AU2010100170A4 - Artificial Marine Aquarium Live Rock - Google Patents

Description

1 Australia Patents Act 1990 Complete Specification 10 for an invention titled: ARTIFICIAL MARINE AQUARI UM LIVE ROCK 15 20 25 Applicant: CRAIG STUART Date: 30 The invention is described in the following statement: 2 ARTIFICIAL MARINE AQUARIUM LIVE ROCK For many years marine aquariums have relied on "Live Rock" to facilitate the filtration of aquarium water. Live rock is generally considered to be dead coral skeleton rubble that has 5 become populated by a vast variety of bacteria and other organisms. These organisms, once acclimatised to the closed nature of an aquarium, then actively assist in the breakdown of ammonia to nitrate as well as provide a myriad of other micro fuana to the aquarium that are both asthetically pleasing and beneficial to water conditions. One particular species of algae that is highly treasured in aquariums is the pink coralline algae species which covers rocks in 10 a beautiful motled pink. Artificial "live rock" has also been made for years by keen enthusiasts from various recipes of concrete and allowed to be populated by similar or the same organisms in order to facilitate the same water conditions provided by "live rock". In particular, various methods are 15 employed to colonise the bare white rock with pink coraline algae, turning it pink. Known methodologies, however, do not generally provide essential trace elements required in coral propogation or facilitate easy interlocking shapes that prevent rock slides or provide sites where corals can be positioned or plugged into easily. Another draw back of using either live rock or artificial live rock to date is that it is usually placed on top of sand beds, bare 20 aquarium glass or racks. Without adhesives this can create unstable structures or render the filtering ability of the deep sand beds below them void as oxygenated water can not flow beneath them in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for fabricating artificial 25 live rock for a marine aquarium, wherein a cement composition including crushed marble, marine salt, iron oxide, strontium chloride, iodine and magnesium sulphate is sand moulded into interfitting support structures and coral growth bases which are then cured in the sea before use in a marine aquarium. 30 In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a composition for constructing artificial live rock for a marine aquarium environment, including approximately equal amounts white cement, crushed marble and marine salt together with small amounts of iron oxide, strontium chloride, iodine, and magnesium sulphate.

3 The invention also encompasses a marine aquarium display structure constructed according to the abovementioned method or composition. 5 Embodiments of the invention can be specifically devised through its chemical make up and form to further increase the ability of artificial live rock to filter aquarium water, become populated by higher populations of the organisms responsible for maintaining water quality, provide the essential elements required by them to proliferate, stabilise water chemistry within the aquarium and provide both areas where aqua-cultured corals can be "plugged in" 10 as well as optimising deep sand bed filter function and most importantly negate the need of vast areas of natural resources to be destroyed anually. The following description explains details of the invention to enable it to be more fully understood in the context of an embodiment thereof, also referring to the illustrations in the 15 accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 show a fragging post structure; Figure 3 shows a reef base structure; Figure 4 shows an arch structure; Figure 5 shows a bridge structure; 20 Figure 6 shows a cave structure; Figure 7 shows a coral head structure; and Figure 8 shows a coral head support structure, The present invention is embodied by a collection of molded rock structures that can be used 25 to create artificial live rock for use in marine aquariums. The rock structures are molded from a unique composition of materials and formed into a unique collection of shapes which are highly useful and effective in the marine aquarium environment, The description below considers aspects of both the chemical and physical form. 30 Chemical Common recipes include cachum carbonate sand in either the form or aragonite sand, coral sand or crushed marble, calcium hydroxide (cement either white or grey) and various other materials used to create a porous structure within the rock. These include spegetti or pasta 4 shapes, plastic shavings, wood chips and salt, These materials either dissolve or decompose during the curing process leaving a highly porous structure, Embodiments of the present invention also utilise calcium carbonate in the form of finely crushed white marble dust, white calcium hydoxide or white cement, marine aquarium salt specifically used to create 5 aquarium grade salt water - high in all marine trace elements. Embodiments of the present may differ from known compositions, however, by the addition of marine aquarium grade salt, iron oxide, strontium chloride, Iodine and Magnesium sulphate. This provides the finished product with a chemical composition rich in the vital elements required by coraline algea species, hard corals and photosynthetic soft corals. 10 One particular recipe that has been found to be successful is, per kilogram: approximately 310 grams white cement, approximately 3 10 grams crushed or pulvarised marble, approximately 310 grams aquarium grade salt and usually 250-330 ml of fresh water (which dries out of the mix once dry cured). Added to this mix is 5-15 grams of Iron oxide, 3-5ml of concentrated 15 strontium chloride, 50 grams of Magnesium Sulphate, and 20ml of Lugols' Iodine. Marine Aquarium Grade salt and curing in the sea To ensure our the artificial live rock is as natural as possible we use only marine aquarium grade salt and cure the rock after it has been set in molds in natural sea water. This ensures 20 that the rock contains all of the elements found within natural live rock and within sea water they include: Chlorine, Sodium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Calcium, Potassium, Bromine, Carbon, Nitrogen, Strontium, Oxygen, Boron, Silicon, Fluorine, Argon, Lithium, Rubidium, Phosphorus, Iodine, Barium, Molybdenum, Arsenic, Uranium, Vanadium, Titanium, Zinc, Nickel, Aluminium, Cesium, Chromium, Antimony, Krypton, Selenium, Neon, Manganese, 25 Cadmium, Copper, Tungsten, Iron, Xenon, Zirconium, Bismuth, Niobium, Thallium, Thorium, Hafnium, Helium, Beryllium, Germanium, Gold, Rhenium, Cobalt, Lanthanum, Neodymium, Lead, Silver, Tantalum, Gallium, Yttrium, Mercury, Cerium, Dysprosium, Erbium, Ytterbium, Gadolinium, Praseodymium, Scandium, Tin, Holmium, Lutetium, Thulium, Indium, Trebium, Palladium, Samarium,Tellurium, Europium, Radium, 30 Protactinium, Radon, We have found that rock made from marine aquarium grade salt and cured in sea water is colonised by organisms up to five times faster than when it is cured any other way.

