The TLDR:
Top Level
- Notable Features = bioload selection
- Build Material = “quality cell cast acrylic”
Desktop Model
- Compatibility = 10–25-gallon IM NUVO AOI’s
- Unit Price =159.99
- Replacement Roll Price (6 pk) = 23.99
- Dimensions = 6.6” x 3.63” x 14.7”
- Weight = 1.61 lbs
Mid/Full Model
- Compatibility = 40-120 IM NUVO AOI’s
- Unit Price = 199.99
- Replacement Roll Price (6 pk) = 47.99
- Dimensions = 8.6″ x 4.75″ x 17.62″
- Weight = 2.91 lbs
The Full Story:
This weekend, Innovative Marine launched the NUVO Roller PRO a new automated roller mat for its all-in-one NUVO series. There are two versions of the roller – the desktop version which is compatible with its 10-25 gallon systems and the mid/full size version which is compatible with 40-120 gallon systems.
The model has three different modes of nutrient export: low, medium, and high. Each of these settings correlates to a different amount of time the floss is rotated every 12 hours—either 8, 12, or 16 seconds. The longer the floss is rotated, the more media is cycled through the system, and thus, the more particles could theoretically be removed.
Below is a chart depicting the length of time the media will last based on the bioload setting and model number.
The standard media is 200 microns. It fits in the initial overflow compartment and is designed to operate with a skimmer downstream to aid in nutrient export. Additionally, it is designed with redundancy in mind, sporting multiple outlets to help reduce the chances of an overflow.
My Initial Thoughts:
From an aesthetics standpoint, this fleece roller looks great. I like the sleek black design. Many roller mats I have used tend to look bulky and out of place on a system. This is one of the first units I have seen fully embrace itself as part of a system. I expect this to seamlessly blend in with the existing design of the NUVO series. I hope that this can inspire more companies to take an aesthetic approach to their rollers’ future designs.
In terms of the hardware itself, I think the idea of an easily selectable bioload setting is a worthwhile feature that seems extremely user-friendly to even hobby beginners.
I am interested in seeing how prone these units are to breaking. I have had an IM NUVO 10 and 40 for half a decade. While I love the systems, most of the external “gadgets,” such as their caddy baskets, tend to be relatively brittle in my experience, and I have easily chipped or broken off legs or accessory pieces of these designs. I am unaware if this is something that others have experienced or if it is something unique to my experiences. I will play devil’s advocate and say that the caddy baskets I owned were from several years ago (4-5), and the design could have changed by now.
Something else I would like to see are different micron size roll options. Perhaps there are benefits to running higher or lower micron sizes which could be explored as a means to dial in nutrient export in an even more efficient way.
Overall, I am excited to see companies pushing the boundaries with fleece rollers. It seems many more systems are coming with built-in roller systems. This could be advantageous for the industry as I suspect roller mats are a better way to manage dissolved organic carbon (DOC) than traditional mechanical methods. Tools like filter socks allow detritus to remain and break down in the system until the user manually changes them, while mats continue to remove contaminants physically, on average, decreasing the contact time they have to break down and enter solution.
I would very much be interested in getting one of these products to throw on my NUVO 10 to test it out.
What do you think about the idea of roller mat’s – would you run one on your system?
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