Sera PS 200 Manuel page 8

US
Information for use
sera marin Protein Skimmer PS 200
Please read these instructions carefully and keep for future use. When forwarding this unit to third parties, this infor-
mation for use is also to be handed over.
The sera marin Protein Skimmer PS 200 is a small and pow-
erful skimmer suitable for aquariums up to approx. 200 liters
(53 US gal.). It is attached to the aquarium glass edge or the
filter chamber by means of the gray holder bracket. The unit is
included with the sera marin Biotop LED Cube 130 kit.
However, it is also suitable for smaller tanks due to its size. It is
therefore also optimally suitable for aquarists who wish to start
a marine aquarium after having kept freshwater aquariums.
Kit includes (3)
3.1 Skimmer with integrated dispergator pump
3.2 Outlet tubing with adjustment valve
3.3 Air hose with adjustment valve
3.4 Vertically adjustable holder bracket
Skimmer tasks
A skimmer is the heart of marine aquarium filtration. It re-
moves protein that is permanently released into the water by
micro organisms, invertebrates and fish. The skimmer re-
moves particles such as floating matter and aerates the
aquarium. Protein not removed from the water will lead to an
increasing amount of harmful substances such as ammonia,
nitrite and nitrate (bacterial breakdown chain beginning with
protein). Keeping marine organisms in closed systems would
be considerably more difficult or, depending on the require-
ments of the species in question, even impossible.
Function principle (4)
The dispergator pump draws in air through the hose (4.1) and
blends it with water drawn in through the slits of the bottom
part of the unit (4.2). The water/air mixture is directed into the
inner reaction chamber of the skimmer (4.3) and rises to the
water surface inside the unit. The bubbles form, pass the flo-
tate cup sieve (4.4) and collect in the flotate cup (4.5), where-
as the water enters the outer chamber of the unit and leaves
the skimmer through the outlet tube (4.6) with adjustment
valve attached on the side.
Assembly instruction (5)
5.1 Cover
5.2 Flotate cup with seal ring
5.3 Internal tube of reaction chamber
5.4 Outer tube/Main tube
5.5 Bottom with integrated dispergator pump
5.6 Rotor
5.7 Bottom part with slits
5.8 Intake opening of the pump
5.9 Vertically adjustable holder bracket
5.10 Air hose connector
5.11 Air hose
5.11.1 Hose fixture for air intake
5.12 Adjustment valve for air supply
5.13 Axle bearing with rubber seals and removable shaft
5.14 Rotatable outlet tubing with adjustment valve
Ø 22 mm (7/8")
5.15 Intake opening of the pump
Attachment inside the second filter chamber of the sera
marin Biotop LED Cube 130 (2) or the aquarium glass
edge (1)
The sera marin Protein Skimmer PS 200 is installed in a
slanted position in the second filter chamber with the outlet
opening directed towards the third chamber (2.1). The holder
bracket is hung in with one eyelet over the filter chamber sep-
aration plates inside the first chamber, and with the other
eyelet in the aquarium zone.
The unit can of course also be operated in other similarly
sized aquariums. The unit is attached to the upper edge of
the back or side aquarium pane by means of the gray holder
bracket. The snap-in points allow for precise vertical adjust-
ment of the skimmer. It is recommended to immerse the
skimmer in the aquarium up to the upper gray ring. The air
hose of the unit must protrude out of the water, and the stick-
on valve that allows adjusting the air intake must be entirely
open. The adjustable outlet of the unit is located below the
water surface.
The skimmer is now ready for operation and can be started.
Operation
After switching on the pump, air is automatically drawn into
the skimmer and scattered into fine bubbles by the rotor of
the pump. The water level inside the skimmer rises slightly
above the water level of the filter or the aquarium, respective-
ly. The pump will now blend water and air. Starting a skimmer
for the first time will often lead to relatively strong foam for-
mation: Extremely moist foam will end up in the flotate cup
(5.2) which quickly runs full of water this way. In that case a
temporarily reduced air intake at the air regulator (5.12) or a
very low water level inside the skimmer will help. For achiev-
ing this purpose, re-adjusting the holder bracket (5.9) allows
placing the unit in a position protruding higher above the wa-
ter surface. Additionally, the water level inside the skimmer
can be adjusted by the outlet valve. Each aquarium has its
own biology and its own protein level.
One day after starting the unit you should adjust it more pre-
cisely for the first time, in case too much liquid is skimmed as
well as in case no foam has formed: If no foam has appeared
so far, the skimmer should be immersed deeper. The air sup-
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