Radions
9. MicMol Aqua Air Smart System – A Cheaper Aquamaxx Prism
Some of you may have heard of the AquaMaxx Prism LED lights. Well, the dirty secret is MicMol is the original creator of the led and AquaMaxx private labels these lights from them. The MicMol Aqua Air Smart LED Reef System is a plug and play aquarium LED designed for Softy and LPS tanks. These are an upgrade to the original Aquamaxx Neolights, which was reviewed by Reefbuilders with PAR figures showing ideal PAR for softies and LPS.
This new generation led lighting system is about 30% more powerful than the Nemolight. This puts the light in the sweet spot of most LPS corals so for LPS dominated tanks this is an ideal light that is ready to go without any adjustments. The MicMol lights are more popular over in Europe versus the US.
They just don’t spend a lot of time marketing their lights, but it’s a very affordable light with highly quality chips and leds. This particular model has no fan which will make them extra quiet over fanned models. Since the light is not super powerful, the built in heat sinks are adequate for the light.
This led lighting system comes with it’s own controller that comes with a variety of settings like a clock, timer, and channel special effects. That’s a lot of features for this price range and very welcomed for these plug and play models.
The main drawback with these lights is they are not very powerful so they are best for LPS and softy tanks. It’s a great light nonetheless.
With the release of the new Kessil 360X led lighting system, the price range has gone out of the window for some. In fact, there has been a big gap in the market for a pendant light that has reliability, a brand name, while having the PAR output to handle a high demand system or hybrid setup.
Reefers didn’t have many options. They could try a AI Prime, but the PAR wasn’t strong enough to work in a hybrid setup. This meant you had to look at Kessils and other expensive lights like EcoTech. Where was the value option here?
Enter the Current USA R24. This special pendant light finally answers our questions for a cheaper light that has the PAR to be a serious option in a hybrid system. The PAR output below are higher than the AI Prime with nearly the same watts.
While the mobile app is not at the same level as the AI Prime, the Current app is capable and easy to use. It’s designed to be dummy proof and accessible for all levels. The industrial design is actually really favorable for newbies.
Ever drop an LED in your aquarium water? If you have, it can be a disaster to have your pedant get completely destroyed by taking that accidental dip. In the past, only the Kessil’s industrial design was able to survive a dip in water. Now, the R24 has the same durability. Having a cheaper pendant light that can survive a drop is peace of mind, especially if you are prone to having butter fingers!
That added durability comes with a price. It not as pretty as an AI prime mounted with a goose neck mount. These units are built to last. Current has been working with a lot of public aquariums designing fixtures that are built to last. Units that are built to last may not have the fanciest look – which I’m reminded of when I see fixtures like the Kessil.
The other thing that bothers me is the fan. I don’t really like fans myself on LEDs, but it is a sacrifice you make when you are dealing with higher output and more durable LEDs. The fan is actually pretty silent. Your protein skimmer and return pump will likely make more noise than this fan. I feel it’s a livable sacrifice to have a unit as durable as this.
So if you are looking for that mid-market pendant unit that won’t break your bank that you can use on your nano reef tank, mixed reef, or hybrid setup look no further!
For Mixed Corals
Pros
Competitive price
Better PAR output than the Prime
Mobile App
Can survive being dropped in water!
Cons
Has a Fan (Thought it’s super silent)
Bulky
11. Aquatic Life T5/LED Hybrid Mounting System – The System of Choice for Stickheads
You have seen all these LED systems, but for those reefers with heavy SPS, the major issue with LED aquarium systems is spread and shadowing. A hybrid system like the Aquatic Life T5/LED Hybrid Mounting System is the best solution to go with when it comes to making a fully distributed lighting system for stick heads.
This unit comes with a T5 system that holds 4 T5s in total. The middle section of the unit is to mount the LEDs. The unit comes with a pendant mount that will work on the original Kessil 360 and a universal mount bracket that will work for EcoTech Radions, AI Hydras, and even the Current R24s. Aquatic life even sells a cabinet mount if you do not want to mount the unit to the ceiling.