5 Iron Oxide We have found there to be numerous advantages in the addition of iron oxide to the composition for production of our artificial live rock, including: 5 1. During the curing process and chemical reaction anhydrous iron oxide is formed within the rock, This form of iron hydroxide actively binds phospate to it reducing the concentration of phosphate within the aquarium and locally where biological processes dissolve small quantities of surface rock exposing fresh iron hydroxide. It is known that phosphates in even low concentrations retard the growth of both coraline algae species and 10 hard coral skeleton formation Thus we have found that coraline algae and hard coral colonise the artificial live rock quicker than recipes not including iron oxide. 2. The second advantage we have found to the addition of iron oxide is in the growth rate of species of coral rich in sybiotic algae within their tissues and other seaweeds or algae used 15 as aquarium nutrient exports vechicles. It is now common place to grow large quanties of algae in a separate in-line aquarium rather than have "nuisance algae" growing in a display aquarium. Through slow bacterial action and disolution iron is released into the aquarium water, replacing iron being used by the chlorophyll within both the algae species and by sybiotic algaes found within highly photosynthetic algae species. 20 3. The last advantage to the addition of iron oxide is purely cosmetic. By adding a small amnount of red iron oxide in the last stage of mixing the recipe a mottled pink rock is created as it enters the mold. Once cured it has a very similar apearance to coraline algae found on natural live rock and is thus more asthetically pleasing from the outset. 25 Strontium Chloricl Strontium Chloride is another chemical required by coral in building their skeletons, It is also one of the elements used up quickly within the closed environment of an aquarium. We have found that small additions to the concrete mix usually in the order of a few drops provide 30 faster coral growth from specimens attached to the finished product. Iodine Lugol's Iodine or Potasium Iodide is also added into the mix at various concentrations. It is 6 an element that is also quickly absorbed from the water by coraline algae and many other shelled invertibrates. It is slowly released locally by corlaine algea or by dissolution by the

