Comparing filter rollers- your reviews wanted!

NubNub1 · Aug 31, 2020

Hello

I would just like to add about the claresea sk-5000. The unit work as it should to start with now it is pulling more stuff out of my tank water as the tank matures it keeps getting stuck and the motor does not have enough power to advance the fleese and it goes drum tight. I have to keep unjaming it and you at get a day out of it before it get stuck again. I know I'm not the only person with this issue as I'm talking to others with the same problem. So I would be careful when choosing this as a option if your pulling out a lot of fish waste and algea you may get the same problem. Have contacted them they say about a screw in the motor but this is not the issue for me and after this they don't answer your emails. So just a word of warning don't know if the bubble Magnus has the same problem.

Shirak · Aug 31, 2020

I had some issues with the small plastic rods at the bottom that appear to rotate as the fleece is pulled through. I was stirring up the sand and very tiny specks of grit would get in there and it would get harder and harder for the motor to advance the roll. Eventually it would get so hard to pull, the filter material would stretch and narrow and water would go past the sides. I had to take my unit out and pull it apart to clean it.

Worked perfectly after that. I am guessing that it might just need to be pulled apart a few times a year just to keep those little rods rotating freely.

NubNub1 · Sep 1, 2020

No it's not the issue the rods they are clear i have taken it apart and cleaned. It's the amount of algae and fish waste the filter fleece has in it combined with being further into to roll of fleece(not only person with problem). After you un-jam it the new fleece goes through as it should. It has only become a issue as the amount of algae has increased.

Shirak · Sep 1, 2020

Hmm Not sure I understand where it is jammed. My filter material is pretty dark so it's collecting fine stuff. I also see bits of larger material wound up in the roll.

Have you tried pulling the material through by grabbing below the motor to see how easily it goes through the filter? It should move pretty easily.

NubNub1 · Sep 1, 2020

It's the filter material that gets stuck. What I mean by this is like you say I grab the material below the motor and it is taught, I have to pull it to un-jam it then it works as it should. The new clean material goes through with no issiues after this but then it gets dirty again works for a day then the same thing happens. I have to push it below the motor again to get it moving then the motor will wind it ok. I'm speaking to someone with the exact same issue, they have to keep cutting the old fleece off and reattach about 3 to 4 times for each roll of fleece. As it's ok to start with then starts happerning when more old fleece is on the motor roller.
It's doing my head in and would love to work out what wrong but I've cleaned it taken it apart and can't work out why is ok when it's clean filter material but dirty gets stuck.

Shirak · Sep 1, 2020

hmm yes seems odd. That was the exact problem I had when the two little rods were not turning with the material down at the bottom but it did it with clean and dirty filter material. I have heard that water flow can play an issue. If you have high flow it puts pressure on the filter material against the white plastic pieces as it clogs. Have you tried lowering the float switch so that it will trigger sooner and do you have that little gate open at the bottom or all the way closed?

NubNub1 · Sep 1, 2020

I have the gate fully closed and really want it fully closed. How would I lower the float switch. I was also thinking of turning the slots in the pipe to the side to see if this made a differences. It just why is it so tight and then ok once I get it moving again as water level is similar once unjamed.

Shirak · Sep 1, 2020

My thought was maybe as the filter material is clogging there is more pressure on it as water tries to go through the holes in the white plates. Do you have a rough idea how much water you have flowing through it? If you know anyone else with similar problem maybe see how their flow rates compare? Not sure if lowering the float would help but could get some plastic to make a bracket similar to the original that would set it lower in the unit. Might be worth a try to see what happens.

I would also pull it apart completely and clean everything and reassemble. Double check that the two small rods in the bottom spin freely before putting new filter material in and restarting.

Are you using the branded filter material or another?

NubNub1 · Sep 2, 2020

The flow rate is about 1500 litres and hour, and I'm using the branded xl matrial. I take it apart again this weekend and try to make a new braket see what happerns.

Shirak · Sep 2, 2020

NubNub1 said:
The flow rate is about 1500 litres and hour, and I'm using the branded xl matrial. I take it apart again this weekend and try to make a new braket see what happerns.

Well that doesn't sound like too much flow pressing on the filter.

I still think there is a problem with the two small rods getting bound up and not turning freely. It doesn't take very long if you have very fine grit from sand bed getting stirred up frequently.

You mentioned the slots in the tube. Which way are they turned now?

NubNub1 · Sep 2, 2020

They are facing down was going to try up. I think your right about the rollers it's just what's the fix. I thought maybe some silicon lubricant.

Shirak · Sep 2, 2020

NubNub1 said:
They are facing down was going to try up. I think your right about the rollers it's just what's the fix. I thought maybe some silicon lubricant.

Don't think I would want to put a lubricant in there and then run tank water through the filter. I am at a loss as to how to keep the rollers moving freely. Maybe if you contact the company and discuss the two rollers binding up and not turning smoothly they will have an idea.

NubNub1 · Sep 2, 2020

I'm now in Facebook group with loads of people with the same problem. For some people it works fine but then a lot of people are having the same issue as me. I have contacted clarisea and they just say about the motor issue with the screw in the motor housing. When you say you have check this and it's not the problem they then just ignored me. So anyone buying this it looks like it's a lucky dip if it works as it should or not, I warn you. In the Facebook group people that can afford to are switching to the Royal Exclusiv Compact Fleece.

Shirak · Sep 2, 2020

I wonder if a slightly narrower plastic rod would roll better without binding up. It would allow more space between the cutouts on the two side panels and the rod.

Cory · Sep 6, 2020

My bubble magus filter roller is working great 2 months later. No complaints.

Badilac · Sep 9, 2020

Got my new Royal Exclusiv Roller mat yesterday. They certainly take pride in everything they do including the packing job. It only took 3 days to get here from Germany which I thought was very good considering the Covid stuff. I have 6 rolls currently but I will be reaching out to Steve to see if he can cut me some custom rolls when I get low.

Snoopy 67 · Sep 9, 2020

Stand alone unit for what size system?

Badilac · Sep 9, 2020

Snoopy 67 said:
Stand alone unit for what size system?

It is a drop in sump unit. It handles 6000lph. My DT is 240g total 300g+. Royal Exclusiv should be releasing a 12,000lph capable unit in 2021 according to the conversations I had with them.