The main drawback for this unit is that you have to purchase the T5s and the LED units separately. It would have been nice if there were bundles available to purchase, but with all the MAP polices of all these brand names, it makes sense that Aquatic Life cannot offer a bundled system. I also wish they made this unit as 72″ model for us 6 foot long tank reefers. You have to purchase two 36″ units for a 6 foot long tank which is a bummer.
Other than that, this is the unit of choice for stickheads who want the electricity saving and control-ability advantages that LEDs provide without the shadowing issues.
This used to be my favorite reef light to sell. In fact, I used to sell them to LFSs across the country because I was easier to contact then the manufacturer ๐ . Unfortunately, the manufacturer was shut down during the COVID pandemic and as a result they are out of business with no future production in site. I’ll keep this review up so others know what’s going on because it is hard to find information on the Company and I rank for their keywords.
The Ocean Revive T247-B is a black box in value, but not in looks. Far cheaper than the EcoTech Radions and AI Hydra, this unit can compete with the Hydras in power and what it can grow as evidenced as being the light of choice of Pacific East Aquaculture, a Maryland licensed coral aquaculture facility providing high end corals to reefkeepers since 2000.
Knowing that facilities and even some LFS (to save money but they will still try to sell you Radions and Hydras ^_^) use these units says a lot about them. They have the power to grow all types of corals from soft corals and anemones to Acroporas and the unit comes in a sturdy package that does not look cheap.
Ocean Revives are also one of the few units on this list that actually get cheaper the more units you buy. Because of how the manufacturer prices their stock, they grant sellers like us the ability to give bulk discounts to reefers so if you are looking to purchase 2 or 3 units you can save even more money!
The Ocean Revive, however, is a no frill LED light system. It has no ramp up or ramp down features. Like most black boxes, there is not a readily available rim mount. There is no spectrum adjustment, but the unit has a full spectrum led layout that does not need to be adjusted. Either a ceiling mount or ugly looking bracket mount are your standard choices.
All the functions of the unit are on board with the light itself as there is no separate controller or mobile app to run. Its functionality is really much like the old T5s fixtures from back in the day, but the light is a very powerful and functional unit that will server reefers well and save you lots of money over the brand names.
For Mixed Corals
Pros
A pro level light at a very reasonable price – better value with multiple units
Very powerful and great spectrum
Does not look cheap like other black boxes
Cons
No ramp up/ramp down features
No rim mount
No mobile app to control unit or spectrum customization
No longer available ๐ฅ
Benefits of LED Lighting for Reef Tanks
Before we go through the various reef LED lighting systems, let’s talk about why LEDs have gotten so popular with reef tanks. In the past, reef tanks were run with VHOs or T5s that were equipped with manual timers. They provided great even spread of light with no shadowing, but they did not produce a lot of light intensity (PAR). Then came metal halides which produced a lot of light intensity and you have hybrid halide and T5 systems.
These systems provided a great environment for all reef tanks, but consumed a ton of power and kept tanks hot sometimes to the point of requiring fans or a chiller to keep the temperatures down.
LED came out with an promise to decrease the energy cost for a reef tank. They are far more energy efficient than metal halides and T5s. They also have unique drivers that allow them to be customizable. Many aquarium LED fixtures will have electronic timers built in that will turn on and turn off the light for you. They will have dimmable features and will ramp up and ramp down simulating morning and night time effects. Others will even run on your smartphone via an app!
Are They Safe to Use?
One of the main advantages in safety that reef LED lighting systems have is are the construction. LED lights are not made of metal filaments or gas that halides are made of.
Since manufacturers have been embracing LED lights in reef tanks, you are starting to see additional safety features. Some marine aquarium LED light fixtures are splash proof or even water proof. A good example are Kessil LED light systems, which have been know to survive falling into the tank and not electrocuting the tank or shorting out.
