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View Full Version : Help me make my red sea berlin skimmer better


razataz
10/07/2008, 07:01 PM
I have a skimmer that I received with a used tank . Its not set up like the manual say. The venturi key is gone and a plug in its place.


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/77183DSC04299__Small_.JPG

The air is being sucked in by the rio 2100 pump. The pump is a regular blade not a needle wheel blade.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/77183DSC04300__Small_.JPG

It does skim but it is wet. not dry from pics I have seen of different skim. This is my first skimmer so please help.

This is what the skimmer looks like
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/77183DSC04305__Small_.JPG

razataz
10/08/2008, 03:06 PM
Anyone

miwoodar
10/08/2008, 03:32 PM
Have you tried putting a needle valve on the air tube? That will definitely help you fine tune it.

razataz
10/08/2008, 04:47 PM
I will get one and try it. Do you thank I need to put a stock venturi back in it. Where he has a plug know.

miwoodar
10/08/2008, 05:42 PM
It's worth a shot to try it stock.

A good needle valve would still help though. If you look around you should be able to find them starting around $15.

frenchie
10/08/2008, 05:54 PM
click here this is what you need (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~Red_Sea_Berlin_Turbo_Upgrade_Kit_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Protein_Skimmers_A ccessories~vendor~Red_Sea~SearchStr~berlin~action~view~idProduct~RS1281~idCategory~FIPSAC.html)

plumb this straight into skimmer no elbows and that thing will produce real good, thats what i did and even though they are berlin skimmer and not the best out there my produce real dark skimmate and did awesome on my 75 gallon before i got a good deal on a euroreef skimmer. All of those elbows slow down flow.

frenchie
10/08/2008, 05:56 PM
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~Red_Sea_Berlin_Turbo_Upgrade_Kit_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Protein_Skimmers_A ccessories~vendor~Red_Sea~SearchStr~berlin~action~view~idProduct~RS1281~idCategory~FIPSAC.html

frenchie
10/08/2008, 05:57 PM
crap link don't work, marine depot has turbo pump upgrade kit with pump for berlin skimmers.

razataz
10/08/2008, 06:03 PM
If I mesh mod the impeller and leave the air line in front of the pump . I guess that would make it a turbo model like they sell.

jjfplumemt28
10/09/2008, 11:39 AM
ok. it has taken me about a year of constant adjustments with this skimmer. its like a child. don't take your eyes off of it. this skimmer does work well when you fine tune it. looking at your skimmer you are allready going to have problems without that veturi valve. this skimmer operates much better when you have it and i believe it is a must. you should definitely get it replaced. i would also encourage the upgraded pump. regular weekly cleaning is imperative. after cleaning this you want to place the skimmer in your sump and the water level should be at least a third the way up the side. then adjust the pump so that it is at a lower setting. allow the air bubbles to get almost all the way to the top until you can barely see them. then begin to turn the pump up higher. this is going to take a few hours after cleaning for the skimmer to prime (lack of a better word) itself. the reason you don't want it on high is because it is just going to dump the water out. the fine tuning comes from the valve up top which adjusts the air coming through the clear tube that would attach to the venturi valve. in regards to the set-up you have with the clear tubing into the pump. get something that you can pinch off that tube or tie a knot to reduce that air flow through that tube when you need to make adjustments. also when you set this up the first time the skimmer is going to skim out a lot of sea water because of the high level of "skimmate" that is in the tank water. it takes time to remove this. then you will begin to see the skimmate amount drop and that darker color skimmate to emerge in a lesser amount. i may be rambling at this point but if you need anything else just post.

razataz
10/09/2008, 12:37 PM
What pump do you suggest .

FirstContact
10/09/2008, 07:28 PM
Hi razataz,

Looks like the former owner took out the venturi because he put the air line into the pump. Otherwise, the airline would be feeding the venturi. In a way, the former owner was trying to change this from a venturi skimmer into an impeller wheel skimmer with the rio pump.

A better question might be how would this skimmer perform with a sedra needle wheel pump? Would the mod be possible?

If anyone knows, I am interested. The Warner Marine skimmers use a sedra needle wheel pump. So do the ASM skimmers. Maybe an ASM replacement needlewheel pump could be modified to fit the berlin classic?

What would the performance be like?

Good luck!


:rollface: :rollface:

razataz
10/10/2008, 11:59 AM
That's what I mean but instead of getting a new pump, mesh mod the rio pump impeller. That would turn it into a needle wheel.Would this skimmer benefit from this? Turning it into a turbo model sorta.http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19002 Are am I better of replacing the stock venturi in it and using rio . I don,t want to by a 100 doller needle wheel pump. Be better off selling and getting a better skimmer. If I could find one to fit the 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 area.

hyperfocal
10/10/2008, 02:18 PM
I tried to get one of these going, but gave up in frustration. I replaced the pump with a needlewheel, fiddled with the venturi, etc... nothing worked. I ended up getting rid of it and just building an RC-135 clone.

FirstContact
10/10/2008, 06:53 PM
Yeah,

I see your point. I was also thinking of trying an Kent Marine Venturi on it.

Why not try the mesh wheel before getting rid of it

Good Luck