Best Pump For Berlin HO Skimmer

[wolfie]

Sorry if this question been ask and answering before, but I am really in need of help.

Months back I brought a use Red Sea skimmer from another reefer. The HO skimmer come with a Red Sea berlin pump with an air line fix into the pump. Needless to say that the pump had die on me.

I replace the Berlin pump with an max 7 that I had laying around. I am not getting as muck skimming as the old pump and a hold lots of air into my main tank.

This is driving my nutt and I have no clue on how to stop the air from going to my main tank. I look up the net to search for another berlin pump to replace the dead 1 , but so far I have not find anyone that are selling the same pump that had come with the skimmer

This is bad for Red Sea berlin they sale the skimmer with pump, but there are no one salling just the pump. What were they thinking? That the pump will out last the skimmer?

Some help as how get the max 7 working with the skimmer with little air going to the main tank, or where I could get another berlin pump.

Thank

[Geoff]

all i am basing all of my info from a pic in a catalog so please correct me if i am wrong on any of my observations.

the venturi on this pump looks very large. it seems to be an open venturi, meaning the pressure gradient between the inlet side and the outlet side is not very large. it looks like it was designed for a small pump. this type of venturi is used in needle wheel skimmers on the inlet side. i think the problem is that the Mag7 is just to powerfull for the venturi. a Mag 2 (24 watts) may be a better choice.

does the pump that came with the Berlin have a label on it? just wondering how many watts it runs at. this can give a clue on the power of the pump. i am guessing that the pump is rated a lot less than the 60watts that a Mag 7 uses. this is not the greatest measure to use, but can get you in the ballpark. some pumps are much more efficient than others, but it can help us get an idea.

G~

[Geoff]

if the Berlin uses standard PVC pipe sizes, than you can always just get a Kent 1/2" venturi valve and plumb that in after the Mag 7 you have and make a pretty decent skimmer.

G~

[wolfie]

The 1 I got look something like this. Where the air hold are on the pump and not on the side. You are right that the Mag 7 are too strong for it and since the air hold are on the pump and not on it side I have to put the air line right in the mag 7 for it to get air into the skimmer.

here is what it read on the back of the old pump
RED SEA
BERLIN PUMP
......
(look like) 1.5 VA 60Hz 55 Watts T p

IT really tick me off that Doctor Froster and smith sale the Berlin skimmers with pump, but does not sale the pump by it self

[Geoff]

Ok, Marine Depot has a little blurb on their description page about which pumps are used for their skimmers. they have them highlighted so you can order them.

it looks like the Rio 2500 is the replacement.

G~

[wolfie]

THanks, but those Rio does not have an air inlet.
After some more searching I found it Seem like aquariumguys are the only 1 that sale it.
http://www.aquariumguys.com/berlinpump.html

Thanks Geoff for trying to help