Robo Snail (the lazy mans and my new glass cleaner)

Thefirechief · 02/04/2014, 04:01 PM

RoboSnail
(Making your hobby more enjoyable)

I have a long running passion for salt water aquariums and my 275 gallon tank is the centerpiece of my living room. The number of aquarium accessories and equipment on the market can be a bit overwhelming and many of them fall short of the claims they make. Despite weighing the pros and cons of RoboSnail, I held off on making the investment. Just after the holidays, I pulled the trigger on the RoboSnail purchase.

The RoboSnail arrived approximately one week after I had placed the order through Dr. Smith and Fosters. Setup was extremely easy. I placed the charging station in the upper right side of my tank using the enclosed Velcro fastener, lowered the cleaner side into the tank and paired it up with the drive unit on the outside of the glass.

Initial install and setup took less than 20 minutes. There is a small switch on the bottom of the drive unit used to select the glass thickness. After placing that switch in the correct position for my tank I parked the drive unit in the charging station for the recommended 24 hour charge.

Once the indicator light turned green (red while charging) I pressed the large button on the front to program the unit. Programming was as simple as pushing the button twice and took less than 5 minutes.

RoboSnail now cleans the front of my tank once a day. As an officer with the fire service my tank would often go up to 48 hours without a glass cleaning. Many times this would be enough time for the more stubborn algae to take hold. No longer! My RoboSnail maintains this tank everyday without fail.

Weeks after installing my RoboSnail I had the misfortune to knock it off the tank during routine cleaning. In true FML form the RoboSnail managed to fall directly into the sump tank. I contacted RoboSnail support and told them what I had done. THEY WERE WONDERFUL; even though this act of negligence was outside the warrantee coverage they sent me a replacement at what I would call an extremely generous discount.

Through it all I would have to say that their customer service is outstanding.

If you would like to spend more time enjoying and less time working on your aquarium I recommend you get the RoboSnail. Not only will it keep your tank glass clean but your friends will be green with tank envy.

Visit them on the web at: http://www.robosnail.com

dastratt · 02/19/2014, 12:52 PM

Thanks, this is the first review I've seen for this product (and I've been looking).

What about the side panels? As it only cleans one side I understand, do you move it to the other sides or is that just impractical?

albano · 02/19/2014, 01:46 PM

It doesn't work on glass over .4"... so basically only on 'small' tanks... I don't envision a large market at that pricing.

myram · 02/19/2014, 01:51 PM

Yeah, $250 is a lot for that.

I can do my glass in about 5 minutes with the magnets I've owned for years.

Steve

docs911 · 02/19/2014, 02:09 PM

Chief: does the robots snail work on tanks greater than .4 inches in thickness? I imagine that your tank is 1/2 inch glass or acrylic

Tweaked · 02/19/2014, 03:34 PM

This would be hard to trust while not there. Shoot, I have cameras on my tank just so I know who's there when I'm not. Obsessive yes, but I have had a tank I purchased in the past with scratches. Never again....

BigCountry74 · 02/19/2014, 04:23 PM

That is actually very cool lol

AcroporAddict · 02/19/2014, 05:44 PM

Glad you like it Chief, but have you ever wondered what would happen if a hard piece of grit gets lodged in the wet side of the cleaner and the scratches your tank could get?

That is what would concern me.

DP Reef · 02/19/2014, 05:48 PM

His glass must be thicker on a 275 gallon! I've thought about getting this. 5 minutes every few days is just more reason why I get shot-down for a tank upgrade by my wife!

