Red Sea ReefMat Sweet Spot

[psumms]

Has anyone managed to find the overflow / forward length sweet spot with a Red Sea ReefMat 1200? Been running for approx. four weeks on my Red Sea Peninsula 650 and finding it impossible to tune my overflow so that it isn't either using the emergency drain or the dreaded constant overflow gurgle!

Every time I think I've got it set just right, a couple of days later I find it's flowing down the emergency drain. I'm sure the solution is to adjust the 'forward' length in the ReefMat settings - played with a few small adjustments but can't figure out if I need it to advance more or less each time!

 

[blaxsun]

Has anyone managed to find the overflow / forward length sweet spot with a Red Sea ReefMat 1200? Been running for approx. four weeks on my Red Sea Peninsula 650 and finding it impossible to tune my overflow so that it isn't either using the emergency drain or the dreaded constant overflow gurgle!

Every time I think I've got it set just right, a couple of days later I find it's flowing down the emergency drain. I'm sure the solution is to adjust the 'forward' length in the ReefMat settings - played with a few small adjustments but can't figure out if I need it to advance more or less each time!

Glad I'm not the only one! I've only a few days in but I'm noticing the ReefMat presents a bit of a challenge in fine-tuning water levels. I'm using the 0.8-1.0" auto advance amount (having tried 3-4 other settings) and have managed to just fine-tune the gate valve such that there's no gurgling.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I would venture to say that the smaller the advance, the more even the flow will be. The more you roll out the more drastic the difference will be in flow

 

[psumms]

I think there must be quite a few people with a similar issue. I’ve sent the question to Red Sea support, will post if the reply is helpful.

 

[psumms]

I would venture to say that the smaller the advance, the more even the flow will be. The more you roll out the more drastic the difference will be in flow

That’s what I thought!

 

[psumms]

So... the Red Sea reply: Buy a new down-flow value diaphragm! or buy the new v4 down-flow value assembly. I'm pretty sure this isn't the cause (or solution!) as I have replaced the valve - and it's clean.

Still experimenting but as far as I can tell, and pretty much as you would expect, the smaller the roll advance increment the better.

I don't know why they have so a huge number of roll advance length options when on even a large Red Sea tank with an Abyzz 200 return pump, anything over the second smallest option seems to cause issues! Lots of options are great but give people too many and problems arise!

 

[glency]

I was thinking of adding a wye and plumb the emergency to the same line so that when it overflows it goes into the roller instead of dumping food in the sump….

 

[psumms]

I was thinking of adding a wye and plumb the emergency to the same line so that when it overflows it goes into the roller instead of dumping food in the sump….

Not sure I would plumb them together, what if the ReefMat input pipe comb clogs? May be use some flexible pipe in through the top of the unit? … but I have also thought of popping the emergency drain to the ReefMat.

 

[psumms]

Bumping this post to see if anyone else is having issues finding the balance. RedSea suggest I’m alone with this issue!!!

 

[glency]

Not sure I would plumb them together, what if the ReefMat input pipe comb clogs? May be use some flexible pipe in through the top of the unit? … but I have also thought of popping the emergency drain to the ReefMat.

Good point. Thanks.

 

[Floyd-]

No issues with the 1200 reefmat on my Max S-650 tank with the stock black valve.
Please note that I take that valve apart and clean it maybe once a month to ensure good flow and make sure no snails are in the diaphragm.