Redsea berlin skimmers good or bad?

[tazdevil]

I have a Berlin Turbo Classic in my sump taht came w/ its own pump. It seems to skim quite a bit of brown/green liquid, but I am battling w/slime algae. I have lowered phoasphates to undetectable, temp is 78Deg f, only add Kent liquid calcium and turbobuffer to get alk to 9, calcium to 450, and ph is 8.0-8.3. Nitrate less than .25, almost undetectable by several different tests, using ro/di water, fish -2 yellotail damsels, 2 neon gobies, 13 hermits (5red tip, 5zebra, 3scarlets), see many tube worms, some peanut worms, and some aiptasia (time for the great aiptasia war to begin!). Any ideas would be great!!

 

[EmilyB]

What size tank do you have tazdevil ? I have some experience with the RSB, I still run the HO model in-sump in my 72g (go figure)...and use the classic as a paper weight. But if your tank is less than 75g, you should be able to get some performance, just hopefully it is not connected to a RIO.

 

[Green Mariner]

TAZ, you might want to consider upgrading the pump, Berlin's typically come with an undersized pump. I have the XL model and I am running a Sen 900 on it, works great for me, but it is only on a 46 bow!

HTH

 

[Laurie]

Taz - A Mag 7 is a great pump for the Berlin. I saw a huge difference when I upgraded my pump - the initial surge of foam nearly shot the lid off the skimmer. Increased skimming might help get rid of your cyano. I had a 6 month outbreak a little over a year ago in my 75 (have since upgraded to a 200). I did everything everyone suggested, lights out for 48 hours, reduced photo period, fed less, upgraded skimming, siphoned, more water changes than I can count, increased circulation, etc., etc., etc. That stuff had a real foothold and I was getting nowhere.

I finally resorted to Red Slime Remover and the problem disappeared - never to return. No adverse affects at all. I am not suggesting you use this product - just know that there is something on the market that is available if nothing else works. I don't advocate adding medications to the tank unless absolutely necessary, but if all else fails....

BTW, I am going through a pretty bad cyano outbreak in the 200. It is only 3 months old so I know this is part of the maturing process and therefore I am living with it and not worrrying about it. I have 2 queen conchs who are getting bigger by the day. I am NOT going to use Red Slime Remover in this situation because I am confident it will clear up in time. Again, it works but don't use it unless you absolutely have to.

 

[M.E.Milz]

FWIW, I have the Berlin Hang-On model connected to the sump of my 90 gal. FOWLR tank. I was never all that thrilled with the performance of the skimmer until I finally hooked it up to a Mag 9.5 pump. I am quite pleased with the performance of this skimmer & pump combination.

 

[tazdevil]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

A Mag 7 is a great pump for the Berlin

Does this pump have the air intake for the bubbles or how do you connect it to achieve this (sorry if I sound like an idiot, the pump it comes w/ has a air intake on the front) BTW it is a 75 gall.

 

[Frick-n-Frags]

OK, tazdevil. The Berlin skimmers are venturi skimmers. If you move water really fast down a tube with a pinhole in the side of the tube, it pulls in whatever to go with the flow of water in the tube. The Berlin has an air tube and a little regulation valve connected to the pinhole(venturi)and this is where the very fine bubbles come from. So, the air intake on the pump is not necessary, but you probably could really get the skimmer raging by adding bubbles chopped by the pump to the bubbles sucked in via the venturi.

Also, if anyone's berlin venturi has clogged due to salt creep up the air line, I have found that a cup of hot tapwater sucked through the air intake line will dissolve the salt. I haven't ever had to take my venturi apart and this Berlin is ancient. I really like it, except one of the 2 "standpipes" got brittle and broke off flush. I don't think it runs different. I have a 200+ gallon system and I run the skimmer at a low rate.

 

[jiml77]

Sounds like you have the turbo pump that is made for your skimmer. IME they work pretty well. I don't think you will clear up the slime with different skimming. I did everything recommended and the slime was still there. Finally used chemclean and it went away overnight and has not been back in 6 months. Try more water movement, that seemed to kelp. If you don't use chemicals, you will just need to wait it out.

 

[christian]

guys, i got the prizm, snd no complaints here. one day i'll get one of those big fancy skimmers.

 

[bradwent]

tazdevil,

I purchased a RSB classic used about 8 months ago when I set up my reef on a 72 us gal. I have been less than impressed with the performance of the RSB. I did find some info posted by others, on this site, that recommended purchasing a Kent venturi and replacing the venturi on the RSB. I just received my Kent venturi and replaced it yesterday and the skimmer is already working better than it ever has. The chambers are now completely filled with air bubbles that make it look like milk. Of course, I will have to wait and make an evaluation after more time, but for the cost of the venturi, I think it was worth it. I certainly don't think that it would replace an expensive, well made skimmer, but it should do the job for my current set up. The Kent venturi can be located through
Aquatic Ecosystems

Search for the V34 Turbo-Venturi Injector 3/4"

bradwent

 

[bradwent]

Forgot,

Only issue I have now is constructing a silencer to quite/filter the air intake because now it is noisier.

bradwent

 

[tazdevil]

brad, was your's a standard classic or turbo? BTW the turbo's included pump is very noisy, but isn't a rio at least

 

[bradwent]

tazdevil,

It is the non-turbo Classic. I have read many posts about people upgrading to the turbo and that they weren't that impressed with the performance after the upgrade. I chose not to go that route. Unfortunatley, I am using a Rio 2500 and have to turn down the water flow, may change pump in the future when I have more money to spend.

bradwent