Aquarium filter assembly

Claim 1

An externally situated aquarium filter assembly comprising in combination a main filter compartment and an after filter compartment, said main filter compartment including a first horizontally situated perforated partition dividing said compartment into a filter bed portion and a catch basin portion therebelow, a second perforated partition separating said catch basin portion from said after filter compartment, a drip pan situated on the upper side of said filter bed portion, said drip pan including a closed top, sides and one end, a finely perforated base and an open other end, means feeding water from the associated aquarium into said drip pan and means returning filtered water from said after filter compartment to said aquarium, said means feeding water from the associated aquarium including a pre-filter compartment, said pre-filter compartment including a third horizontal perforated partition spanning said pre-filter compartment adjacent the base thereof, and a vertical imperforate partition dividing the portion above said third perforated partition thereby dividing said portion into an entry portion and exit portion, communication being provided between said entry and exit portions beneath said third horizontal perforated partition, said pre-filter compartment being secured to one end wall of said main filter compartment, an aperture in said end wall adjacent the upper edge thereof, said drip pan communicating with said aperture by the said open other end of said drip pan, whereby water passes from said exit portion, through said aperture, and into said drip pan, and thence into said main filter compartment, to said after filter compartment, and then back to said aquarium.