02/04/2014, 04:01 PM	#1
Thefirechief Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: West Palm Beach FL Posts: 7	Robo Snail (the lazy mans and my new glass cleaner) RoboSnail (Making your hobby more enjoyable) I have a long running passion for salt water aquariums and my 275 gallon tank is the centerpiece of my living room. The number of aquarium accessories and equipment on the market can be a bit overwhelming and many of them fall short of the claims they make. Despite weighing the pros and cons of RoboSnail, I held off on making the investment. Just after the holidays, I pulled the trigger on the RoboSnail purchase. The RoboSnail arrived approximately one week after I had placed the order through Dr. Smith and Fosters. Setup was extremely easy. I placed the charging station in the upper right side of my tank using the enclosed Velcro fastener, lowered the cleaner side into the tank and paired it up with the drive unit on the outside of the glass. Initial install and setup took less than 20 minutes. There is a small switch on the bottom of the drive unit used to select the glass thickness. After placing that switch in the correct position for my tank I parked the drive unit in the charging station for the recommended 24 hour charge. Once the indicator light turned green (red while charging) I pressed the large button on the front to program the unit. Programming was as simple as pushing the button twice and took less than 5 minutes. RoboSnail now cleans the front of my tank once a day. As an officer with the fire service my tank would often go up to 48 hours without a glass cleaning. Many times this would be enough time for the more stubborn algae to take hold. No longer! My RoboSnail maintains this tank everyday without fail. Weeks after installing my RoboSnail I had the misfortune to knock it off the tank during routine cleaning. In true FML form the RoboSnail managed to fall directly into the sump tank. I contacted RoboSnail support and told them what I had done. THEY WERE WONDERFUL; even though this act of negligence was outside the warrantee coverage they sent me a replacement at what I would call an extremely generous discount. Through it all I would have to say that their customer service is outstanding. If you would like to spend more time enjoying and less time working on your aquarium I recommend you get the RoboSnail. Not only will it keep your tank glass clean but your friends will be green with tank envy. Visit them on the web at: http://www.robosnail.com

02/19/2014, 12:52 PM	#2
dastratt Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 665	Thanks, this is the first review I've seen for this product (and I've been looking). What about the side panels? As it only cleans one side I understand, do you move it to the other sides or is that just impractical? __________________ Alex Current Tank Info: 200g Deep Dimension 48"x36"x27", 10x36" ATI PM, Orca Pro II, Geo610, 60g frag, 80 g MRC sump

02/19/2014, 01:46 PM	#3
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	It doesn't work on glass over .4"... so basically only on 'small' tanks... I don't envision a large market at that pricing. __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

02/19/2014, 02:09 PM	#5
docs911 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 235	Chief: does the robots snail work on tanks greater than .4 inches in thickness? I imagine that your tank is 1/2 inch glass or acrylic __________________ 210 gallon reef tank, 3 x 400 watt MH 29 gallon biocube 34 gallon solana

02/19/2014, 03:34 PM	#6
Tweaked FUP&A Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Madison, CT Posts: 7,722	This would be hard to trust while not there. Shoot, I have cameras on my tank just so I know who's there when I'm not. Obsessive yes, but I have had a tank I purchased in the past with scratches. Never again.... __________________ DSA 105 Pro, Cebu Sun-Radiums-M80 Ballasts, 4 T5's, XHO LEDs. Through Wall 55g Sump, 10g Frag and 29g Display attached, Vertex V6, 3 mp40's, Gyre, 2 mp10's, GFO, Carbon, Pellets - 10g Bar Tank

02/19/2014, 01:51 PM	#4
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	Yeah, $250 is a lot for that. I can do my glass in about 5 minutes with the magnets I've owned for years. Steve

02/19/2014, 04:23 PM	#7
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	That is actually very cool lol __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

02/19/2014, 05:44 PM	#8
AcroporAddict There is no substitute. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 2,269	Glad you like it Chief, but have you ever wondered what would happen if a hard piece of grit gets lodged in the wet side of the cleaner and the scratches your tank could get? That is what would concern me.

02/19/2014, 05:48 PM	#9
DP Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 138	His glass must be thicker on a 275 gallon! I've thought about getting this. 5 minutes every few days is just more reason why I get shot-down for a tank upgrade by my wife!