new berlin protein skimmer

hitman · 06-20-2004, 11:00 PM

hello guys. i was wondering if someone could help me out again. i'm wondering if my skimmer is set up right. mines good up to 200 g and i have 150 gals.i know my tank is new(in a cycle) but shouldn't i have to dump it more often then once in 2 weeks. there isn't much in it. can someone help me out.

addict · 06-21-2004, 12:35 AM

Without any bioload to speak of in your tank, you probably won't need to empty it much... once things start picking up I'm sure that'll change.

I've heard mixed reports on the Berlin skimmer though... seems to be one of those 'love it or hate it' items...

BoomerD · 06-21-2004, 01:56 AM

I agree on the love em/hate em...Doubt it's really good for 200 gallons, but then again, the Prizm Pro is rated for 200 gallons too...

OOPS!! have to edit for accuracy...Prizm Pro Delux is rated for 300 gallons!

Su-uure it is...

ScottT1980 · 06-21-2004, 08:01 AM

I have the red sea berlin skimmer and to be honest, I think they are poor at best. However, I have gotten mine working much more efficiently by putting another $75 worth of mods onto it. I dumped the pump that came with the skimmer, bought a kent's venturi valve, and then pushed that with a mag 5. It skims my 55 gallon at the perfect amount. However, if I had a larger tank or it was SPS dominated, I would a) go with a much larger pump (mag 9 perhaps) or b) get an ASM/Euro-reef/Aqua C/any other skimmer on the market

JMO of course

Take er easy
Scott T.

hitman · 06-21-2004, 08:01 AM

should i have got one that was bigger and is so should i just put another one in the sump? i won't get my money back on this unit. i have had it for a month

ScottT1980 · 06-21-2004, 08:06 AM

I would say either do the mods and give it a try or go with a new skimmer (if you can return the old one). It is a matter of costs and benefits.

It really is just a matter of what you are willing to do with your money and what type of tank you plan on having. If you do plan on having an SPS tank, I would go ahead and get the new skimmer. If you are just planning on having a FO or a softy, then perhaps the mods will get you to where you need to go. Of course, it might be cheaper for you to just return the berlin (if possible) and go with an ASM or Aqua C...

Take er easy
Scott T.

mattie · 06-21-2004, 11:09 AM

1st the tank is new! so do not expect much to come out for a while
2nd as stated above that red sea is not as effective as newer technology......it is not bad but for a 150 i would think it is not quite enough most people i know with that skimmer say it works great but have them on a 75 or smaller. most people i know with a 120 or bigger run a euro-reef skimmer more tunable and a needle wheel impeller makes it more effective....
but do you really need to change out your skimmer...?.......? = NO
with some proper planning and alot of pateince your skimmer will work fine..... some people even me always think bigger is better..
but proper planning and timing of stocking your aquarium will make a better improvement every time than a more costly skimmer

addict · 06-21-2004, 01:57 PM

If you're not afraid to DIY (or have a friend good at DIY), you might want to try the 'ultimate' Red Sea Berlin modification:
The Ultimate Red Sea Berlin Upgrade

It basically turns the skimmer into an AquaC-style skimmer, and from what I hear the results are astounding. The pix don't look too complicated, and even though the injector isn't shown I'm sure that isn't very difficult to engineer either.
I think I also pointed this thread out to Scott a couple months ago, but at the time the photos were offline...
HTH.

ScottT1980 · 06-21-2004, 03:36 PM

Sweet!!! Thanks RA

hitman · 06-21-2004, 03:50 PM

thanks. wonder if someone can make me one?

hitman · 06-21-2004, 04:50 PM

if i can't get someone to make me one and i'm able to return mine to my pet store is this protein skimmer a good one? but if someone out there can make me one for a 150 gal tank like the p
ic then i'll go that way. not sure if i'll be able to return mine.i'll pay someone to make and ship. thanks

BoomerD · 06-21-2004, 05:23 PM

The picture that you posted looks like an Aqua-C skimmer, which is kind of what they are converting the Berlin into. Excellent skimmers. For a 150, you'd want either a 180 or 240 to do a good job of skimming. they are for sale on RC all the time...

hitman · 06-21-2004, 05:37 PM

what is the web site? i'm from canada

BoomerD · 06-21-2004, 05:47 PM

Aqua-C

Available through most of the better mail order houses, and I'm sure they'd ship to youse furriners...

06-20-2004, 11:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
hitman Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: canada Posts: 43 View Gallery Karma Komment	new berlin protein skimmer hello guys. i was wondering if someone could help me out again. i'm wondering if my skimmer is set up right. mines good up to 200 g and i have 150 gals.i know my tank is new(in a cycle) but shouldn't i have to dump it more often then once in 2 weeks. there isn't much in it. can someone help me out.