It Can Be Compact
The compactness of several reef LED lighting systems is the very reason they are the ideal choice for nano reef and smaller tanks. Many reef aquarium LED lighting systems are made in “pucks” which means the unit is far more compact than traditional T5s. They are also lightweight, which means many can be mounted on the rim of the marine aquarium creating a very clean and modern look on rimless tanks where a canopy can be left out.
FAQs
How many watts do I need for a coral setup?
How many watts of LED lighting you need will depend on the size of your marine aquarium and type of corals you will be keeping. Most LED systems are actually overpowered PAR wise for many corals. It’s mostly about footprint. The vast majority of systems will power a 24 x 24 footprint. Measure your PAR in the tank for best results.
Can you grow coral with these units?
Yes, you can grow coral with LED lighting. Many pro growers and aquaculture suppliers are now using LED systems to grow out corals. This is due to the cost savings due to lower energy costs.
What visible spectrum is best for corals?
Blue and violet have been proven to be the best light spectrum for corals. Many of these lights in this review roundup have the correct spectrum to grow corals. Ensuring that the manufacturer you select has done the proper R&D and field results are available from other hobbyist will instill confidence in your purchase.
What is a good schedule for a reef tank?
For a reef tank, I would recommend 8-10 hours on your lighting schedule to start. You can adjust from there as you get a feel for your tank. Systems with ramp up and ramp down features can be turned on longer since the intensity will very over the course of the day.
What Do You Feel Are the Top Systems for These Tanks?
I hope after this article you are able to make an informed decision on what aquarium LED lighting system works best for the reef tank you are planning. The major brand lights are all very high quality, built to last, and all have ideal spectrum to grow lights. The cheaper lights we have provided in this post will definitely grow corals and have high quality spectrum, just not as functional as the name brand lights. Please let us know in the comments your thoughts about what lights have worked for you. Happy shopping :).
๐ง Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Aquarium Equipment & Gear Guide โ your ultimate resource for filters, heaters, lights, pumps, tanks, and more.
Choosing between a hang-on overflow box and a drilled tank is one of the first real decisions you make when setting up a sump-based system โ and it’s one I’ve thought about carefully on my own setups. A drilled tank is always my preference for reliability, but hang-on boxes have gotten significantly better and are a legitimate option when drilling isn’t possible. Here’s how to think through the choice and which products I’d actually recommend.
For anyone who has a reef tank or freshwater tank where one is considering a cleaner setup, an overflow box is a major consideration. An overflow box is an entry point to setting up a sump. It filters out surface scum off the top of your aquarium and a properly installed overflow is a clean addition to your aquarium.
There are many overflow boxes out in the market, so what is the best overflow box? In today’s post I will go over the types of overflow boxes, hang-on versus drilled overflow boxes, the best hang on overflow box and drilled overflow boxes, and how to install an overflow on your aquarium. I hope at the end of the article you will become more informed and less scared about installing an overflow to create a primer aquarium equipment system.
Types of Overflow Boxes
There are generally three types of overflow boxes:
Internal Hang-On Overflow Boxes
Internal Built-In Overflow Boxes
External Overflow Boxes
Internal hang-on overflow boxes are the simplest to install, but have the greatest risk of failure in your aquarium. The failure usually will occur with the loss siphon due to failure of the tubes, pump, or a power outage. They are usually the most affordable of the three and can be a good choice for those who do not want to drill their tank. The failure points of a hang-on overflow can be mitigated by building a larger sump.
Internal built-in overflow boxes are what you will usually see with Reef Ready Systems like a Red Sea Reefer. They are integrated with the tank and usually are built with a Durso style system, which can operate with only one hole but do not have the silent features of a Bean Animal Overflow. It is possible to get a custom aquarium with a bean animal internal built-in overflow, but you will typically pay a lot more then going with an internal hang-on overflow or drilling your tank and getting an external overflow box.
