Bubble Magus Fleece Roller Vs Others

[ReefStuff]

Hi,
Setting up a new tank, decided on a fleece roller. I have a Red Sea Reefer Sump and I removed the filter sock area to fit a roller. I got the sump used and it was missing the sock trays and refugium wall. Red Sea wanted about $180 to replace these 3, small plastic parts. I also discovered Red Sea likes to make proprietary stuff and charge a premium for it.
I was looking into the Red Sea Reefmat 500 then stumbled upon the Bubble Magus AFR for $220. I read some reviews here on the forum and all seems well with the Bubble magus. Spending 40$ more than to replace the sock trays and have a monthly change of 1 roll is very appealing. Has anyone used one or both (Reefmat and AFR) for an extended period of time that can chime in on why I should consider spending about $150 more on the Reefmat? I dont care about bragging rights, I simply care about the use, servicing the rolls and effectiveness of the units in comparison.

Thank you!
ReefStuff

 

[C_AWOL]

I haven't used the gen 2 bubble magus roller (only gen 1) but even without factoring greatly reduced cost of aftermarket rolls on a reefmat, I would pick a reefmat any day.

Ease of changing saves a lot of time and indirectly serving as a sort of "heart beat" system is a nice bonus (alerts if off for too long = possible power outage /outside water too high =possible pump failure) is a big win for me

 

[ReefStuff]

I haven't used the gen 2 bubble magus roller (only gen 1) but even without factoring greatly reduced cost of aftermarket rolls on a reefmat, I would pick a reefmat any day.

Ease of changing saves a lot of time and indirectly serving as a sort of "heart beat" system is a nice bonus (alerts if off for too long = possible power outage /outside water too high =possible pump failure) is a big win for me

Can you elaborate on the fleece roll change? I watched some youtube videos of the Reefmat. Agree, it seems very simple and quick. The Bubble magus I have yet to see anyone load/replace the fleece in a video. They say "Catch it before it runs out and staple the new fleece to the old, or its a PITA to change".
I doubt I will ever "catch" something like that. Seems I would need to feed it between the guide bars inside the unit? This is clearly more difficult, but how much more difficult? Are we talking Bubble magus takes 5x the time and end up cussing at the system while being buried in the sump? Or, is it actually an easy process to change the Magus, just harder in comparison to the Reefmat?

Do the Reefmat's "intelligent" alarms and such work as a stand alone with the Reefmat unit? Or, do I need to buy other Red Sea stuff to make it work? Also, how would the Reefmat alarm work if there was a power outage?

Please correct my ignorance on the next part.
What is the bonus in having an alarm? Seems like a gimmick unless its going to my phone. My sump is large enough to hold any back flow from the display if the return pump fails. So no overflow issue. I am also home daily, I would think I would notice the pump not being on and my display incredibly low. I could just drive a couple miles and get another pump at that point. Same scenario if it failed in the wee hours of the night. See it, call into work and go get a pump. If I am on vacation, the "baby sitter" likely wouldn't be apt to fix the issue anyway. I would have to make some calls, promise some beers and get another Reefer to fix in that scenario. But the alarm has not really helped at any point.
I will add that in any of these scenarios, with what I plan to dose into the sump. I would certainly need to drain and refill the sump before kicking stuff back on and sending the sump water into the display........ Just now realizing I have not considered the return failing, filling the sump AND my dosers keep dosing..... Prolly 24hrs before some overflow.

I Have no issue paying for the ReefMat if it's that beneficial over the Magus. I also understand you get what you pay for. However there is also diminishing return, and Red Sea seems to toe a fine line with that last statement IMO. ($180 for 3 simple plastic parts)

 

[C_AWOL]

At least for gen1, to save yourself the effort of taking out the entire unit to re-spool the roll you need to remove the motor (happens regardless) staple a new roll to the end of the finished roll and pull it through and then painstakingly cut the old roll off the core so you can attach the now freshly thread through roll.

It takes me ~15 minutes to change a reefmat if I clean everything (much less if I don't). Definitely takes at least double that on a gen1 bubble magus cause of all the extra steps/how time consuming the steps are
Not fun at all to save ~200?

Alerts all go to your phone via reefbeat app whether its near end of life (for the roll) or any errors and are all included without an extra purchase.

Assuming you didnt have a controller for you to know the return failed, this works as an extra since the water level in the sunp would trigger that alert without endlessly rolling like a basic float switch model would.

 

[ReefStuff]

At least for gen1, to save yourself the effort of taking out the entire unit to re-spool the roll you need to remove the motor (happens regardless) staple a new roll to the end of the finished roll and pull it through and then painstakingly cut the old roll off the core so you can attach the now freshly thread through roll.

It takes me ~15 minutes to change a reefmat if I clean everything (much less if I don't). Definitely takes at least double that on a gen1 bubble magus cause of all the extra steps/how time consuming the steps are
Not fun at all to save ~200?

Alerts all go to your phone via reefbeat app whether its near end of life (for the roll) or any errors and are all included without an extra purchase.

Assuming you didnt have a controller for you to know the return failed, this works as an extra since the water level in the sunp would trigger that alert without endlessly rolling like a basic float switch model would.

Roger that,
I am 100% willing to spend the extra money to make it faster and easier to service. I am simply getting some verification that it is in fact money that is well spent. I have also read on R2R some people that really dislike Red Sea still recommend the Reefmat based on what you're saying as well.
I guess I got target fixated on the cost difference between that Magus and the replacement parts for the sump. Did not consider the small (ish) cost between the Magus and Reefmat of $100. I only thought "For 40 more bucks, I would not need socks". With what you have said about changing the fleece, I could pretty much guarantee I would not be happy, put it in the garage and buy a Reefmat in addition and be way behind on my "40 more bucks" thought.
Hoping i can get some others to echo your thoughts as well.