Alright, here goes. I've been doing tons of reading recently and have a couple questions. I have been reef keeping for about 5 years and have some skimmer questions. My LFS swears by a RED SEA Berlin. I have a 29 bow with a 7 gal. sump. I have been using the RED SEA powered by a RIO 2500. I had a bad hair algae problem for about two years until I finally started over. My tank has been running for about 8 weeks. Skimmer is wide open and not collecting anything. Plenty of bubbles but can't even flood the skimmer. I always assumed that the resaon I had very little in collection cup was due to the fact that I was seriously over skimming. I am starting to believe that it is rather a lack of skimming. I also am thinking that my horrible algae problem was due to this as well. My tank looks fine now but I want to keep it that way. No hair or red slime this time! Any suggestions? What should be collecting in the cup on a 36 gal with a maroon clown, yellow headed goby, and feeding every other day with a ton of janitors?
red sea skimmer
- Thread starter kweidner1
- Start date
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
I hate to be the first to tell you, but lose the skimmer. The Red Sea is circa 1980's.
I dont know your budget so I am going to recommend a skimmer on the monetary lower end.
Octopus NW200 about $200. This skimmer will do a decent job and it will grow with you if you decide to upgrade.
I dont know your budget so I am going to recommend a skimmer on the monetary lower end.
Octopus NW200 about $200. This skimmer will do a decent job and it will grow with you if you decide to upgrade.
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
If you want to go down that route; I suggest you search for "Berlin skimmer" and see what pops up. There are a few mods, but I dont think its going to help. Just save your money and get a relatively decent skimmer.
ok what suggestions given this scenario then
ok what suggestions given this scenario then
I have a custom made sump in a custom made cabinet....Very small footprint so it will have to be a HOB. THus the RED SEA. I for sure want the most efficient with the smallest footprint. The OCtopus seems like a sump only model. WHat do you guys think? BTW thanks for all the input. You have answered two years worth of frustrations. I just don't want it to happen again.
Ken
ok what suggestions given this scenario then
I have a custom made sump in a custom made cabinet....Very small footprint so it will have to be a HOB. THus the RED SEA. I for sure want the most efficient with the smallest footprint. The OCtopus seems like a sump only model. WHat do you guys think? BTW thanks for all the input. You have answered two years worth of frustrations. I just don't want it to happen again.
Ken
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
Is there any way you can implement a sump?
ridetheducati I do have a sump all be it small. (6-7 gal.) Tiny bow front (28 I think) The sump is just large enough to fit under cabinet w/current skimmer. I need to figure out how to post pictures so you guys can see what I mean. Ucandoit, what kind of skimmer might you have in mind? Do you run into any flooding problems with those if electricity fails?
UCanDoIt
In Memoriam
If you can fit an external skimmer right outside your sump or right outside your tank stand... you could feed the skimmer by a powerhead and the exhaust overflow of he skimmer will dump back into your sump. This is easiest setup w/o any changes in plumbing. Most external skimmers are set it and forget it if they're a good skimmer. If power stops, all the water equalizes to the top waterlevel within your skimmer.
You know, your tank setup really doesn't need a skimmer if you're willing to do 15%-20% waterchanges every week.
You know, your tank setup really doesn't need a skimmer if you're willing to do 15%-20% waterchanges every week.
Reefmaniac1
Active member
If you need a HOB skimmer, try the AquaC Remora.
I have been doing 6 gallon a week water changes. (Sump) I am currently going to try the Kent modification if I can fit it in the sump. I have one of the outlet pipes plugged now and that seemed to raise the foam a bit. I will hold out for a Remora. Got to save some money. I just paid off all those dab blasted credit cards. I refuse to put a penny on them. I will save it. I get paid once a month. My wife and I are both teachers. Thank you both for all the insight. I will keep up the water changes until the day I upgrade. Next step is convincing wife that the 200 odd dollars we spent on Red Sea 5 years ago is basically money down the toilet. I love the livestock at my LFS but not the prices. I want to support local buisness but this will have to come from online.