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2 produced by areobic bacteria on or close to the surface of the rock. We have found coraline algae to grow faster on rocks with it included in the recipe. 5 Magnesium Sulphate As with Iodine and Strontium Chloride, Magnesium is also quickly used up by coraline algae and hard corals within the confined environment of an aquarium. We add this in the form of epsom salts in small concentrations to the concrete mix during mixing. We have also found it 10 to have a beneficial effect on aquarium health and coral growth with its inclusion. Calcium Carbonate Sand We have found the use of aragonite sand used by many other published recipes to be beneficial in pH, alkalinity and calcium regulation within a marine aquarium. However we 1 5 have found structures made of aragonite sand to quickly become weak and crumble over time. For this reason we use crushed marble dust, Marble dust is made from a more stable crystalline structure to calcium carbonate. It also buffers p:H, alkalinity and provides calcium to the aquarium but does not seem to be as quick to crumble after time, The crushed material is also sharp in shape thus providing a more angular surface area for the calcium hydroxide to 20 adhere to. Biological processes slowly dissolve the calcium carbonate and calcium hydroxide and release these into the aquarium water stabalising pH and alkalinity within the marine aquarium. Forms of the rocks and molding process 25 There are seven main shapes of artificial live rock that we have found to be successful for use in marine aquariums. They are referred to herein as legged bases, arches, bridges, caves, coral heads, coral plinths and fragging posts. Fraggirgn posts 30 Fragging posts are designed to provide a secure site to grow coral cuttings in the sea or in aquariums. Fragging posts are widely available. They ordinarily take on several forms, are made from plastic or concrete and normally do feature a central hole or depression to which coral is adhered. They are not however made from the same recipe as described above or 7 include the following features. Our fragging posts are made from the unique recipe mentioned previously. They allow coral cuttings to be either glued, sewn, implaled or held on with netting. Their shape is unique as 5 the posts have long legs and holes through which one can thread cotton or fine nylon thread. This makes them more versatile and so they can be used for all types of coral and used in all types of grow-out systems including the sea, They also allow for easy retail display and final positining in an aquarium as they plug into the later mentioned rock shapes, stand on or in egg crate and netting used to support coral while it is growing, or stand securely in deep sand 10 beds. Due to the non-uniform head shaped they also look far more natural than any we have seen to date. Figure I illustrates a fragging post 10 of the preferred embodiment. The fragging post 10 comprises generally an elongate leg 12 used to secure post into sand, netting or egg crate or 15 into holes within the rock. Atop the leg 12 is a main disk 14 used to secure corals onto or hard coral glued into. The main disk may have a central hole 16 to facilitate securing corals thereto, and may also have peripheral projections 18 onto which corals may be impaled. The fragging post can further include threading holes 20 which can be used to sew corals onto the post. The lower hole (through the leg 12) is of note as it also serves as a break point should 20 corals need to be shipped long distances or simply adhered to a flat rock surface. Figure 2 illustates a fragging post in its preferred form, made with the simple uniform shape as above but with a less uniform head. These heads include the same features but are made randomly as to provide a texture and shape that once secured into the rock does not stand out 25 through its shape. it blends in better and looks more natural. Rock shap1es Reef bases. Traditionally live rock or dead base rock is used to create foundations on which a reefscape is 30 built, Rocks are normally placed on egg crate sheets, adhered to the aquarium base with silicone, or simply hold in place by sand placed around them. if the latter two methods are used the rocks displace a lot of sand or prevent oxygen transfer to the sand below them. This reduces the biological action of the sand bed and its ability to filter water.

8 Our reef bases are made from our unique recipe and also feature a hollow structure and long legs to allow them to be used in any of the above ways or securely placed directly on the aquarium base preventing rock slides. Their legs causes the minimum displacement of sand 5 and their hollow form allows sand directly under them or around them to "breath" normally. The hollow nature provides dark areas where species of filter feeder proliferate They actively remove detritus from the water - making the water cleaner naturally The spawn of these animals once released into the aquarium actively help feed coral species. 10 Figure 3 illustrates the legged reef base rock form in various views. The reef base structure 30 has six upright legs 32 that can be placed in the sans at the bottom of an aquarium, as shown. The top of the legs 32 are joined by cross members 34 leaving apertures 36 in between, The apertures 36 allow water to flow through the structure and also provide a 15 support structure into which frag posts can be plugged or glued into. Although the reef bases in practice are made in a purposefully non-uniform shape to look natural they must in order to function have the same basic fundamental shape of being six legs held together by supports, as shown This form allows maximum water flow through 20 them, provides enough strength to support the weight of the rock above them and the minimum surface area in contact with the sand. Arches Arch structures, illustrated at 40 in Figure 4, are made from a similar recipe and allow for 25 maximum water flow through them or for flagging posts to be plugged into them. Their shape and form is also very strong and allows them to be used to support large structures above them and still allow maximum water flow within an aquarium. The general structure of the arch 40 comprises two concentric semi-circular support members 42 interconnected by a plurality of spokes 44. The open spaces between spokes also provides a secure place to 30 place round stones with corals attached to them. Although the arches are in practice made into non-uniform shape to look natural they must in order to function have the same basic fundamental shape of two arches being joined by 9 spokes. Badges Bridge structures, illustrated at 50 in Figure 5, are made from a similar recipe and allow for 5 maximum water flow through them or for fragging posts to be plugged into them. Their shape and form is also very strong and allows them to be used to support large structures above them and still allow maximum water flow within an aquarium. The open spaces between spokes also provides a secure place to place round stones with corals attached to them Although the bridges are in practice made into non-uniform shape to look natural they 10 must in order to function have the fundamental shape of two cross member supports 52 being joined by spokes 54. Supports at the ends of the bridges must also protude in order to allow easy interlocking with other shapes. Caves 15 Cave structures, illustrated at 60 in Figure 6, are made from a similar recipe and allow for maximum water flow through them or for fragging posts to be plugged into them, Their shape and form is also very strong and allows them to be used to support large structures above them and still allow maximum water flow within an aquarium. The open spaces between spokes also provides a secure place to place round stones with corals attached to 20 them. They are essentially half of a reef base without legs. Although the caves are in practice made into non uniform shapes to look natural they must in order to function have the same basic fundamental shape of four supports being joined by spokes. Coral Heads 25 Coral head structures are shaped into the form of a dead coral head, as illustrated at 70 in Figure 7. Although the coral heads 70 are in practice made into non-uniform shapes resembling dead table coral to look natural they have a basic fundamental shape of two disks 72 being joined by a single spoke 74. 30 Coral Head Support Coral head support structures, illustrated at 80 in Figure 8, are shaped to provide a plinth on which a live coral head can be glued or grafted to. The result is a live coral head.

