Hello all this is my first post, glad to join the forum, anyways I currently have a 90 gal LR & Fish set up with some corals. I have been running an Agressor 150 skimmer on the system for about 3-4 years, I just dont get much out of the unit as I used to, I think I may need to just get a better unit, it originally came with a rio pump on the skimmer it died then I added a via aqua and its never been the same since. I have been interested in the new Berlin X2 unit. Has anyone had any experiance with this unit yet? Does anyone have any alternative suggestions? Price is important, I dont want to be cheap but I cant spend a ridiculous amount on a skimmer.

Thanks

Hello cr33p! Welcome to TR! Glad you jumped right in with a question.

Unfortunately...I don't have much experience with the skimmers that are available in the US, but I'm sure another member will jump in soon.

I have had excellent success with H&S (which I think is also available in the US) and I now how a KZ revolution skimmer, which is totally awesome.

What is your price range? I have a Euro-Reef RS135 for my 90 gallon and I really like it. It was $328.

I run an Aquamedic 1000 multi on my 40 gal at home and on 65 and 125 gal tanks at my shop. If I am not mistaken they are "rated" for 200 gallons. As a general rule use a skimmer that is rated for twice your total volume.

What is your price range? I have a Euro-Reef RS135 for my 90 gallon and I really like it. It was $328.

Yeah that is probably a little out of my price range " Im thinking around 200 max"

cr33p, welcome to TR.

I use and sell Top Fathom skimmers. They are basic venturi skimmers but, a work horse. Here's a link to them on my web site - Top Fathom (http://www.theculturedreef.com/skimmers.htm)

If you have questions, post them here, PM or e-mail me, or I have a toll free number in my sig.

Dick

I've heard mixed reviews on the berlins, but if it works for you and it's what you want to try go for it! A lot of people mod skimmers to death IMHO and I've seen too many times where someone has changed a pump to get more and gotten less. There's a reason manufacturers recommend and supply certain pumps... they designed the skimmer to work as efficiently as possible with that pump. You may just want to find out what the rating on the RIO was and try to get closer to that mark or (shudder) pick up another one of the same rio's. You can also do gate valves and all kinds of modding tricks but given the cost of skimmers it's best to let the design of the thing do the work and not play (unless you're into DIY and willing to take the risk, then go for it I say!)

It may also be that the water doesnt have much to skim! A lot of people think that just because a skimmer isnt pulling a ton of skimmate that the skimmer has a problem. Your tank may have matured and is dealing with the dissolved organics much better on it's own and thus there are less in the system. A great example of this oddity is when I started feeding live phytoplankton from my own cultures. I feed more phyto which would lead most to expect the skimmer to go nuts. But seeing as how the majority of the cells are not only live but thriving it's technically not a dissolved organic but a living plankton, hence not skimming out as much. While my skimmer started pulling less my nutrients still dropped despite my increase in feeding, this is because the live algae started feeding on the nutrients itself as well. Some arent so lucky to have a tank strike a balance and it's just one method of keeping a tank compared to so many others that work just as well (and possibly better).

If it concerns you and you want to keep the same skimmer I'd go the pump route. If you want a new one.. I'd go ASM personally and pick a skimmer with a little higher rating than your total volume (sump, skimmer, tank, and all).

In edit... hows that aquamedic Dfisch? I was looking at picking one up for another one of my goofball projects as they've got a nice price on em. I'm using a Remora hang on in the sump of my 72 display with good results but I figure if I'm going to pick up a second skimmer I may as well play the market.

I have a Berlin Classic and am pretty satisfied with it although I have not had another to compare it against. The skimate is dry and dark. There are minimal adjustments, basically just the venturi which I run wide open.

I have a euroreef CS100 on my 90g and it works great. I would definitely recommend it. They now make a RS100 that is supposed to be the same thing. (They no longer make the CS series.) I would think that the RS80 would also be adequate if you load is not extreme.