Thanks for all this info! I have two ClariSea Sk5000's and needed a cheaper source for the replacement rolls. I have washed the ClariSea roll and rewound it onto the cardboard tube to use again. I sprayed it pretty clean in the sink and then ran it through the clothes washer with no soap, then through the dryer. It actually worked just fine, but it really was a pain getting it rolled back up. It twisted a lot in the dryer, so I had to constantly unfurl it as I was rolling it back on. I tried cutting it in half, but that didn't really accomplish much other than making each redone roll last half as long. Was it worth doing that way? Yes and no. Between time and cost of water and running the washer and dryer, versus $35 a roll for the name brand replacement, probably. Versus half that cost, for a viable alternative, probably not.
My thought on the ClariSea SK5000 is overall it works, but it sure could be improved and cost less. I have had trouble getting the rolls lined up perfectly, and have had it stop several times because got off centered enough to jam it. The way the roll is only supported on one end for the uptake side (and the new roll side too) doesn't make sense to me. Mine tends to sag a little and I think some of the friction that makes it jam comes from the fleece pushing against the acrylic on the side where it isn't supported.To me, replacing the rolls is pain in the rear. It's hard to get the used roll off, and I've ended up unrolling it manually. I'm sure there is operator error at work there. I've stapled on replacement rolls to feed the new one through, but it's still a pain to me. The design of the plastic sleeve to roll the fleece onto the take up side is a pain in the rear to me. The alarm is not very loud when it is jammed, but the only negative consequence while it is jammed is that it isn't advancing and filtering, it isn't hurting anything - just not helping like it should be. The cost is ridiculous for acrylic that is sort of a pain to put together. The mounting option wasn't big enough for the lip of the sump I have, is I have to set it in the sump on some rocks to get it up high enough, and sometimes it leans one way or the other. I can make a platform to level it when I move some of the rock out of the sump and into my new tank I'll be plumbing into the system. I'm sure a DIY version of these things could be made for a fraction of the cost, but I don't have the time to work on one.
The design of the Innovitech X-Filter looks way better and easier to replace rolls, but they are out of stock and are priced at £450.00 which is $550. Their design for the replacement roll and uptake roll installation is far superior. They use rods that go all the way across and drop in. Super simple and far better support than the ClariSea.
