Berlin Protein Skimmer Problems

[sam1174]

I bought a complete setup off of cragslist. I got a really good deal, but my new Berlin protein skimmer isn't working. There are two issues. First, it leaks like a sieve from the point where the cup meets up with the main part of the skimmer. I don't know if it is missing an O-ring or something. Second, I'm getting very little flow through it. I took the pump off, and it squirts water like crazy, but as soon as I hook it up to the skimmer the water seems to just trickle out. It's almost like it's clogged up or something. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance. I wish I had known about this site 6 months ago.

 

[Bri Guy]

Re: Berlin Protein Skimmer Problems

Make sure that both outputs are not restricted in any way. The outputs shouldn't be under water either that would create back flow. Or don't have the output going "uphill" at any point. Im not sure if this is your problem, but just trouble shooting, seems like back presure.

Do you have it in sump, or inline? How deep is it sumurged if its in sump?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9986468#post9986468 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sam1174
I wish I had known about this site 6 months ago.

I had a SW for 5yrs before I found this site, I could have learned ALL those mistakes on someone elses dollar.

 

[sam1174]

When I first hooked it up it was sitting to the side of the sump, and both of the outputs were going into the sump. As soon as it started leaking I shut it down and cleaned up the mess. Then I disassembled everything and reassembled it in a spare 10 gallon tank, just to see if I could figure out what was wrong. That's when I discovered the flow issue.

I hooked the Rio 1700 to the input with a 6 inch length of flex. Then I filled the tank up about halfway. Both of the outputs were submerged, but it didn't seemed to make any difference because they were both mostly full of air. The Rio wasn't even pushing enough water through to fill up the outputs. The Rio is putting out a really strong stream by itself, but the water out of the skimmer just trickles.

 

[Bri Guy]

If all hoses were fully cleaned, which im assuming, try it again, but this time, don't sumerge the outputs, the back pressure can/could effect the flow.