Long-term update! I sold this after 2 years when I broke down my tank. No problems to report - RF stuff can have connection issues but for whatever reason this never did. It ran fine with no problems and the roll change process was easy - I've made a video showing that process here ruclips.net/video/kxv8Rikr1bI/видео.htmlsi=hEruWSErpAoHN8zA Build quality-wise, it held up with nothing breaking. The end of roll notification is useful, but it's very inaccurate - when it said I have 7 days left, it was more like a 6 weeks! The roll lasted about 6 months on a 40 gallon tank in which I fed one cube of frozen per day. The water clarity was always very good on that tank and my average nitrates over the last year were 17.2. Nitrates did bottom out a couple of times but that was because of my refugium. Hard to say for sure, but I think this will have SOME preventative impact on nitrates, but if reducing nitrates is your goal, this isn't the best. But if you just want water clarity, with a small benefit to nitrates, this is great.
Thanks to you and this moment at 13:43 I picked Smart Roller over Reef Mat (small one) and it fit so well in my sump. The only downside is motor can be mounted only one way, which is the wrong side for me. Otherwise, smaller size with wider filter makes Smart Roller much better choice, even for the same money. Thanks!
Wow, that is tiny in comparison. Ive been considering some kind of roller mater for a while now and was intending on Reef Mat but I will definitely take a look at this before I make my mind up. Im a huge fan of Reef Factory in general and agree, the app is second to none. Excellent review!
I like the fact that it’s smaller. But when you put the price up, I was turned off a bit. Still might be interested in it but I don’t know why one of these manufacturers don’t sell these for much less. To me $300+ is a bit much for a couple of sheets of plastic and a motor. To be fair I don’t know what it takes to run a saltwater aquarium supply company. Im sure the fact that it’s app based makes it more expensive. Just seems like a $200 “piece of kit” as you would say. Thanks for the video.
I purchased the gen 3 clarisea SK500 yesterday, I haven't installed it yet but I was looking at the reef factory unit, due to it being the first generation I decided not to, although I did like the looks of the reefmat but it wouldn't fit within the section of my sump in which it needed to sit, so that ruled that one out.
Yeah my Clarisea was really bad for that. The slats on this are much bigger so it shouldn't clog as easily (although I've had it running less than a month so far) and it's dead easy to clean if it does get blocked, unlike the Clarisea.
How does the intake of the roller (which is usually an elbow but for your straight connector) fasten to the overall part? EDIT: I’m curious if you’re pulling this out of your sump for maintanence, where you’d disconnect the plumbing on it?
It's just a friction fit with a spot of silicone. Not sure if you can see but I installed 2 unions, one at the inlet and one at the bottom of the main downpipe.
@@ReefDorkXtra Thanks for the fast response! I’ve been giving it some thought. Would you maybe be willing to 3D print and sell me a straight fitting like the one you made for yourself? I’m looking at a slightly different sump logistic whereby the 90 degree bend may prove equally inconvenient
Just wondering, which filter has more silent motor, Smart Roller or Reef Mat? If there is any difference, is it noticeable? Looking for filter as silent as possible for living room. 😊
I really really want to get a reefmat 1200 but I've seen way too many posts, vids, reviews about the motor burning up along with replacements multiple times per year. It's scaring me away from them. This one looks to have a much bigger motor so hoping to see some 6 month and 1 year reviews
Sadly, despite numerous fleece filters are out there for their reference, Reef Factory still doesn't get it right on various aspects. The choice of screws are bad as rightly pointed out and the build worries me as it rattled in the video? The higher fixed water level requirement with a non adjustable sensor height at this price point is puzzling? I might be wrong but I foresee the dirty fleece removal process being a pain like the clarisea (which I am using) Media basket to run activated carbon/GFO seems nice but I can't think of other usage for it. Lest bio medias of that volume is sufficient for the intended tank's bioload? Somehow I feel the reefmat is of a better design/built (but too bulky for my liking)
The rattle was just the basket - it actually feels really solid. The sensor height is adjustable - you've got a good 2-3 inch range. The roll change process looks easier than the Clarisea but not as easy as the ReefMat to me.
😅 The ReefMat has the feel of a longer time in development and has some nice design features. But this is pretty much as good, cheaper and much smaller. So they're both good options. I'll see what the roll change process is like - it's dead easy on the ReefMat. Clarisea needs to catch up...
Red Sea has been coming out with some great stuff lately. You’re right though. My Reef Mat is huge. They didn’t compromise anywhere on the design I don’t think. Filter rollers are just plain worth it though. So much better than socks
Long-term update! I sold this after 2 years when I broke down my tank. No problems to report - RF stuff can have connection issues but for whatever reason this never did. It ran fine with no problems and the roll change process was easy - I've made a video showing that process here ruclips.net/video/kxv8Rikr1bI/видео.htmlsi=hEruWSErpAoHN8zA
Build quality-wise, it held up with nothing breaking. The end of roll notification is useful, but it's very inaccurate - when it said I have 7 days left, it was more like a 6 weeks! The roll lasted about 6 months on a 40 gallon tank in which I fed one cube of frozen per day. The water clarity was always very good on that tank and my average nitrates over the last year were 17.2. Nitrates did bottom out a couple of times but that was because of my refugium. Hard to say for sure, but I think this will have SOME preventative impact on nitrates, but if reducing nitrates is your goal, this isn't the best. But if you just want water clarity, with a small benefit to nitrates, this is great.