06-21-2004, 12:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	Without any bioload to speak of in your tank, you probably won't need to empty it much... once things start picking up I'm sure that'll change. I've heard mixed reports on the Berlin skimmer though... seems to be one of those 'love it or hate it' items... __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

06-21-2004, 01:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	I agree on the love em/hate em...Doubt it's really good for 200 gallons, but then again, the Prizm Pro is rated for 200 gallons too... OOPS!! have to edit for accuracy...Prizm Pro Delux is rated for 300 gallons! Su-uure it is... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com Last edited by BoomerD : 06-21-2004 at 01:59 AM.

06-21-2004, 08:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,485 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have the red sea berlin skimmer and to be honest, I think they are poor at best. However, I have gotten mine working much more efficiently by putting another $75 worth of mods onto it. I dumped the pump that came with the skimmer, bought a kent's venturi valve, and then pushed that with a mag 5. It skims my 55 gallon at the perfect amount. However, if I had a larger tank or it was SPS dominated, I would a) go with a much larger pump (mag 9 perhaps) or b) get an ASM/Euro-reef/Aqua C/any other skimmer on the market JMO of course Take er easy Scott T. __________________ My Tank

06-21-2004, 08:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
hitman Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: canada Posts: 43 View Gallery Karma Komment	should i have got one that was bigger and is so should i just put another one in the sump? i won't get my money back on this unit. i have had it for a month Last edited by hitman : 06-21-2004 at 08:05 AM.

06-21-2004, 08:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,485 View Gallery Karma Komment	I would say either do the mods and give it a try or go with a new skimmer (if you can return the old one). It is a matter of costs and benefits. It really is just a matter of what you are willing to do with your money and what type of tank you plan on having. If you do plan on having an SPS tank, I would go ahead and get the new skimmer. If you are just planning on having a FO or a softy, then perhaps the mods will get you to where you need to go. Of course, it might be cheaper for you to just return the berlin (if possible) and go with an ASM or Aqua C... Take er easy Scott T. __________________ My Tank

06-21-2004, 11:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
mattie RS Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Torrance CA Posts: 522 View Gallery Karma Komment	1st the tank is new! so do not expect much to come out for a while 2nd as stated above that red sea is not as effective as newer technology......it is not bad but for a 150 i would think it is not quite enough most people i know with that skimmer say it works great but have them on a 75 or smaller. most people i know with a 120 or bigger run a euro-reef skimmer more tunable and a needle wheel impeller makes it more effective.... but do you really need to change out your skimmer...?.......? = NO with some proper planning and alot of pateince your skimmer will work fine..... some people even me always think bigger is better.. but proper planning and timing of stocking your aquarium will make a better improvement every time than a more costly skimmer __________________ www.reef-care.com

06-21-2004, 01:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	If you're not afraid to DIY (or have a friend good at DIY), you might want to try the 'ultimate' Red Sea Berlin modification: The Ultimate Red Sea Berlin Upgrade It basically turns the skimmer into an AquaC-style skimmer, and from what I hear the results are astounding. The pix don't look too complicated, and even though the injector isn't shown I'm sure that isn't very difficult to engineer either. I think I also pointed this thread out to Scott a couple months ago, but at the time the photos were offline... HTH. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

06-21-2004, 03:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,485 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sweet!!! Thanks RA __________________ My Tank

06-21-2004, 03:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
hitman Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: canada Posts: 43 View Gallery Karma Komment	thanks. wonder if someone can make me one? Last edited by hitman : 06-21-2004 at 04:50 PM.

06-21-2004, 04:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
hitman Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: canada Posts: 43 View Gallery Karma Komment	if i can't get someone to make me one and i'm able to return mine to my pet store is this protein skimmer a good one? but if someone out there can make me one for a 150 gal tank like the p ic then i'll go that way. not sure if i'll be able to return mine.i'll pay someone to make and ship. thanks

06-21-2004, 05:23 PM	#12 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	The picture that you posted looks like an Aqua-C skimmer, which is kind of what they are converting the Berlin into. Excellent skimmers. For a 150, you'd want either a 180 or 240 to do a good job of skimming. they are for sale on RC all the time... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

06-21-2004, 05:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
hitman Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: canada Posts: 43 View Gallery Karma Komment	what is the web site? i'm from canada

06-21-2004, 05:47 PM	#14 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Aqua-C Available through most of the better mail order houses, and I'm sure they'd ship to youse furriners... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

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