Aqua Medic Turboflotor Blue 500 Mode D'emploi page 9

Fig. 2: Venturi pump AQ 750 with mesh wheel
1. Motor housing
2. O-rings
3. Rubber bearing with washer
4. Ceramic shaft
5. Rotor with mesh wheel
6. Air inlet fitting
7. Cap for pump housing
8. Filter basket
9. 4 rubber feet
10. 4 plugs for rubber feet
3. Theory
Protein skimming is a method of physical water treatment. It uses a phenomenon known from our
daily experience: the adhesion of surface active substances to air water layers. If we add a drop of
oil to a water surface, a thin film is produced with a thickness of only one molecule. Surface active
compounds like proteins behave in the same way. The Turboflotor Blue 500 uses its air bubbles to
create a large water surface for the waste substances to attach themselves to. These air bubbles
are forced into the reactor-pipe in a such a way that they undergo a long contact time within the
counter-current. Enriched with organic substances, they rise to the top and form a firm foam that
is dehydrated and pushed into the collection cup. This method removes organic wastes from
aquarium water before they become part of the biological waste treatment cycle.
The venturi pump AQ 750 draws water out of the aquarium or filter chamber, mixes it with air in
the pump housing which is then cut into small air bubbles by the Aqua Medic mesh wheel (5). This
water/air mixture is then pumped into the reaction pipe where organic substances are taken up by
air bubbles. Foam is formed and pushed into the foam cup. The purified water leaves the skimmer
via outlet and is directed back to the aquarium or filter sump by the drain gutter (5a).
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