An external overflow box offer the most feature rich option on the market currently. You can easily find external overflow boxes with a bean animal setup and there are several models now that offer a slim overflow design, which leaves a very small footprint inside the aquarium. The main downfalls with an external overflow is that you cannot have a flush aquarium to the wall since the box will stick out, and you will have to drill your tank (or pay someone to drill your tank – more on that later in this post).
The 3 Best Hang-On Overflow Box (2023 Reviews)
While my recommendation would be to purchase an external overflow or consider a reef ready tank, there are many people reading this post who may not have this option. Below would be my recommendations for a hang-on overflow box:
In a hurry? I recommend the CPR Overflow Box as a hang on option!
CPR is brand name that longtime reefers know. They are a small private company that has been around for ages pioneering one of the first successful hang-on protein skimmers on the market, the CPR Bakpak. Their overflow is another very successful product. This external overflow box is a step up to the Eshopps overflow box as it includes failure prevention options such as installing an aqua lifter pump.
The water level on the CPR Overflow Box can be adjusted on this overflow box allow you to modify the water level in your tank and it comes with a generous 1″ bulkhead with a pre-filter that can be used to prevent any clog from large inverts like snails. I highly recommend purchasing the aqua lifter pump for a full proof setup!
Pros
Failure prevention features
Adjustable water level
Cons
Internal part of the box is clear instead of black
We are going to talk about the Eshopps PF-800 for this review. This overflow box is made for aquariums 75-125 gallons in size. The black part of the overflow (the part that you can see in the tank) only measures 8″ x 2 1/4″ leaving a small footprint in the tank. It only has one siphon tube, but that tube measures 1.25″. It includes a pre-filter, which you can remove or keep on to prevent snails like clogging the pipe. It has nylon nuts so you can easily fasten to your tank. A lot of us who got started with sump filtration started with one of these and it has been unchanged for many years.
The Blue Ocean Overflow Box represents a value for overflow boxes. It doesn’t have the name recognition like Eshopps or CPR has, but it does offer similar features to the CPR as long as you purchase the optional power head. The drain is a ample 1″ bulkhead with a strainer equipped, which means you don’t need to add a pre-filter to the box.
Pros
Cheap!
Strainer feature which means no prefilter needed
Cons
Requires a power head vs. an air pump to prevent loss siphon
Clear overflow box
The Top 3 (2021 Reviews)
I have provided a number of recommended overflow boxes above for those not considering drilling a tank. For those who are considering drilling a tank, there are a few one external overflow boxes I go to.
The Fiji Cube Overflow Box is the ideal design for an overflow box. The design has the overflow box lower so the water level in the overflow box can be adjusted to be super quiet. They are also offered in more sizes than the Eclipses with the smaller models being a Durso design, while the larger models offering a true bean animal design.
Not only is the Fiji Cube overflow box have a superior design to the Eclipse, but it is also cheaper! Designed and made in Minnesota, Fiji Cube has been known for developing high quality tanks and sumps. This overflow box is another high quality product and worth a look if you want a slim overflow box.
One word of caution with the Fiji is that the template is made for a rimless tank. For a rimmed tank, you will need to place the template INSIDE the tank and drill where the water line marker is ABOVE the plastic rim. This will result in the box being mounted inbetween the rim on some smaller tank installs. On small installs Iโve done, this required me to make my own gasket (1/4โ or 1/2โ depending on the install) to make the box fit even.
Pros
Superior design and cheap for a slim overflow box!
Takes up very little space inside the aquarium
Kit comes complete with drill template, hole saw, and emergency drain piping
Cons
You will need to drill the tank (or pay someone to do it)
More advanced setup knowledge required over hang-on overflows
Template is for rimless tanks
2. Eshopps Eclipse Slim – Bean Animal Unit at an Affordable Price!
The Eshopps Eclipse slim overflow boxes represent a great entry level into a bean animal setup. What makes a bean animal such a special overflow setup is that it covers multiple points of failure. The largest model has three drains, which will provide a complete full proof overflow design. The smaller models include two drains, but even that would be considered a pretty full proof setup.
