Safety Precautions - Sera soil heating set Mode D'emploi

US Information for use
sera soil heating set
Please read these instructions carefully and keep for future use.
Thank you for purchasing the sera soil heating set. The sera
set is suitable for aquariums up to 250 liters (66 US gal.) or for
an aquarium bottom area up to 120 cm x 50 cm (48 in. x 20 in.).
The temperature of the sera cable heater 50 W is controlled by
a computer controller. Using a low voltage transformer 24 VAC
makes the bottom heater particularly safe, since no high volt-
ages can occur in the water. The bottom heater is an additional
heater that does not replace an aquarium heater.
Many plants grow and thrive better if the bottom ground is
slightly warmed to the temperature required by plant roots.
Bottom ground aeration, nutrient supply for the aquatic plants
and the biological pollutant breakdown within the bottom
ground are improved. Rot zones are prevented. The breakdown
of organic material depositing in the bottom ground is strongly
accelerated by heat. The sera soil heating set is designed for
heating the aquarium bottom ground evenly and on a large area,
without leading to high temperature zones. Since warm water
has a lower density than cold water, it rises upwards from the
ground. This improves the circulation of the water within the
bottom ground. The problem with using an aquarium heater
thermostat is that the heat must be distributed by a pump pro-
viding water currents. Even a good flow pump can hardly equal-
ize the temperature difference between bottom ground and
water, especially in case of very fine sand or similar bottom ma-
terial. A heat insulating mat only reduces the temperature differ-
ence but does not entirely equalize it.
When using the sera soil heating set, the bottom ground is
heated first before the heat rises up into the upper water layers
where it is well distributed even in case of low water currents.

SaFeTY PreCaUTIONS!

Please be sure to read carefully!
• The heating cable is suitable only for operation under water.
Operation without water can lead to overheating, short cir-
cuits and irreparable damage of the heating cable.
• The length of the heating cable cannot be shortened.
• Do not lay the cable in sharp bends, nor pull the heating
cable.
• Do not make any knots in the heating cable.
• Do not use in insulating materials!
application and application range
The sera soil heating set includes a flexible heating cable for
heating the bottom ground in aquariums. The heating cable is
easy to lay due to the high flexibility and the included suction
cups.
If you use several heating systems, please consider that the
control unit switches on and off only the sera heater. Unlike
heating cables for terrariums, the heating cable for aquariums
must be operated only under water. Compared to air, water con-
ducts heat more than 20 times better. The sera soil heating set
is designed in a way that it works properly only with water as a
surrounding medium to be heated without overheating.
Kit includes (fig. 1)
1.1 Low voltage transformer 24 VAC
1.2 Computer controller for adjusting the desired bottom
ground temperature with current temperature display
1.3 Silicone safety cable
1.3.1 Connection cable 2.2 m (7.2 ft.)
1.3.2 Heating cable 6 m (19.7 ft.), 50 W
1.4 Probe for temperature control with 2 m (6.6 ft.) cable
1.5 10 suction cups for silicone heating cable
Components (fig. 2)
2.1 Low voltage transformer 24 VAC with
2.1.1 Coaxial power connector (socket)
2.1.2 Mains power cable and mains power plug
2.2 Computer controller for adjusting the desired bottom
ground temperature with current temperature display
2.2.1 Connector plug for connector socket (2.1.1) inside the
transformer (2.1)
2.2.2 Control lamp
2.2.3 Temperature display
2.2.4 Temperature +
2.2.5 Temperature -
2.2.6 SET
2.2.7 Connector socket for heating cable
2.2.8 2 m (6.6 ft.) cable with probe for temperature control
2.3 Silicone safety cable
2.3.1 Coaxial power connector plug for connection to the com-
puter controller (2.2.7)
2.3.2 Connection cable 2.2 m (7.2 ft.)
2.3.3 Heating zone 6 m (19.7 ft.)
2.4 10 suction cups for silicone heating cable
assembly instruction and operation
Laying the heating cable (fig. 3)
It is easiest to lay the heating cable (2.3) inside the empty, clean
aquarium. Make sure the resulting loops have a diameter of at
least 5 cm (2 in.) when laying the cable. Do not bend sharply!
Attach the heating cable to the aquarium bottom using the suc-
tion cups (2.4). After laying the cable and connecting the entire
set, plug in the mains plug at the transformer (2.1.2) and briefly
check whether the cable heats up evenly up to the end. In case
the cable does not heat up up to the end, please see section
"Maintenance".
Placing the probe for temperature control
A bottom heater such as the sera soil heating set is recom-
mended as an additional heater. The probe (2.2.8) is placed in
the bottom ground. The probe must not touch the heating
cable. The minimum distance is 3 cm (1.2 in.) as to prevent the
sera computer controller from switching off too soon. When in-
stalling a heater thermostat such as the sera aquarium heater
thermostat, temperature equalization always takes place with
some delay. Important: Do not set the heater thermostat to a
higher temperature than the bottom heater. This ensures the
tank is mainly heated from the bottom and the positive effects
on plant growth can take place optimally.
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