On a tabletop were you have easy reach and good access. Aios aren't made of glass, but the place where the hose connects to the pump/rad suffers the most abuse during install. Just be careful not to let things like the pump dangle.
First, decide on push, pull, mount fans if needed to the rad. Then prep the mobo, put on the backplate and standoff screws for the pump. Then with the pc on its side, stick a chunk of cardboard over the mobo. Insert the rad, lay the pump on the cardboard, finish attaching the rad securely, then rearrange the pump as desired, without trying to twist or force the tubing. It's flexible, it'll move plenty. Peel off the plastic underneath and finish locking down the pump. Done. Some ppl go as far as removing the hdd bays etc for easier access, up to you. Wire it up, plug it in, go.
Be surprised at how many ppl skip the cardboard, end up either standing the pc up and trying to put the rad in while the pump weight is stressing the connection on the rad ends or banging around on the mobo.
I've said it a thousand times before. You can't over-cool a cpu. No such thing as a cooler that's too big. If I could, I'd cool that with a good 280mm/360mm cooler. It's the next best thing to passive cooling, there's so much potential in those big rads that the fans barely need to spin. Dead silent for your purposes. Figure the smaller the cooler, the faster the fans will spin to get the same results.
If it's easier, think of it this way. Little Honda with a 4cyl engine, 4 overweight grown men inside, going up a very steep mountain road. That poor little motor will be screaming trying to get up that mountain. Same 4 guys in a full sized Ford dually with a 8cyl Cummins turbo diesel. Same mountain, barely need step on the gas pedal.