Thanks again,
Ken
Thanks again,
Ken
SeaView
New member
I am saving for a new skimmer and decided to hook up the red sea berlin turbo skimmer I had until I get a new one. I didn't have the recommended pumps so I hooked up a mag 9.5. I was pretty impressed with how well it worked. Tons of dry foam and it was skimming in less than five minutes. Here is a pic after just 1 day.
The skimate is dark brown and the foam is a very solid consistency. I haven't searched to see what problems people have with the RS berlin skimmers but maybe an underpowered pumps is a major factor.
Just my initial observation.
The skimate is dark brown and the foam is a very solid consistency. I haven't searched to see what problems people have with the RS berlin skimmers but maybe an underpowered pumps is a major factor.
Just my initial observation.
SeaView
New member
No valve that I know of. I just connected to the venturi input on the skimmer. The air reduction screw needed to be closed almost all the way probably less than I turn open. I have a ball valve attached to the 9.5 ( Just because it was easier to plumb for me with this on) but it is opened all the way.
UCanDoIt
In Memoriam
Red Sea is "old school" much better skimmers out there now. But my rule of thumb has always been, if it ain't broke, don't change anything. But if it is...
The green in the skimmate we found out in the below photos is because of dosing with Kent Marine Essential Elements within 24 hours.
This is the new ATi Bubblemaster 150
<IMG SRC="http://usera.imagecave.com/winner/BM150TopView.jpg">
Collection cup in both photos is 6" diameter by 9" tall.
<IMG SRC="http://usera.imagecave.com/winner/BM15048HrsTop.jpg">
The green in the skimmate we found out in the below photos is because of dosing with Kent Marine Essential Elements within 24 hours.
This is the new ATi Bubblemaster 150
<IMG SRC="http://usera.imagecave.com/winner/BM150TopView.jpg">
Collection cup in both photos is 6" diameter by 9" tall.
<IMG SRC="http://usera.imagecave.com/winner/BM15048HrsTop.jpg">
wow on the 150. I think my biggest issue is on the venturi cone. When I first got the thing 5 years ago, it acted much like this. I called red sea and they sent me another cone. Things really picked up after that. Over time the foam slowed down tremendously. I accredit that to the fact that I had skimmed all the skim out of my tank. I am beginning to think that the venturi just wears over time. Must be something to those using the Kent venturi. Anybody know how long the Kent is?
For about 2 yrs a had an incredible tank (tons of softies and a few lps) I moved to the new house that we built 4 years ago and had the biggest hair algae bloom you could ever imagine. I fought it and fought it. Never got it under control. I never gave up, just couldn't whip it. I had a clumsy friend and a chocolate lab in a rather tragic accident with that tank this past october. Corals all over the bedroom and a broken tank. I had just built a solid oak custom stand for the blasted thing and was about to transfer the tank to new stand. I planned on taking the water out JUST NOT ALL AT ONE TIME! Anyway I am rebuilding. I want to start propogation on a bigger level this time. I have very few quality fish stores in the area. I want to be able to trade quality specimens for quality specimens. I am OCD in some respects. I have found some pretty cool specimens I haven't been able to get in the past. I want everything right this time! I see some have had success with red sea. I wonder why we haven't on a broader scale? SEAVIEW is the only thing you have done is overdrive it with the 9.5?
For about 2 yrs a had an incredible tank (tons of softies and a few lps) I moved to the new house that we built 4 years ago and had the biggest hair algae bloom you could ever imagine. I fought it and fought it. Never got it under control. I never gave up, just couldn't whip it. I had a clumsy friend and a chocolate lab in a rather tragic accident with that tank this past october. Corals all over the bedroom and a broken tank. I had just built a solid oak custom stand for the blasted thing and was about to transfer the tank to new stand. I planned on taking the water out JUST NOT ALL AT ONE TIME! Anyway I am rebuilding. I want to start propogation on a bigger level this time. I have very few quality fish stores in the area. I want to be able to trade quality specimens for quality specimens. I am OCD in some respects. I have found some pretty cool specimens I haven't been able to get in the past. I want everything right this time! I see some have had success with red sea. I wonder why we haven't on a broader scale? SEAVIEW is the only thing you have done is overdrive it with the 9.5?
