Final verdict on KLIR-4 roller mat?

[Sean W.]

When I read reviews on the Klir-4 fleece roller filler they are extremely polarizing, they are all either 1 star or 5 star reviews. People say they are either a hot piece of garbage or gods gift to reefing.

My questions is are the people who give them 1 star review the same people in those black and white clips from infomercials that mess up pouring milk into a glass and think there has to be a better way.

I REALLY want to use one in my new build, but I need to wade through all the uncertainty and hear unequivocal first hand experience from someone that has put these through the ringer and give them a thumbs up... Or are the people who have found success with them outliers and it really is a piece of garbage?

Thank you!

 

[blaxsun]

I'd really like to know as well since I'm either stuck ripping my sump apart to fit a Red Sea or ClariSea fleece roller or something like the Klir.

 

[gotwins86]

I have had the 7 inch on my Waterbox 220 for about 4 months now. Super happy with it, does what it supposed to do. Just had to replaced the smaller initial fleece roll for the first time. When doing maintenance and there is a lot of debris always smile cause I will hear the filter rolling the fleece here and there. Doing it’s job.

Only complaint is the rubber piece that is meant to stop water from getting around the filter. It is kinda flimsy and you have to get it set in there just right. Or you will get some water bypassing the filter.

Wonder if a lot of the complaints come from running to much flow through them. I’m running around 800-900 gph. The 7 inch is rated for up to 1800.

 

[blaxsun]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Ajayabb]

I have the Klir 4 in my Waterbox 110. Works great. Many complaints were from the 1st generation motor which has since been upgraded. My fleece rollers have last approximately 4 months before needing to be changed. Super happy compared to cleaning filter socks every 3-4 days

 

[danieyella]

I've had the 4-in on my tank for nearly a year now. I feed very heavy, rolls last me about a month and a half. Still better than cleaning filter socks.

 

[Joe31415]

I'm in the market for a roller as well. I've been keeping an eye on the Aquamaxx AF-1, but it hasn't been in stock since I started paying attention to it (and BRS appears to be the only place that sells it).
A recurring theme I see in a lot of the low-star reviews with the Klir is that it uses an optical switch. Apparently all it takes is the sensor getting dirty, thinking it's full of water, and running the motor until it runs out of fleece. I see multiple complaints of people saying it ran fine for a day or two, then ate a 20 dollar roll of fleece overnight. I'm assuming many of us have seen ATO sensors read as being wet while the sump level gets lower and lower until you clean it.

For that reason, I'm holding off until something better, and in my price range, like the AF-1, shows up.
Also, it needs to be able to fit in my sump. I have a 20g long, rimmed tank, with a baffle kit from BRS. Some of these rollers are considerably bigger than they appear in pictures. That Aquamaxx has a 13x9 foot print. That means pulling out the filter cup holders, the baffle between the filter cups and the section next to it where I have the skimmer and possibly the next baffle over meant for a refugium (which I don't have and don't have plans to get at the moment).

 

[Projects with Sam]

I just DIY my own for under $50 and it doesn't look like a pile of dung.

Build Thread - Sam's Oceanic 120 - DIY solutions

Whe you say "added the timers so they drop down on hinges for programming" do you mean that you have them on servos for time of day angle adjustments? If so I am taking my hat off. Sorry. I just watched the video... well done. I totally misinterpreted that.

www.reef2reef.com

Used extruded pvc ceiling tiles I cutup using a razor blade and I used gutter screen on the sides.
eventually I'll cut out all the parts on my cnc but this is a proof of concept.

If you DIY it'll be exactly to your specs. and can be fit perfectly into your sump.