I haven't been using clarifiers including bentonite for my red kits (sometimes for my white ones if they aren't clearing within 3 months). But I tend to let the red kits go at least a year and am aiming for 18+ months. Just seems like the taste associated with the kit seems to slowly abate at that point. I've got a few at 12-18 months right now that are clear as a bell, and when I rack there is no powdery sediment at the bottom of the carboy I'm racking from. I'd go by that verses putting a flashlight up to it and checking that way. The longer you can go and keep up the proper SO2 level, the clearer it will remain the the bottle, IMHO.