The other great feature about the the Eclipse overflow box is the slim external design. It takes up a very small footprint in the aquarium that won’t get in the way of aquascaping your tank. Finally, it comes with everything you need. It comes with the drill template, the hole saw, and even an emergency drain pipe ready to install!
The main gripe with this overflow design is the box design itself. The slim overflow stands too high compared to the overflow box drain. This leads to a noisier overflow box than designed. Fortunately, our next overflow box on the list solves this issue!
Pros
Full proof design
Slim overflow takes up little space inside the aquarium
Kit comes complete with drill template, hole saw, and emergency drain piping
Cons
You will need to drill the tank (or pay someone to do it)
More advanced setup knowledge required over hang-on overflows
The overflow box can be too high compared to the drain box which makes it louder than it should be if you oversize the box
The new Prodigy External Overflow Box is an adjustment breakthrough in overflow technology. When overflows first came out, they covered an entire section of an aquarium, cutting out valuable aquascaping space. Then we had the traditional overflow box, which left an ugly block in the middle of your tank. Then we move to the slim overflow, which is what the Eclipse and Fiji Cube represent.
This new overflow box is the next generation of overflows. The overflow piece that goes to your display tank is only 8mm thick! That’s less than 1/3 of an inch. You can now get a bean animal overflow installed in your aquarium and have all the room for your aquascaping. I’m super excited the potential this product brings to our aquariums.
It also allows you to adjust the overflow gate, giving you an easy option to adjust your box’s water flow level without having to reach into your sump and turn a gate value.
So what’s the catch here? The first is the price. It one of the most expensive overflow boxes you can purchase and I’m also not feeling in the color. Orange is just weird to me and I would have preferred a neutral color like a black. It’s also brand new, so it is bound to have some issues from the onset.
Give it a couple of years though and every manufacturer will be jumping to replicate this overflow – and also lower the price in the process ?.
Pros
Slimmest overflow available
Bean Animal design
Adjustable overflow gate
Cons
Expensive
The overflow box can be too high compared to the drain box which makes it louder than it should be if you oversize the box
Prepping for a Hang On Sump Setup
If you have decided to get a hang-on overflow, the next setup is prepping for a sump setup. Let’s talk about the considerations you need to take into account:
How will I hang my return piping – assuming I don’t want to drill
What size sump should I get?
What return pump should I get?
How will I hang my return piping – assuming I don’t want to drill
Assuming you want to go with a complete drill free setup, you will want to get a U-Tuber directional return to get water to enter your display tank in an orderly fashion. This U-Tube by ThePetStop will get you going and will support either 3/4″ or 1″ tubing and is very easy to install. It comes in black so it should blend in well with black backgrounds.
Another very important consideration. Again, since we are considering a budget build with a hang-on overflow the go to would be a cheap aquarium from a dollar per gallon size off Petco. Get the longest and largest tank you can fit in your cabinet. For a 4 foot 120 gallon tank, this would be a 40 gallon breeder and for a 6 foot 125 gallon tank, this would be a 55 gallon tank. Keep your water level low, about 7-9 inches, in the sump and the remaining space can be used as overflow protection in the event that the overflow or return pump fails.
What Return Pump Should I Get?
For a budget build, I would just add in an Italian made AC return pump like a Fluval SP. These pumps are made with the legendary Askoll pump and are backed by a 3 year warranty. Don’t go with a DC Pump for a budget build as you will likely be shopping for cheap Chinese made pumps, which can be disastrous if they fail and you lack the budget to replace. Other options would include a Sicce Syncra or a Aquaeon Quietflow for smaller tanks. See our Best Aquarium Return Pumps post for more pumps that we reviewed.
Prepping for an External Sump Setup
If you have decided to get an external overflow box, the next setup is prepping to drill the tank and setting it up. Let’s talk about the considerations you need to take into account:
How will I drill the tank? DIY or Paying Someone?
What size sump should I get?
What return pump should I get?
