Nature Dimensions N-Clear Fleece Roller

[SheldonC]

I received my N-Clear Fleece Roller in the mail today and so far I'm unimpressed. The adapter for my tank (which I bought the proper one) doesn't really support itself so there's a lean. Two, and really the biggest issue, is the motor doesn't seem to work. I try to manually advance it via the controller but nothing happens. I can't even turn the motor with my hand when it's seated where the instructions say to put it. I have a ticket out to support but anyone have any pointers? The instructions leave much to be desired...

 

[BriDroid]

I’ve had no major issues with my nano roller. I will say that their customer support is top notch though. If you use instagram, hit them up there. Seems to be a very quick response even if it’s not the “official” channel. Good luck, and I know they’ll take care of you!

 

[AquaDoodle]

I have one too. Mine works... sorta.

I contacted them using the support email and they were very responsive. I sent pictures of my issues. The reviews are so great that I'm convinced it's user error. It seems once the roller advances the alarm always goes off.

I did have to carefully re-watch all the set-up videos. I had it backwards, then the adapter wasn't installed properly and finally I had to reduce the amount of water I keep in the back chamber.

Maybe I've finally got everything set.

 

[bilal074]

I received my N-Clear Fleece Roller in the mail today and so far I'm unimpressed. The adapter for my tank (which I bought the proper one) doesn't really support itself so there's a lean. Two, and really the biggest issue, is the motor doesn't seem to work. I try to manually advance it via the controller but nothing happens. I can't even turn the motor with my hand when it's seated where the instructions say to put it. I have a ticket out to support but anyone have any pointers? The instructions leave much to be desired...

I wanted to share my experience with the N-Clear fleece roller adapter for anyone considering this upgrade, as I've seen quite a few people asking questions about fitment and performance. The adapter was extremely tight, with what appeared to be 1–2 mm of excess tolerance, and required considerable force to install. The result was a crack across the inner glass panel of my AIO aquarium, with the section containing the water intake holes breaking off. I've also damaged my grow light during installation, as the roller occupies the space where the light was originally mounted, forcing me to reposition it.

The roller itself has also been problematic. The water intake through the fleece appears too restrictive for my return pump, even with the pump turned down to its minimum setting. The water level rises in the filtration chamber until it triggers the sensor, causing the roller to advance continuously, even when the fleece isn't particularly dirty. This results in excessive fleece consumption and defeats the purpose of the upgrade.

I've since removed the roller and returned to filter socks. Between the damaged aquarium, damaged light, roller, and additional fleece, I'm looking at approximately $1,200 in costs and damage. I'm currently trying to resolve the matter with Nature Dimensions, but I wanted to share my experience so others can carefully consider the fitment, water flow, and light clearance before attempting this upgrade.

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

How much time are people actually getting from one roll?

 

[anarvaez]

Yea for me I have issues with the sensor where if I put it too low it doesn’t stop rolling but if I put it up a tiny bit higher it won’t turn for a few days

 

[NatureDimensions Verified Sponsor]

I received my N-Clear Fleece Roller in the mail today and so far I'm unimpressed. The adapter for my tank (which I bought the proper one) doesn't really support itself so there's a lean. Two, and really the biggest issue, is the motor doesn't seem to work. I try to manually advance it via the controller but nothing happens. I can't even turn the motor with my hand when it's seated where the instructions say to put it. I have a ticket out to support but anyone have any pointers? The instructions leave much to be desired...

@SheldonC, thanks for sharing this. For anyone following along, our drop-in adapters generally allow around 1 mm of clearance to accommodate manufacturing variations and make installation easier. That can allow a slight lean, but it should be minimal—the filter should still sit securely on its intended supports.

The motor not responding to Manual is a separate issue. The motor coupling needs to be properly aligned and fully seated on the take-up shaft. Testing the motor separately helps distinguish a mechanical restriction from a motor or controller issue. Our Nano user guide explains that check.

If either issue is still unresolved, please follow up in your existing support conversation so we can continue from the checks already completed. For tanks on our supported list with the matching adapter, we’re confident we can help get the filter set up and working as designed.

 

[NatureDimensions Verified Sponsor]

I’ve had no major issues with my nano roller. I will say that their customer support is top notch though. If you use instagram, hit them up there. Seems to be a very quick response even if it’s not the “official” channel. Good luck, and I know they’ll take care of you!

@BriDroid, thanks for the kind words about our support!

 

[NatureDimensions Verified Sponsor]

I have one too. Mine works... sorta.

I contacted them using the support email and they were very responsive. I sent pictures of my issues. The reviews are so great that I'm convinced it's user error. It seems once the roller advances the alarm always goes off.