10 Although the coral head supports 80 are in practice made into non-uniform shapes resembling dead table coral legs to look natural they have a basic fundamental shape of two disks being joined by a single spoke. They differentiate from the above design as the top disk is smaller and has a large depression in it to facilitate the adhesion of the live coral head. The bottom 5 disk is small enough to fit in the roof of a cave or into any of the for mentioned shapes. Mixing. Molding and curing process All of the above shapes are made by fundamentally the same process, set in sand molds and cured in natural sea water. The sand in the molds is a mixture including marble dust, rock 10 salt, aquarium salt, shell and red iron oxide. It is dark pink in colour. As the mixture sets inside the molds a surface coating of dark pink sand is adhered to the surface of the shapes. Once dry and ready for curing the shapes are then placed into the sea in an area where currents blow sand over their surface. This removes a large proportion of the surface coating leaving the rock smoother and a mottled pink and white. 15 The process is best done in the sea as sand blown over the rocks in currents gives them a smoother finish but the process can be done in-land using water shipped from the ocean. If cured in the sea pH does not become an issue due to the huge water volumes around it nor does it destroy the bacteria as the calcium hydroxide cures and is released into the 20 surrounding water, The addition of the leaching calcium hydroxide to the environment is reported to aid the calcification of organisms in the immediate area - shellfish and molluscs and does not cause any problems to sea life in the area. If cured on land and in tanks the water must be circulated vigourously and replaced when the pH1 rises beyond 9. Beyond a pH of 9 the bacteria will then start to die off. This is done with a simply pH probe and solenoid 25 on a water input tap and large circulated water reservoir Best results are achieved by using water from muddy estuaries due to the strains of bacteria found in them as mentioned, During the curing process the salt within the rock dissolves and disperses the elements from the salts within the rock making it closer to the chemical 30 composition of natural coral skeletons. As the rock draws in water to replace the salt it also draws in the bacteria responsible for its "live filtration". In particular interest to us are esturine strains of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as they are the most tolerant to changes in salinity and temperature - in particular the strains found in Port Philip Bay.

As salt within the mixture dissolves it encourages the uptake of sea water deep inside the shape. With this water also follow sediments and bacteria that naturally seed the inside of the rock with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria are responsible for maintaining 5 water quality once introduced into an aquarium. Specific areas must be chosen to cure the rock otherwise the bacteria will not survive in the aquarium. They are better left in area where the sea temperature ranges between 10 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. And salinity can vary from 1.010 to 1.030. Sub tropical and 10 tropical estuaries provide perfect locations. The greater the variation in temperature and salinity the more resilient the strain of bacteria colonises the rock. Shallow rocky sea floors closely associated with sand areas in sub tropical to tropical areas are also ideal. Port Philip Bay for example provides a strain of 15 bacteria resilient to both great temperature changes and also large changes in salinity. These strains are not unique just more resilient to change and more stable in transit and also once in an aquarium. Rock shapes are left in the sea water for six weeks to cure, harden and excess calcium 20 hydroxide leach from them. They are then either used directly in an aquarium, dried or placed in vats with natural live rock. Once in vats with natural live rock they become colonised with species of organisms that tolerate the confined conditions of an aquarium. The foregoing detailed description of an embodiment of the present invention has been 25 presented by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features herein disclosed.

Claims (3)

1. 2. A composition for constructing artificial live rock for a marine aquarium environment, including approximately equal amounts white cement, crushed marble and marine salt 10 together with small amounts of iron oxide, strontium chloride, iodine, and magnesium sulphate.
2. 3. A marine aquarium display structure constructed according to the method of claim 1 15 4. A marine aquarium display structure constructed using a composition as claimed in claim 2,
3. 5. Marine aquarium live rock substantially as hereinbefore described. 20