question about red sea skimmer

[pontiac]

I, against better judgement, have a red sea prism skimmer rated for 100gal. It was , at the time the only one I had except for the other piece of junk, a seaclone 150 The prob is, the seaclone works okay, but the red sea wont skim at all, no matter how I adjust it all I get in the cup after three of four days is maybe a teaspoonful. I have even taken it apart and started all over again with no luck. Has anyone else had this prob? Or does anyone know how I could mod it? And could anyone suggest A good one for my 150? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again you guys, still learnin this stuff

 

[pontiac]

Anyone?

 

[theatrus]

Sadly there is not too much hope for that skimmer. Is it the prism or the berlin one? If its the berlin (with airpump) are the airblocks new? They can clog up relatively fast.

 

[chucksta1]

Berlin 101.....

First off, the skimmer is super sensitive to water levels. if you've got a HOB (hang on back) you need to have the pump as close to the surface as possible. Even then, the daily evap will take it from wet skimming to not working, if the tank drops more than a half inch, the skimmer will stop working. It's that sensitive. The adjuster for the nose of the pump is a twitchy piece of kit. It has the plastic on plastic feel of being "notchy", plus you have to stick your hand in the tank to adjust it. If you've had it appart, make sure you 've put it together right, or it won't flow right past the venturi. Take the air tube out of the holder and use a gang valve needle to regulate the air to the needle wheel. Call "Pinky" at red sea if you've got the old style needle wheel, and she'll ship you the newer one for free or just charge you handling. She's great and she cares. Count the blades on the needle wheel before you call.

At best, you can make it work, but it'll never be "plug and play". It' will be a "pita" "pos" You can mod it tweak it and make it work, but you should plan on replacing it.

Good luck.

Chuck.

 

[pontiac]

No, it"s not the berlin one, it is the prism. I new from the time it hit the tank it was junk, hard leason learned. Could any of you guys recamend somthing good that is reliable? I"ve tried the gang valve needle and no luck, both of these things are goin in the trash as soon as I get a good one