maybe for the classic but for the xl i have experienced better results with a larger pump and have heard from other people to go larger than a mag 7.this pump will work but why not spend a few more bucks for one a bit bigger.

Ditto to Brad's last comment (man you keep beating me to them, don't you EVER log off?) :lol:

I've also read of many hobbiests experiments with larger pumps on the Berlin skimmer, specifically 9.5 and 12 models. The concensus has been that after the MAG 7, the increase in skimming is minimal at best, just wasting money on a larger pump, and using more electricity to run it.

For the difference in price between a MAG 7 and MAG 9.5 ($25) your money would be much better spent on a Kent Turbo Venturi to replace the factory Berlin venturi. This upgrade, coupled with the MAG 7, apparently causes the Berlin to skim like nobodys business!

Marc,

The algae came on really slowly, well it just sort of appeared on the sandbed and such but wasn't too terrible. Someone told me to do a water change so I did a 25%. That didn't help and the algae was progressing. Then after going away for a couple of days the algae was just gross. It was starting to clog my corals and the sandbed was a mess. I was told to do a bigger water change (50%). This didn't help. So now I guess I concentrate on the skimmer issue.

Is that a bit clearer? :D

Christy :)

Christy, you have mail.

Hi Christy, how's the tank? I took the advice you were given by the others for my tank and scrubbed by rocks. Chromis got upset and died! Had the tank blocked of from all light and ajter three days turned lights back on. Algae all ready back again with in the week. Aaagh! Phosgard changed every week with 5%water change. Alk is 2.94. Any more suggestions????
Rachel

Rachel, what type of algae do you have? First thing I would do is try and get the alk up closer to 4. Next you might want to invite some of the Victoria guys to come see your tank. Maybe we can figure it out together! :D

Hi Brad, HAIR algae, and I seem to think I offered to host a meeting on Sat. but no one ofered to come up :D :D . I could have you guys up on rememberence day since I am off or perhaps on the 10 if it was the middle of the afternoon as I get off nights that morning and I need some beauty sleep :) Would that work for anyone??? Rachel

Hi,

Yupe, I would agree that a high alk will help slow down the growth of green algae. If you are not doing it already, I would drip kalk in to the system to help bring the pH up and control the pH swings. Keeping alk will hold the algae at bay for a while, but it can't keep it there forever.

Hair algae usually means there isn't enough nutrient export. Nutrient import comes from food, light and other sources. Nutrient export is usually our skimmer and a refugium. So, you'll have to decide how you want to improve your nutrient export or how to reduce your unwanted nutrient import. Basically, a balance between import and export is needed. So, this is something you'll need to work at in the long term.

Good luck !

- Victor.

Hey guys,

Rachel, well I don't really know what the secret is. I tried scrubbing (really frustrating), and increasing the alkalinity. My skimmer is the next thing to try. I don't have hair algae anymore. I would mostly attribute that to a lawnmower blenny, kole tang and 4 emerald crabs. However I do have this ungodly disgusting brown dusty algae now which annoys me to no end and is totally wreaking havoc on my corals. My next move is to try a more powerful pump on my skimmer but I'm getting really frustrated. Nobody is happy inside or outside of my tank!

Christy :)

HI Christy, ok make me jealous, no hair algae!!!! I have a good skimmer and it is working great. I have refungium with lots of calerpa(sp?) and a sump, neither of them have any hair algae. There is even 12 hr of light above them. I have 2 emerald crabs and some other crabs. Ithink I need more emeralds (4) and maybe another sally light foot to replace the one that died. Iam trying to get the alk up and the test kit for pH shows it is stable at 8. I think I need you guys up for the visual inspection if we can work something out. :D . Rachel