I did have to carefully re-watch all the set-up videos. I had it backwards, then the adapter wasn't installed properly and finally I had to reduce the amount of water I keep in the back chamber.

Maybe I've finally got everything set.

@AquaDoodle, correcting the orientation and adjusting the chamber water level are relevant steps here. If the alarm is solid red with beeping, it means the sensor has stayed submerged too long. That can happen when the starting water level is too high or the sensor is too low, so advancing fresh fleece doesn’t lower the water enough to clear the sensor.

The sensor-adjustment section walks through setting the starting water level and then adjusting the sensor as the fleece collects debris. After an advance, the water should drop below the sensor tip.

Hopefully those changes have settled it. If not, please contact our support team. On a supported tank with the correct setup, we’re confident we can help you get it dialed in properly.

 

[NatureDimensions Verified Sponsor]

I wanted to share my experience with the N-Clear fleece roller adapter for anyone considering this upgrade, as I've seen quite a few people asking questions about fitment and performance. The adapter was extremely tight, with what appeared to be 1–2 mm of excess tolerance, and required considerable force to install. The result was a crack across the inner glass panel of my AIO aquarium, with the section containing the water intake holes breaking off. I've also damaged my grow light during installation, as the roller occupies the space where the light was originally mounted, forcing me to reposition it.

The roller itself has also been problematic. The water intake through the fleece appears too restrictive for my return pump, even with the pump turned down to its minimum setting. The water level rises in the filtration chamber until it triggers the sensor, causing the roller to advance continuously, even when the fleece isn't particularly dirty. This results in excessive fleece consumption and defeats the purpose of the upgrade.

I've since removed the roller and returned to filter socks. Between the damaged aquarium, damaged light, roller, and additional fleece, I'm looking at approximately $1,200 in costs and damage. I'm currently trying to resolve the matter with Nature Dimensions, but I wanted to share my experience so others can carefully consider the fitment, water flow, and light clearance before attempting this upgrade.

Hi @bilal074, we checked our support records and were able to match this to a case that has since been resolved. Thanks for your patience while we worked through it together, and for taking the time to share your detailed feedback.

 

[NatureDimensions Verified Sponsor]

How much time are people actually getting from one roll?

Good question! With the filter properly adjusted, you can generally expect around three weeks to two months from a roll, depending on your tank’s bioload, flow and setup. Each roll is 82 ft (25 m).

 

[NatureDimensions Verified Sponsor]

Yea for me I have issues with the sensor where if I put it too low it doesn’t stop rolling but if I put it up a tiny bit higher it won’t turn for a few days

@anarvaez, you’re on the right track with adjusting the sensor! This is usually straightforward to dial in. As explained in our user guide, it usually comes down to the sensor height or the tank’s water level being outside its normal operating range.

Hopefully you’ve got it running smoothly by now. If you’re still having trouble, please reach out to our support team—we’ll be happy to work through it with you. As long as your tank is on our supported list and uses the recommended setup, we’ll make sure the filter works properly.

 

[NatureDimensions Verified Sponsor]

A quick note for anyone considering an N-Clear or working on their setup—we’d like to clarify two things that come up occasionally.

Adapter fit

We try to support as many tanks as possible, and we stand behind the compatibility of the exact tank models listed on our website. The matching adapter and filter should work together properly.

Even within the same brand and model, filter-chamber dimensions can vary slightly between manufacturing batches. If your adapter doesn’t fit easily, please contact us rather than forcing it into the tank. We’ll fine-tune the fit or provide a modified adapter for your listed tank, completely free of charge—including shipping. If we can’t make the setup work properly, we’ll accept a return. You won’t be left on your own to figure out a fit we’ve listed as supported.

Water level and sensor adjustment

Getting the filter dialed in is usually straightforward. Two common things we see are a sensor that needs height adjustment and an aquarium running with its rear-chamber water level too high.

That second point matters even without a fleece roller. In an AIO, excessively high rear-chamber water can interfere with the intended flow over the baffles and through the filtration, including surface skimming. The first step is to establish the tank’s recommended operating water level, then adjust the filter sensor from there. If you use an ATO, its setpoint needs to match that operating level too.

There’s a helpful community discussion about this here: AIO Water Levels. Our Nano setup and sensor-adjustment guide walks through the filter-specific steps.

If you’re still having trouble, please reach out to [email protected]. For a tank on our supported list with the recommended configuration, we’ll work with you to make sure the adapter fits and the filter operates properly.

 

[exnisstech]

How much time are people actually getting from one roll?

It will vary from tank to the tank I'm sure. I'm running dual M units not the nano in my eshopps Mariner mp100 and changed my fleece for the first time after 29 days.