Water purifier for aquariums

Claim 2

An aquarium purifier system comprises a porous raised platform member adapted to lie over the bottom of an aquarium, water circulating and filtering means for permitting its passage of water passing from the aquarium through the platform to be removed from under the platform for filtration thereof and return to the aquarium, a patterned bacterial growth and retention member secured to the underside of the platform said member having porous land areas for the retention and growth of waste removing, nitrogen fixing bacteria and particle entrapment and open areas which permits the passage of large waste particles to pass therethrough for removal through said water circulating and filtering means.

Claim 3

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 1 wherein the outer surfaces of said porous raised platform member has the appearance of pebbles or gravel.

Claim 4

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 2 wherein the outer surfaces of said platform member comprises pebbles or gravel adhered thereto.

Claim 5

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 2 wherein said platform member is formed of a molded plastic having a nonplanar, pebble-like surface appearance.

Claim 6

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 1 wherein said platform member is a molded plastic member having slot-like openings through the top thereof.

Claim 7

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 5 further comprising at least one lift tube and an opening in said platform member for securing each of said lift tubes therein.

Claim 8

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 6 wherein said lift-tube is coupled to a water pump and an external filter.

Claim 9

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 7 wherein the height of said lift-tube is adjustable.

Claim 10

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 1 wherein said platform member comprises means for interlocking a plurality of such members, one to the other.

Claim 11

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 1 including an aquarium tank having a hole in the bottom thereof and wherein said water circulating and filter means are coupled to said hole.

Claim 12

The device recited in claim 10 wherein the outer surface thereof has a pebbled appearance.

Claim 13

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 1 wherein said platform member includes means for retaining said patterned bacterial growth and retention member.

Claim 14

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 1 wherein said bacterial growth and retention member is formed of a low density foam type material.

Claim 15

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 13 wherein said foam is formed from polystyrene, polypropylene or polyethylene.

Claim 16

The aquarium purifier system recited in claim 1 wherein said bacterial growth and retention member has a bacterial growth promoting media on the surfaces thereof.

Claim 17

An aquarium purifier system comprises a porous raised platform member adapted to lie over the bottom of an aquarium, water circulating and filtering means for permitting the passage of water passing from the aquarium through the platform to be removed from under the platform for filtration thereof and return to the aquarium, a patterned bacterial growth and retention member on the underside of the platform said member having porous land areas for the retention and growth of waste removing, nitrogen fixing bacteria and particle entrapment and open areas which permits the passage of large waste particles to pass therethrough for removal through said water circulating and filtering means, and wherein said platform member has posts extending downwardly from the underside thereof and said bacterial growth and retention member is secured to said platform through said posts.

Claim 18

An aquarium purifier system comprises a porous raised platform member adapted to lie over the bottom of an aquarium, water circulating and filtering means for permitting the passage of water passing from the aquarium through the platform to be removed from under the platform for filtration thereof and return to the aquarium, a patterned bacterial growth and retention member on the underside of the platform said member having porous land areas for the retention and growth of waste removing, nitrogen fixing bacteria and particle entrapment and open areas which permits the passage of large waste particles to pass therethrough for removal through said water circulating and filtering means, and wherein said platform member has posts extending downwardly from the underside thereof and said bacterial growth and retention member is secured to said platform through said posts.

Claim 21

The device recited in claim 17 wherein said bacterial growth and retention member is a low density foam-like material.

Claim 22

An aquarium purification system comprising a platform which conforms to the area of the bottom of an aquarium tank and means extending from the platform for keeping said platform raised from the bottom of the tank, said platform having openings to allow the flow of water therethrough and said platform including at least one opening adapted for securing a lift-tube thereto, at least one lift tube secured to said platform at each lift tube opening in said platform, a porous bacterial growth and retention member secured to the underside of said platform said member having land areas and a plurality of openings therethrough and means for coupling said lift tube to an external pump and filter for causing water in the aquarium to be circulated in a manner such that the water passes through the platform and bacterial growth and retention members and thence up the lift tube through an external filter and then back to the tank.

Claim 23

An aquarium purification system comprising a platform which conforms to the area of the bottom of an aquarium tank and means extending from the platform for keeping said platform raised from the bottom of the tank, said platform having openings to allow the flow of water therethrough and said platform including at least one opening adapted for securing a lift-tube thereto, at least one lift tube secured to said platform at each lift tube opening in said platform, a porous bacterial growth and retention member secured to the underside of said platform said member having land areas and a plurality of openings therethrough and means for coupling said lift tube to an external pump and filter for causing water in the aquarium to be circulated in a manner such that the water passes through the platform and bacterial growth and retention members and thence up the lift tube through an external filter and then back to the tank.