Aquarium filter apparatus

Claim 1

An aquarium filter apparatus, the apparatus in combination with an aquarium, including transparent side walls and a gravel strata, the gravel strata including a top surface, with a filter member, the filter member including inlet conduit means positioned below the top surface, and an outlet conduit, with the outlet conduit operably associated with a pump member to direct fluid flow through the filter member, and wherein the filter member includes a central tubular body, the central tubular body including a lower lid, the lower lid including the inlet conduit means mounted thereto, and an upper cap including the outlet conduit, with the upper cap and the lower lid coaxially aligned relative to the tubular body, and the lower lid mounted to a lower terminal end of the tubular body, and the upper cap mounted to an upper end of the tubular body, and wherein the tubular body includes an upper annular groove, and the upper cap including an interiorly projecting lower annular rib, the lower annular rib selectively receivable within the upper groove for securement of the upper cap to the tubular body, and including a mesh screen mounted within the upper cap overlying the outlet conduit, and the mesh screen orthogonally oriented relative to an access defined by the tubular body, and including a mesh bag member, the mesh bag member including an opening, the opening including a drawstring mounted about the opening to effect selective closure of the opening, with the mesh bag member including a predetermined quantity of ammonia activated charcoal, and the mesh bag member defining a cylinder coaxially aligned within the tubular body, and including a fibrous filter cylinder coaxially aligned within the tubular body adjacent to and underlying the mesh bag member, and including an upper mesh bag overlying the mesh bag member, wherein the upper mesh bag defines an upper mesh bag cylinder and includes granular sand, with the upper mesh bag member positioned between the mesh bag member and the mesh screen, and including a lower mesh bag, the lower mesh bag defining a lower mesh bag cylinder and including gravel contained therewithin, with the lower mesh bag underlying the fibrous filter cylinder and positioned adjacent thereto in coaxial alignment with the tubular body, and wherein the lower lid includes an annular array of inlet openings circumferentially arranged through the lower lid adjacent a lower terminal end of the lower lid, with the inlet openings radially arranged relative to the axis of the tubular body, and including a lower mesh screen, the lower mesh screen overlying the inlet openings and positioned between the inlet openings and the lower mesh bag, and wherein the lower lid includes an internally threaded annular skirt threadedly mounted to the lower terminal end of the tubular body.