berlin protein skimmer

[fjr]

i have a berlin triple pass protein skimmer with a 750 gph pump but it dont seeem like it working that good.it takes about 2 weeks to half way fill up collection cup and water just bearly comes out the two return lines is this common.i had to put an air pump on it to get it to froth up at all.i had a corallife 65 on my tank and thought i was moving up but it sure dont look like it does anyboby have any suggestions what i can do to help

 

[drnecropolis]

Those skimmer are terrible.. I used to have one.. It was a great day when I shot it with a 30.06!!

My never skimmed at all it seems.. A think a seaclown was better than it..

 

[fjr]

thanks thats not what i wanted to hear so now i have to tell my wife the skimmer is no good and beg to buy another

 

[drnecropolis]

Word.. Yeah.. I got one and thought I was going in the right direction also.. Try and find a used Reef Octopus.. They are great and you can find them on the low most times!

 

[fjr]

what size do you recommand for a 75 gallon and how much should i expect to pay

 

[drnecropolis]

A Reef Octopus 110 will work.. You can find them for like $100.. Try and find a recirc one.. That would be even better..

 

[fjr]

ok thanks

 

[drnecropolis]

No problem.. What I'm here for..

 

[jead85]

yep thats what i got! i was considering upgrading to the newer model of it though i may sell mine at some point.

 

[fjr]

ok keep me in mind i was looking through the for sale threads now

 

[schwaggs]

In the mean time, you might want to clean the venturi on your existing skimmer pump. It sounds like the air input has almost closed up with mineral deposits. Soak it in pure vinegar for 6 hours.

 

[rbredding]

I had a red sea berlin classic on my 90 gallon tank for the first 6 months..

it worked fine for me (but I want to eventually keep sps so I upgraded it to an MR-2)


for $30-$50 its a fine skimmer (at least mine was)

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Schwaggs;553395 wrote: In the mean time, you might want to clean the venturi on your existing skimmer pump. It sounds like the air input has almost closed up with mineral deposits. Soak it in pure vinegar for 6 hours.

+1 on this. I've got a Berlin on my 93 cube and it sends out some yuck! I had it on my 92 corner before this. Never had any issues. Running mine on a Mag 5 which is far less gph than 750. It would seem to me that something somewhere is clogged up. Take it apart, give it a good vinegar soaking and I bet the performance will increase. I wash mine out during the monthly maintenance. The built-in venturi does clog up with salt creep so that has to be cleaned as well. To help it, put a bubble-making impeller in your pump (some pumps have one already depending on make). That will help you too. There are also some mods that can be made to impellers to increase their bubble-making performance (although I have never tried any of those myself).