Berlin XL skimmer pump questions

casethekid · #1 09/25/2005, 09:49 AM

I won this skimmer at an auction on ebay minus the pump. I need some information about which pump to add to it. I would like to have a needlewheel pump, but I can't seem to find one that will work. I want to run the pump externally as well, so any ideas or comments on setup would be appreciated.

casethekid · #2 09/25/2005, 10:41 PM

well, maybe more info on my system. I have 4 clown fish, 2 mandarin dragonets, a pseudochromis, orange spotted sleeper goby and a bangaii (sp?) cardinal fish, all in a 75 gallon tank with 110W of PC lighting, and 150lbs of live rock. I do have a DSB that's about 3" at the deepest point, and some mushroom coral, some encrusting gorgonian and green star polyps. I want to lose both of the CPR backpack skimmers that I am using and I figured this was a good start. I really wanted a Euro-reef skimmer but too much $$ for me right now. Any suggestions?

Pyrrhus · #3 09/30/2005, 11:35 PM

remove the fittings on the outflow of the skimmer and replace them with 3/4" thread x barb tees. remove the old air nipple and airline and replace with 1/4" airline tubing and nipple and add a valve to scale back the air flow (you will need it.)
the recommended mag 5 pump is capable of external use, but you could use any 500gph external pump with similar head pressure. i think an iwaki 15 or 20 rlt or a little giant 2mdq-sc would do the job nicely. remember to use ball valves between the pump and skimmer so you can scale the water flow back if you have to.

casethekid · #4 10/03/2005, 01:12 PM

well, apparently not too many people use these skimmers. Are they any good? Should I bother with setting it up? Will it do what the 2 CPR bak-pak skimmers are doing or will it be better? Does anyone have pics of how this skimmer should be set up to be most efficient? I am getting an ozone generator later this week to help even more with skimming. Thanks for the reply