问题
For the longest time, I have been trying to lengthen the maintenance interval for the filter socks on my 450-gallon system, which currently clog every two days. I tried eliminating filter socks completely for a period of time, but the sump got extremely messy and turned into a nitrate bank. The next option was to try 200-micron-mesh socks, which did help extend the replacement period, but they did not polish the water as well and eventually still clogged over a period of time.
The solution
跟随我的咒语automate my systemas much as possible, I looked into the Theiling Rollermat. It works by collecting overflow water that is gravity fed into the chamber and forcing it through the fleece to exit the sump, which is located in the center of the rolling web cage. After reviewing the specifications and checking the experiences of others who adopted it a year earlier, I believed this was the next step.
The Theiling Rollermat initially comes with a shorter roll than the normal replacement 6” wide x 147’ long filter fleece roll. A bulkhead adapter kit will also need to be purchased to convert the metric bulkheads to match the SAE PVC tube sizes. The Theiling Rollermat can handle an input flow rate of ~ 700 gph, and the output is just gravity fed back into my main sump. The only electrical parts were a float switch attached to a small geared motor, which spools incrementally the dirty web as the web clogs and raises the water level.
有了450加仑的系统，以及许多有助于碎屑堆积的大型唐犬和兔子，听起来像是我问题的答案。不幸的是，费用仍然是每单位约400美元的障碍。幸运的是，在最近的黑色星期五销售中，我能够以较低的入境成本来证明投资是合理的。
Installing the system would be easier if it were being designed into a new system. The downside to adding this to an existing system is space. The optimal position may not be available near the sump, and re-plumbing the system is not always straightforward with the location available. Tuning the water flow to fill and drain after a power outage will also take a few trials, depending on the unit placement, the type of overflow, and how you plumbed it.
经过四个月的跑步，我可以说这是值得的，尤其是在最近两次商务旅行中。每个完整的更换卷持续了两个月。洗涤和重复使用肮脏的网是可行的，但可能不值得放松，脱落，洗涤和倒带147英尺的网络的麻烦。这花费了很多时间和精力，通过洗衣机运行后，网络可能会降解一点。
我试图在网上寻找低成本的羊毛替代品（例如冷却液滤纸），但没有发现任何可比或易于订购的东西而不放置自定义订单。可能需要完成的唯一其他维护只是偷偷摸一下没有被吸引到网络上并在Rollermat腔的底部安顿下来的任何碎屑。
The verdict
总而言之，我认为这是我系统的绝佳补充，但是我绝对可以看到每个人或每个系统都不需要它。如果您始终在家并能够执行所需的过滤袜更改，那么这不值得。很大程度上取决于您的时间的价值以及您在离开时依赖他人的程度。随着更具竞争力的网络过滤产品出现在市场上，希望价格下跌，并且将更容易采用和标准化，因为这些产品大大减少了维持大型水族馆的工作量。
它肯定会通过将碎屑置于水中来使系统水质更加稳定，从而通过减轻压力来使爱好更加愉快，最重要的是，当我不在时，我的妻子的生活更加轻松。
Photo credit: Ellery Wong
