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DIY: TURBOCHARGED Berlin Skimmer
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Full View of TURBOCHARGED Skimmer
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Are you tired of adjusting the Berlin Skimmer to make it skim properly?
Are you frustrated from the sporadic flooding from your Berlin Skimmer?
I may have the answer to your problem!
Here is some info for all you DIY'ers on making the Berlin Skimmer the best it can be!
This modification was done on a Berlin Classic HOT. I am not sure if the new Turbo Berlin has the air-venturi at the base and whether it can be modified to similar to mine.
The Berlin skimmer is a great design by having the triple pass chamber. As I found out, the chamber can hold much more air bubbles then what the venturi valve can produced. The problem with using a large pump to get more bubbles is that sporadic flooding can take place. Or that you are not getting the dry bown foam and instead wet foam is produced. Wet foam is not desirable and is considered overskimming. Overskimming is when you get not only the organic waste, but a large portion of the saltwater itself. I have been playing around with this skimmer for the last month wondering how I can overcome this problem. The answer is to "TurboCharged" your Berlin!
This is not the same as the Turbo-Kit supplied by RedSea. As a matter of fact, I bought the kit and found the results to be pathetic. However, with a simple modification, you'll be amazed of the potential of this skimmer!
The secret is to increase the height of the collection cup so that it will be very difficult for a strong pump to cause an overflow.
The pump I use is the Turbo-Jet pump designed for the Turbo-Berlin skimmer. However, I did not use the air inlet at the pump, because the results I get was just pathetic. I do however, like the strong current I am getting into the skimmer with the flow valve of the pump fully open.
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Supplies Required:
1: 2 sched 20 2"x3" PVC coupling from Home Depot.
2: Aquarium Silicone
3: Airline tubing with STRONG airpump
4: Limewood airstone.
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Note the bubble extends all the way down. You can't see the limewood!
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MODIFICATON:
1:
Get the schedule 20 PVC 2" diameter and 3" long from home depot.
It cost like 70 cents each and make sure you get the PVC coupling and not the straight through. The difference is that the coupling has a smaller inner diamater that seats perfectly on the Berlin 2" neck.
If you take one of the PVC and seats it in the body neck, it should not slide all the way through. If it does, you got the wrong one!
2:Using 2 PVC, silicone them together to get a 6" extension. Silicone one end of the PVC to the bottom of the collection cup. That's it!
When placing the modified collection cup with it's 6" neck, make sure it's level and fits snuggling, otherwise you'll have a leak! You can add gaskets if you like, but I found out it's not really necessary as long as you are aware of the problem.
3:
Drill a hole in the center of the collection cup cap to allow the airline tubing to go through. Make sure it's not too big! This allows you to run the limewood into the center chamber of the skimmer.
PS: With this new mod, what size of a tank you think this skimmer
can handle???
Check out more pics of skimmer & fishes by clicking on the PHOTO PAGE link above.
DISCLAIMER:
By doing the modification, you can blame noone but yourself if:
1: It doesn't work to your satisfaction
2: You void your warranty on your product
3: Your injured yourself or others
4: You kill all your pets
5: You still have floods in your house cause by this skimmer
7: RedSea hates you and would not support you (haha).
8: You are so happy with your skimmer and hate everything else.
  
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