Changing a Berlin Turbo pump.

[Reefer94]

I've got a Berlin Turbo -- Venturi pump. 25-250 I think?? Anyway, not positive. I bought the skimmer from a friend for a good price.

Well, now the pump has gone out. I've had nothing but problems with it. I'd like to switch to another pump... I don't have to get the same pump it came with do I? Maybe a Mag 7 I've heard... but then what's a good way to hook up the venturi intake?

55 gallon tank, 60-70 lbs Live rock, 4" deep sandbed... Powerhead 802 and two Maxi Jets, a 900 and a 1200. Also, an Emporer powerfilter (no biowheels, no media). What do ya'll think?

Cheers.

[Rick O]

I made some modifications to a Berlin and now it performs real well. First was to install a 3/4" Kent venturi (be sure to remove the factory venturi). Second was to upgrade to a Mag 9.5. The skimmer went from not working at all to kicking arse.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ry_Code=Valves

http://205.214.81.55/forums/showthre...ghlight=Berlin

[Reefer94]

Are you sure I can go with a 9.5?? Seems pretty tough.

Mine is the Turbo... the venturi is built into the pump. Did you have the same skimmer?



Cheers.

[ShirleyM]

Mine is run by a Mag 7 per Jason's recommendation (PA)...
Rick, wouldn't the 9.5 be too high?

I haven't modified mine yet, but I guess I need to do so.

Rick, how do you regulate the venturi with the modification?
The same modification is on the skimmer in our 125, and we get way too much overflow skim every 3 days - bucket full. Does it need a little airpump valve on the air intake?

Thanks,

Shirley

[asmith]

We have a Red Sea Berlin Classic skimmer with a Mag 9.5. The addition of the Mag 9.5 made the thing skim like crazy. I barely have to open the venturi up at all. If I do, it will quickly fill up the collection cup. I was about to replace my skimmer with a better on, but I decided to try the Mag 9.5 on it after we upgraded tanks and it works great now!

Andrew

[ShirleyM]

I can adjust mine to overskim with the Mag 7...so I can't imagine a Mag 9.....??
Shirley

[Rick O]

This is what I use to control the air. As you can see the air valve is considerably smaller than the air line. With the Mag 7 I had to run this valve wide open to get it to skim. If I had used a larger air valve I probably would have been fine with the Mag 7. With a Mag 9.5 I barely open the valve and it skims like crazy.

Reefer94 I'm not sure how mine differs from yours. I'm not even sure what model I have. I got it with a used system I bought. There was a small venturi screwed into the water inlet pipe that I removed when I installed the Kent venturi.

[ShirleyM]

Thanks, Rick.
What's that thing called? Can you get it at Home Depot or Menards or something?

Thanks,

Shirley

[Rick O]

I've seen them in several LFS. This one came from PA. You'll probably want one with a bigger opening if you're going to stick with the Mag 7.

[asmith]

That looks like a basic airline valve. You can get a package of 4 or so at the LFS for a couple of bucks. They are very handy. We use them to slowly drip water when we are acclimating new additions.

Andrew

[Reefer94]

Anywayz.... back to subject at hand... the Berlin Turbo is relalitvely the same as the Berlin, only on the Turbo there is no venturi valve in the plumbing... the air is sucked in directly through a hose on the pump itself.

Could I still make the same venturi modification to the plumbing and have it work the same way? I need to go ahead and get the project started -- just need to know if I should can Red Sea for another pump or buy a Mag 7.

[Reefer94]

BTW, my skimmer is also a Hang-On... not a sump skimmer.

And in that last paragraph I meant "call Red Sea," not "can Red Sea."