How will I Drill The Tank? DIY Or Paying Someone?
The major reason why most people do not go with external overflows is they are scared to drill a tank. It’s actually pretty easy to do as long as you have the right equipment and setup the time to do it. Here is what you will need if you decided to drill the tank yourself:
Hole saws
Drilling Template
Drill Stand
Corded Drill
Plumbers Putty
How to Drill A Fish Tank
Before you decide to drill a tank, make sure that the aquarium glass you are drilling is not made of tempered glass. It is a pretty reasonable assumption that if you are drilling on the back of the tank that you don’t have to worry about this as the vast majority of manufacturers will not make the back of the glass tempered glass. However, the sides or the bottom are usually made of tempered glass so check with the manufacturer if you are planning to drill on the side or bottom.
The good thing is if you are following this review guide and selected the Eshopps overflow box, you already have a hole saw and drill template. You may need a hole saw for your return piping, which I have linked here so you can purchase. You will want a hole saw to drill a 3/4″ return if you use 1″ drain piping.
One of the optional pieces of equipment is a Drill Stand. A drill stand is excellent to use because it will steady your hand and allow you to go slowly while drilling the hole. Make sure you remove the spring when drilling an aquarium.
I would recommend a corded drill instead of a cordless drill for drilling an aquarium. The reason why is that drilling a tank does take time and it is likely that you will need to stop to replace the battery mid-way. A corded drill is more powerful, easier to use for this application, will drill a cleaner hole safely, and will get the job done quicker than a cordless drill. I prefer to use a DeWalt Corded Drill for drilling aquariums.
Plumbers putty and water is the last items you will need. You want to have water in the area you are drilling to lubricate and cool the drill as you go. Use the plumber’s putty to create a circle to hold the water as you drill.
Finally I have included a video to help from Melev’s Reef. He is a seasoned expert and uses a cordless drill. I still recommend going with a drill stand at minimum if you are doing this for the first time.
Paying Someone to Drill Your Tank
If all of that scares you, you can always offer to pay someone to drill your tank. A number of local aquarist Facebook groups will have people who will happily drill your tank or you can ask your local aquarium club if there are any members who will drill tanks. Usually the fee is pretty minimal and some people will even do it for free! I would definitely check out a facebook group or your aquarium club before even considering paying a plumber or local fish store to drill your tank.
What Size Sump Should I Get?
As big as you can get. Since we are talking about a drilled tank setup, we venture into the realm of custom made sumps. There are several stock sumps out there that I would say are the best aquarium sumps you can buy that are manufactures. You can of course still go with a DIY baffle kitfor smaller tanks as well.
What Return Pump Should I Get?
Since we are talking about a higher end budget, I feel more comfortable recommending a DC Pump if you want the features that a DC Pump has. The best DC Pump that won’t break the bank and is not cheap Chinese junk are the Reef Octopus Varios DC Pumps. Other options on the AC side would include the Fluval SP, Sicce SDC, and Rossmont Pumps. Check out our best aquarium return pump post for more details on pump picks.
I have provided a good chuck of information and you may be wondering what my recommendation is. If you are going with a hang-on overflow box setup, I would recommend the CPR overflow box, an aqualift pump, and a Fluval SP or Syncra as your return pump.
If you are going with a drilled setup, you can’t go wrong with the Eshopps Eclipse overflow, but the Fiji Cube overflow box is a killer design and price. There are others out there, but they are far more expensive and the Eshopps Eclipse or Fiji Cube will serve the vast majority of aquarists. If you are going with a DC pump, it’s pretty much the Reef Octopus Pump or something far more expensive unless you are okay with purchasing multiple Jebeo pumps and having them ready on hand to replace as they tend to fail prematurely.
Closing Thoughts
I hope I have provided you a wealth of information to make an informed decision. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions. Thanks for reading!
๐ง Want to learn more? This article is part of our complete Aquarium Equipment & Gear Guide โ your ultimate resource for filters, heaters, lights, pumps, tanks, and more.
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