Age old question

[Reefer94]

I'm doing the Berlin modification. Need some feedback, asap.

I've got the Hang-On Turbo. It has the venturi IN THE PUMP. A hose comes directly down to it. There's no venturi in the pipes.

Well, the pump went out. I'm about to buy a Mag 7 and possibly a kent venturi. Can I do the same modification as the normal Berlin? I was planning on just working the venturi into the plumbing somehow, long as the Turbo is 3/4". Does the kent venturi have to be horizontal? Will it fit the skimmer?

I also heard I needed a Mag 9 or Sen 900, anyone used either one of these?

[Doug1]

I dont recall the exact arrangement on these skimmers, they always seemed to complicated to me. The venturi in the pump doesn't make sense tho, I have seen these being run by several different powerheads.
I have a Sen 900 and its a great pump, but its huge, prolly 2.5 times size of my Mag18 FWIW

[Reefer94]

The pump has an air line that runs to the surface and the pump takes in air through the impeller into the skimmer.

It's just like a seaclone, the pump anyway, only bigger. The kent venturi is a 3/4", the Berlin turbo says PVC 25... slightly smaller than 3/4". Anyone know how to make that conversion?

Lots of questions, answer any that you can. The Turbo is the same as the regular HO, only the venturi is closed and you get the pump with the airline.

MOST IMPORTANTLY.... Mag 7 or Mag 9.5??

[Doug1]

Are you going to use it in conjunction with the Venturi to upgrade the skimmer?

[Reefer94]

Yes. I'm hoping to run the pump in the tank out to a venturi valve and into the skimmer that way. It is a Hang-On skimmer.

The PVC fittings on the skimmer say PVC 25, PN16. I know a kent venturi is 3/4", PVC 1 I think, but I'm not sure. I need to know basically if I need a Mag 7 or a Mag 9.5 and if I can find a venturi to fit the skimmer's PVC connections.

[Reefer94]

I know it's a tough subject... but I know someone out there has had to do this to this skimmer! Anyone??

[Doug1]

Do you know what the flowrate for the original pump was. Even allowing for a slight reduction in flow from the venturi upgrade, you will still be limited by the skimmer itself as to how much water you can force thru it

[big t]

I have heard, that on a normal berlin you can run a mag 9.5. The reason your skimmer is a 'turbo' is because instead of a nomal impeller, it is a turboflotor, which used a needle wheel to chop up the air/water into fine bubbles. So if you want to upgrade here is what ya do, imho (I have never done this but it should work) buy the mag 9.5, run the line out of the tank. Then next add a ball valve, then the new venturi, then from the venturi plumb into your intake to the skimmer, and it will run like a normal berlin. You can do all this plumbing behind the tank out of view. The ball valve is to regulate the flow from the mag 9.5 if need be. That should work for ya. You could use a mixture of pvc and flex pvc for plumbing w/ elbows and whatnot. HTH

[Reefer94]

Okay... cool. So a Mag 9.5 and a Kent Venturi shouldn't be a waste... Anyone have any experience with the kent venturi? Can it be installed vertically?

btw... exactly how big is that mag 9.5??? I'm in a 55 gal. still!

[big t]

I think that the venturi will work vertically fine, as long as the air tube can get air, you may want to put some sort of valve on it, like the ones on maxijets venturi. I would put a air hose on it if possible and run it abouve the water line incase power goes out, no leak. So I think the pump may be a bit intrusive, maybe around 4"x3"x3" with a intake sticking out one side. This should greatly improve your skimming, but it may also greatly increase the amount of microbubbles in your tank! Gotta get a sump dude! You may be able to figure out some sort of bubble trap fwiw.

[Reefer94]

I know, man. I'm working on getting a 75 gallon, pre drilled... but that's many dollars and months away. A sump would kick much a**.

So the ball valve just redirects or splits the flow... doesn't back up the pump? Sorry... a bit new to this plumbing thing. I guess I'll need to cover the pump in the rocks... geez.

In that case I'll probably order one tonight. Thanks...

[big t]

Well the ball valve would just be like a throttle, if you can run it wide open unrestricted, but if it is too much you can throttle it back, restricting it if you will (wont hurt the pump) and it just makes the pump run less water thru the skimmer. You will love it once you get your sump, you will then be able to just plop you skimmer down in there, very nice.

[Reefer94]

Stupid question, but the ball valve would be out of the water, underwater, or either way?

Think I'm going to go ahead and get the Mag 9.5 and kent venturi. I've heard people can screw it right into the base.
And, the skimmer will be usable on that larger tank.

[ShirleyM]

Originally posted by big t
I think that the venturi will work vertically fine, as long as the air tube can get air, you may want to put some sort of valve on it, like the ones on maxijets venturi. I would put a air hose on it if possible and run it abouve the water line incase power goes out, no leak.

Ditto what Tom said...
We have a Kent Venturi set up vertically from the Mag 5 to the skimmer, all in the sump, set up vertically b/c it won't fit in the sump horizontally, and we had to get a fitting to make it fit the skimmer (reduce it a little). It is working fine. As Tom said, we put a little aquarium air regulator valve on the end of the air intake line b/c it was overskimming. Also, do keep the air intake line above the water line or it will siphon water when the power goes out...running water out of the air intake and onto the floor.

Shirley

[big t]

I would have the ball valve out of the water, so you don't have to look at it.