Red Sea has launched its much anticipated nano-sized roller filter, called the NanoMat. Small in stature but with lots of features that make the ReefMat so great, NanoMat has been specially designed to replace the nano filter bag and holder in all Max Nano G2 tanks, with the added surprise of being able to fit into all Reefer G2s and anyone else’s standard 4” filter sock chambers as well.
That’s a big deal as it is going to be suitable to replace the 4” filter socks in a lot of reef aquarium situations, without having to physically cut out and remove the sock chambers like before.
Small size
The NanoMat stands at 10x9x41cm, or 3.94”x3.54”x16.14” tall, but the 18 meter long, 59’ fleece roll is just 5.5cm, or 2.17” wide, meaning that the fleece and holder slide straight in that small space at the back of Red Sea Max Nano G2 aquariums, making them an even better proposition for those who want a grown-up reef aquarium, but in a compact size.
Combine the NanoMat with the ReefATO+ and you’ve just upgraded your Red Sea Max Nano G2 with two of the best roller filters and ATOs on the market.
We did just that with our Max Nano G2 XL and now we have the NanoMat running we would never go back to manual removal and cleaning of the nano filter bag and prefilter sponge. We’re completely sold on it.
How it works
For those who aren’t familiar with roller filters or the Red Sea ReefMat, a roll of fleece lines the inside of a filter box, forcing dirty water from the main tank through the fleece via gravity. As the fleece starts to block up, the water rises up in the filter and triggers a water sensor, which advances the roll.
The NanoMat’s built-in motor turns the roll, lining the box with a new section of clean fleece, and the process is repeated. When all of the clean fleece is dirty and used up the unit stops turning and you replace the fleece with a new roll.
The NanoMat shares the sensor technology with that of its ReefMat bigger brothers, only this time it doesn’t connect to the ReefBeat app, using two simple buttons and red LEDs on top of the unit instead. There you can turn the unit off and on, manually advance the roll, or see if there’s a problem, like if the water level is too high.
Red Sea nailed down ease of changing the roll on the ReefMat and although the NanoMat changeout is different and involves removing the unit, you can still do it in seconds, with little risk of user error, or fuss.
Flow rate
You do need to know the tiny NanoMat’s limits however, and those are a maximum flow through of 950lph or 250gph, and a recommendation of tanks up to 200 liters or 53 gallons in volume. With more flow and more load, you’ll use up the tiny 2” filter roll much more quickly or the internal water level will run too high and the auto shut-down will kick in. Run the recommended flow rate or less and the rolls should last for up to four weeks.
Use the ReefMat 250, 500, or 1200 for larger mechanical filtration situations.
What we think
Two years ago we prayed for a nano version of the then-new and groundbreaking Red Sea ReefMat, and today we have one running in our Red Sea Max Nano G2 XL and we love it.
No, it doesn’t connect to ReefBeat like ReefMat does but Red Sea wanted something compact and easy to use at a great price and when you get your hands on one you’ll see just how much they’ve miniaturized their latest roller filter model and stripped the technology down to its bare bones in order to make it fit into the back of a Max Nano.
Red Sea wasn’t the first or the only manufacturer to offer a slot in roller filter solution for filter socks either, but trust us when we tell you that the difference the ReefMat made to the global roller filter market will be the same for the 4” filter sock retrofit market, and we can envisage fanatical people with two filter socks simply fitting two NanoMats, and not looking back.
Arrival date
NanoMat is due to arrive at retailers in September 2024 and will be priced at $199 USD, £199, or 199 euros, respectively. All models will come with that all-important Red Sea Max G2 adaptor and a separate universal 4” filter sock adaptor.
The NanoMat Fleece Roll will come as a twin pack and is priced at $20.99, £18.99, or 20.99 euros respectively.
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