Red Sea Berlin Skimmer

[oakwell]

Ok i have had a Red Sea BErlin Skimmer now running for approx 7 months,but over the last month i have seem its performance drop considerably.

Not sure why and i have cleaned and maintained it on several occasions to get it working at peek performance.

I know the first reply to this would normally be "Get a Deltec" and believe me eventually i aim to do that but money is stopping me at the minute.

I seem to be able to get the skimmer working better by adding a air pump to to the air intake tube but wondered if anyone else had any ideas why i am having probelms?

many thanks

[oakwell]

cant find this thread ...i have to find it by clicking on my name and then clicking on all posts by this user ....any ideas?

[oakwell]

ignore my last message...i had it set to sort in alhabetical order

[Macca]

Is this what you call SPAM?? :eek: Come on Darren :D

James

[oakwell]

No its called THICK!!!...me been thick and not looking properly


Anyone go any ideas on the skimmer?

[liquidlogic]

V2s from TMC and Deltec always got go reveiws :)

[Reefer]

Is it one of those air stone driven ones?? If it is have you replaced the air stone at all? as they get blocked up and eventually stop working.

[Tangman]

Hi Daz. I find people worry to much about their skimmers not working as they did, as your tank matures i think a skimmer will drag out less than it did when it was first set up. Also skimmers will not produce any skimate if there is nothing to take out, i find my skimmer a Aqua Medic 5000 Baby is very hit and miss sometimes it goes mad then other times it does not produce anything at all but my tank remains nice and clear. HTH Eric

[oakwell]

it is'nt air driven its a ventui driven one i have cleaned it and serviced it but still very slow.

Eric i had thought about the system just been clean, but was'nt sure.

I dont overfeed and maybe that my system is just clean??...hope so

Also noticed that i have bitty water alate too what causes this ??
(james has seen this)

Many thanks

Darren

[Macca]

Darren, I had the xl model and the standard model a few years back. What worries me about this skimmer is the venturi seems to be fine one day and poor the next. If the skimmer is showing plenty of air diffusion then I would say your system is clean but I know that you will tell us that the air mixture is low. It is an uphill battle in my opinion keeping this skimmer functioning. Get a deltec :D

James

[oakwell]

cheers james ...i do plan to get a deltec as soon as money becomes available.

i have spent a small fortune getting my little fishhouse kitted out so the wife wount appreciate a few hunred quid been spent at the minute.

Looks like i will have to turn the air pump back on to help it out a little and if that does'nt produce some muck then the sysytem must be clean as theres pleny of sucktion on the air intake pipe

cheers

[Macca]

Darren I know it is a fortune keeping marines. IMHO apart from live rock, the next most important thing is a good skimmer. When I feed our system I know the skimmer will be foaming with protein within 1/2 hour. That way I know the skimmer is doing its job. If I feed the system and the skimmer dosent produce protein muck then I know by the amount I feed there is something wrong. The foam being produced is of the dry variety that produces a thick tar in the collection cup. If your cup is collecting nothing more than a water tea then it is not doing its job correctly IMHO.

James

[Macca]

Looks like i will have to turn the air pump back on to help it out a little and if that does'nt produce some muck then the sysytem must be clean as theres pleny of sucktion on the air intake pipe

It is important that although their is plenty of air being taken it that it is being diffused into minute (sp) air bubbles. This is why deltec and aquamedic patent their needle wheels.

James