Filtration and circulation system for maintaining water quality in mariculture tank

Claim 2

In combination with a fish tank, a filtration and circulation system for insuring maintenance of water quality therein, comprising: particulate filter means, means for pumping liquid from said fish tank to said particulate filter means, biological filter means, conduit means connecting said biological means and said particulate filter means, a sump, conduit means connecting said biological filter means and said sump, water purifying filter means, means for pumping water from said sump to said water purifying filter means, and, conduit means connecting said water purifying filter means and said fish tank for returning filtered water from said filter means to said tank.

Claim 3

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said particulate filter means comprises a series of mesh screens with decreasing size mesh in the successive order in which water passes therethrough, and, means for bypassing any one of said series of screens. 3.The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said particulate filter means comprises: a housing, inlet means in the upper portion of said housing, a plurality of vertically arranged,horizontally disposed mesh screens disposed below said inlet, outlet means disposed below said mesh screens, overflow means disposed above the level of the lowermost mesh screen and below the level of the second lowermost mesh screen for returning liquid to the fish tank when said liquid reaches the level of said overflow means,and, overflow means above the levels of all but the lowermost one of said mesh screens for bypassing each of said screens and permitting flow to the next lower of said screens.

Claim 4

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further including: means for removing high molecular weight organic material from said liquid, means for bypassing a portion of the liquid being pumped from said tank to said particulate filter means to said organic material removing means, and, conduit means connecting said organic material removing means and said particulate filter meanS.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising: ultraviolet irradiation means, means for bypassing a portion of the liquid being pumped from said sump to said purifying filter means to said ultraviolet irradiation means, and, conduit means connecting said ultraviolet irradiation means and said fish tank.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising continuously primed siphon means connecting said fish tank and said sump.

Claim 7

The apparatus set forth in claim 6,further comprising particulate filter means in said siphon means.

Claim 8

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising particulate filter means in said means for returning said filtered water from said purifying filter means to said fish tank.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said water purifying filter means is activated charcoal.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said water purifying filter means is a resin.

Claim 11

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said water purifying filter means comprises a plurality of filtering units, and, said means pumping liquid from said sump to said water purifying filter means includes a manifold connected with each of said plurality of filtering units.

Claim 12

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said particulate filter means comprises: a housing; inlet means in one end of said housing; outlet means disposed in the opposite end of said housing; a plurality of parallel, vertically disposed mesh screens horizontally arranged in series within said housing between said inlet and outlet ends thereof, and overflow means above the levels of all but the end screen nearest said outlet end and disposed between said end screen and the screen adjacent thereto for returning liquid to the fish tank when said liquid reaches the level of said overflow means.

Claim 13

In combination with a fish tank, a filtration and circulation system for insuring maintenance of water quality therein, comprising: particulate filter means, means for pumping liquid from said tank to said particulate filter means, means for removing high molecular weight organic material from said liquid, means for bypassing a portion of the flow of said liquid being pumped from said tank to said particulate filter means and directing the same to said organic material removing means, conduit means connecting said organic material removing means and said particulate filter means, biological filter means, conduit means connecting said biological filter means and said particulate filter means, a sump, conduit means connecting said biological filter means and said sump, water purifying filter means, means for pumping liquid from said sump to said water purifying filter means, ultraviolet irradiation means, means for bypassing a portion of the liquid being pumped from said sump to said water purifying filter means and directing the same to said ultraviolet irradiation means, conduit means connecting said ultraviolet irradiation means to said fish tank, and, means for returning the filtered water from said water purifying filter means to said fish tank.

Claim 14

In combination with a fish tank, a filtration and circulation system for insuring maintenance of water quality therein, comprising: particulate filter means, means for pumping liquid from said tank to said particulate filter means, means for removing high molecular weight organic material from said liquid, means for bypassing a portion of the flow of said liquid being pumped from said tank to said particulate filter means and directing the same to said organic material removing means, conduit means connecting said organic material removing means and said particulate filter means, biological filter means, conduit means connecting said biological filter means and said particulate filter means, a sump, conduit means connecting said biological filter means and said sump, water purifying filter means, means for pumping liquid from said sump to said water purifying filter means, ultraviolet irradiation means, means for bypassing a portion of the liquid being pumped from said sump to said water purifying filter means and directing the same to said ultraviolet irradiation means, conduit means connecting said ultraviolet irradiation means to said fish tank, and, means for returning the filtered water from said water purifying filter means to said fish tank.

Claim 15

The apparatus set forth in claim 13,further including continuously primed siphon means between said fish tank and said sump.

Claim 16

The apparatus set forth in claim 13, wherein said particulate filter means comprises a series of particulate filter screens arranged for receiving in a successive order the liquid being received thereby from said fish tank and said organic material removing means,and, means for bypassing each one of said series of screens upon clogging thereof and directing the liquid to the next succeeding one of said screens in said succession of order.

Claim 17

The apparatus set forth in claim 15,wherein the bypass of the last of said filter screens in said succession of order is connected with said fish tank for returning liquid thereto and thereby preventing contamination of the remainder of said filtration system.