Thanks to you and this moment at 13:43 I picked Smart Roller over Reef Mat (small one) and it fit so well in my sump. The only downside is motor can be mounted only one way, which is the wrong side for me. Otherwise, smaller size with wider filter makes Smart Roller much better choice, even for the same money. Thanks!
Wow, that is tiny in comparison. Ive been considering some kind of roller mater for a while now and was intending on Reef Mat but I will definitely take a look at this before I make my mind up. Im a huge fan of Reef Factory in general and agree, the app is second to none.
Excellent review!
Great video, the size comparison was great, really helpful! New music throughout too
Great review! You brought up good points in relation to how to install the unit. 👌
I like the fact that it’s smaller. But when you put the price up, I was turned off a bit. Still might be interested in it but I don’t know why one of these manufacturers don’t sell these for much less. To me $300+ is a bit much for a couple of sheets of plastic and a motor. To be fair I don’t know what it takes to run a saltwater aquarium supply company. Im sure the fact that it’s app based makes it more expensive. Just seems like a $200 “piece of kit” as you would say. Thanks for the video.
Loved the demo of the cable length 😂 such a serious face
🤣
Hello like always your video’s are great. What would you chose between the clarisea or reef factory?
Reef Factory or Red Sea - the Clarisea gives me problems all the time.
@@ReefDorkXtra thank you for your opinion 👍🏻
I purchased the gen 3 clarisea SK500 yesterday, I haven't installed it yet but I was looking at the reef factory unit, due to it being the first generation I decided not to, although I did like the looks of the reefmat but it wouldn't fit within the section of my sump in which it needed to sit, so that ruled that one out.
Really attractive footprint. I bought the RedSea 500 for my 40g and it’s massive and forcing me to switch skimmers.
I need one of Those thanks for the video 👍
How well does it handle bits of grit or dove snails or little limpets as my current roll filter gets blocked by them.
Yeah my Clarisea was really bad for that. The slats on this are much bigger so it shouldn't clog as easily (although I've had it running less than a month so far) and it's dead easy to clean if it does get blocked, unlike the Clarisea.
How does the intake of the roller (which is usually an elbow but for your straight connector) fasten to the overall part? EDIT: I’m curious if you’re pulling this out of your sump for maintanence, where you’d disconnect the plumbing on it?
It's just a friction fit with a spot of silicone. Not sure if you can see but I installed 2 unions, one at the inlet and one at the bottom of the main downpipe.
@@ReefDorkXtra Thanks for the fast response! I’ve been giving it some thought. Would you maybe be willing to 3D print and sell me a straight fitting like the one you made for yourself? I’m looking at a slightly different sump logistic whereby the 90 degree bend may prove equally inconvenient
Just wondering, which filter has more silent motor, Smart Roller or Reef Mat? If there is any difference, is it noticeable? Looking for filter as silent as possible for living room. 😊
Smart Roller - the ReefMat is quite loud by comparison.
In the product manual it says the water level INSIDE the device should be on the water level line
I really really want to get a reefmat 1200 but I've seen way too many posts, vids, reviews about the motor burning up along with replacements multiple times per year. It's scaring me away from them.
This one looks to have a much bigger motor so hoping to see some 6 month and 1 year reviews
Interesting. If that's a concern for you, I'd go for the Clarisea as it's more tried and tested than the Reef Factory one
I'm very interested in this! When might it be available in the US?
Should be pretty soon - best bet is to ask on the Reef Factory family Facebook page.
Hopefully this isn’t too bad of a price in Canada.
What's the Yellow Tang model behind you?
Lego models I made
@@ReefDorkXtra nice. I have most of the tmc kits.
Sadly, despite numerous fleece filters are out there for their reference, Reef Factory still doesn't get it right on various aspects.
The choice of screws are bad as rightly pointed out and the build worries me as it rattled in the video? The higher fixed water level requirement with a non adjustable sensor height at this price point is puzzling?
I might be wrong but I foresee the dirty fleece removal process being a pain like the clarisea (which I am using)
Media basket to run activated carbon/GFO seems nice but I can't think of other usage for it. Lest bio medias of that volume is sufficient for the intended tank's bioload?
Somehow I feel the reefmat is of a better design/built (but too bulky for my liking)
The rattle was just the basket - it actually feels really solid. The sensor height is adjustable - you've got a good 2-3 inch range. The roll change process looks easier than the Clarisea but not as easy as the ReefMat to me.
@@ReefDorkXtra great to know. Will look forward to the removal of the used fleece. Hope it doesn't need some 'hammering' like the clarisea.
On a scale of 1 to ReefMat how good is this one? Lol!
😅 The ReefMat has the feel of a longer time in development and has some nice design features. But this is pretty much as good, cheaper and much smaller. So they're both good options. I'll see what the roll change process is like - it's dead easy on the ReefMat. Clarisea needs to catch up...
Red Sea has been coming out with some great stuff lately. You’re right though. My Reef Mat is huge. They didn’t compromise anywhere on the design I don’t think. Filter rollers are just plain worth it though. So much better than socks
Could you sell me a straight input like the one you 3D printed for yourself?
Yep. Go to reefdork.etsy.com and send me a message and we'll sort it 🙂
Update on those acros?😂
Erm... what acros?!
@ReefDorkXtra lol I commented on the wrong channel! Smh 🤣🤣
Just get a Red Sea much much simpler to install