Filler element and filling system

An apparatus comprising a filler element for filling containers with liquid contents, said filler element comprising a housing, a housing opening area, a protective space, a liquid channel, a liquid valve, a dispensing opening, and a fill-level-determining element comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is at a distance from said second end, wherein said liquid channel is formed in said filler element housing, wherein said liquid contents flow through said liquid channel, wherein said liquid valve is in said liquid channel, wherein said dispensing opening is downstream from said liquid valve in a direction of flow of said liquid contents, wherein said liquid contents pass through said dispensing opening into said container when said liquid valve is open, wherein said fill-level-determining element determines a fill level of said liquid contents in said container, wherein said fill-level-determining element is routed through said filler element housing, wherein said fill-level-determining element extends by said first end into said dispensing opening during filling of said container, wherein said fill-level-determining element is routed out of said housing by said second end at said housing opening area in a sealed manner with said protective space directly adjacent to said housing opening area, wherein said protective space is sized and configured to hold a length of said fill-level-determining element, wherein said length corresponds to an extent to which an adjustment device, by causing an axial adjustment lift, moves said fill-level determining element between a maximum fill-level setting and a minimum fill-level setting, wherein said protective space is opened by an enlarged opening lift that differs from said axial adjustment lift, and wherein, as a result of having executed said enlarged opening lift, said protective space opens into a space formed in said filler element housing.