Quick Skimmer Question

[Snorkel in my tank]

Hi, much thanks in advance to anyone who responds. I know these are not the most thrilling questions, but I really am trying to figure this out and appreciate anyone's advice. I have a Red Sea Berlin Skimmer, rated for 25-250 gallons (I got it from an aquarium store used for 80 bucks I think), and use it with a Rio 2500 pump. My tank is 150 gallons, but has the stock of about a 90 gallon tank. Here's my problem/question:


It only makes thick foam, and takes out sticky chunks of dark green stuff, it makes only a few drops of liquid... is this bad? Should it be making liquid? Sometimes it makes hardly any foam, but I know there are nutrients in the tank. The bubbles flowing through the skimmer are not too plentiful, but they are there, I can't tell if its not enough.


Also, I bought it use and it didn't come with a top. The foam just sort of makes a big mushroom cloud, and eventually falls down into cup on the top. Will this effect the function of the skimmer?

Thanks, if anyone needs any more info, please ask and I'll give it.

 

[Len]

Some people prefer dry foam and others prefer wet. It's really not bad to have dry foam IMO. I'd make sure the venturi isn't clogged in any spot since that's what it sounds like.

You should place a cover over the cup. Any cover will do really. It'll help the foam collaspe over the neck into the cup as opposed to rising and falling back into the neck.

Hope that helps.

 

[Baianotang]

Dry skimmate SOMETIMES means that the skimmer is not at its best performance rate (you will need to increase the flow of water and bubbles in the reaction chamber)

 

[Anonymous]

I have this same skimmer, and the venturi gets clogged! (when I clean mine I get a wetter foam).
You need to unscrew the nipple the venturi line is attached to, it gets clogged with salt. A very easy fix!

 

[Johnsteph10]

Clean the line with a dip in freshwater (or even warm to hot freshwater), put a top on it like Len said (the bubbles coming in contact with a surface will cause them to pop and the liquid to pool), and reconsider that Rio2500. It may work now, it may even work later, but don't count on it. Rios also clog easily...

Good luck!/Happy Reefing

John

 

[ufans]

Browncj7, What nipple are you talking about? The venturi on the pump or the air hose that is connected to the intake of the Protein Skimmer?

 

[ufans]

I was using a RIO 2500 with my Berlin Classic, but switched to a Mag7 because of the bad rumors about Rios. In the process I added a T to power a bio-wheel, but I think I might have reduced the gph too low because now I don't get any foam and the bubbles are only in the inner cylinder. I figure that once I upgrade to the Mag9 it will be fixed...

Now that you talk about air intake I wonder if that might be a contributing factor.

 

[Anonymous]

The one on the skimmer.