Berlin HO Skimmer???

[canadawest]

Calling all Red Sea Berlin skimmer users, past or present!!!

I just replaced my little Prizm skimmer with a Red Sea Berlin HO skimmer powered by a RIO 2500. I got the used skimmer and pump for only $150, so I figured it was a good deal for an upgrade.

Anyways, aside from being leery about the RIO 2500 pump, I am concerned with the output of the skimmer thus far. I do know that skimmers require a break-in period, but how long is it with the Berlin? So far I barely get any foam out of it, and this is with the airline and pump running wide open for the past 18 hours. The skimmer was pretty clean so I suspect that it does need to get a scum coating before it really produces good foam, but I am wondering what other's experiences are with this skimmer?

Anyone with tips, tricks, or anecdotal experience with Red Sea Berlin skimmers, specifically the HO model, please PLEASE let me know!

[Dman]

I've run two regular RSB skimmers pretty much most of the time I've been in this hobby and I find that if there is nothing to take out of the water the skimmer is pretty quiet, production wise. But when there is, SLAM it's taken care of.
Dman
:spin:

[canadawest]

Well it looks like the skimmer just needed 48 hours to "break-in" because now it's producing a nice dry foam. I am still going to upgrade the venture with a Kent Turbo venturi as I have read that people who have done it all say it makes a huge increase in production on these skimmers.

And as soon as I get some extra cash, that RIO pump will go for a MAG 7 or 9.5.

[theo]

What is the kent venturi and where an I get them?

[theo]

Never mind I just found then on mops, but what is suppose to make the big difference? What I'd really like to see is a good diy on installing a becket foan injection nozzle on to a Berlin.

[stephane]

beckett would blow them away but im not shure if a berlin have the capacity to flow all the water requir to fire up the becket valve
you probably would not have enought contact time to do well

Stephane

[canadawest]

Theo, from what I've read the factory Berlin Venturi on these units is supposed to be pathetic compared to the Kent Turbo or Mazzi venturis available. While I haven't seen one in person, from the photos I've seen of them in action they produce 2-3x more bubbles than the OEM Berlin venturi. Also if you look at the Kent Turbo venturi, the airline tubing is at least double the diameter of the OEM Berlin tubing, so it can swallow more air than the Berlin.

All I know is for $30 it sounds like an excellent way to make your existing Berlin Classic or Berlin HOT skimmer perform even better.

I should be doing the conversion in the next week or two, I'll let you know what my own personal experience is.

[Dman]

Canadawest,
Definately keep us up-to-date on how the conversion went and any observations on skimmer performance after the fact. Mostly 'cause it sounds like something I might want to do to my RSB Classic
Dman
:spin:

[maplereef]

Hey guys
I am running a classic with a mag 7 but changed to an upgrade by Berlin.. the turbo pump ... it works alot better... way more bubbles than the mag 7 ever had.. at 1 time i tired a rio 2500 and it seem to work better than the mag .. I have a 125 reef tank and i decided that i was going to upgrade skimmers all together
Just my experence
:)

[canadawest]

Hey Maple,

I've heard mixed results with the Berlin "Turbo" upgrade, and it's pretty pricey.

Most people who have done an upgrade to their Berlin have gone the replacement venturi route with excellent results. For only $30 it's much cheaper than the "Turbo" upgrade and gives as good or better results I'm hearing.

I'll try a replacement Kent Turbo venturi or a Massei venturi and see how the RIO 2500 performs, then if I want even more output I'll get rid of the RIO and put in a MAG 7 or 9.5.

But thanks for the info, nice to hear that someone is getting better results with the Berlin Turbo upgrade.