GB2372191A

GB2372191A - Artificial biological reef system for aquariums

Info

Publication number: GB2372191A
Application number: GB0103568A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Neil Mountain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-14
Filing date: 2001-02-14
Publication date: 2002-08-21
Also published as: GB0103568D0

Abstract

The artificial reef system comprises hollow formed shapes (2) constructed from ceramic, plastic or similar mouldable material, textured and shaped to resemble natural rock or coral. The shapes may have apertures 6 and an opening (3) optionally sealed with plug (4) to allow water circulation. The shapes may further be filled with foam 7 or other high surface area material, in a preferred embodiment, this filling is a foam insert. The filling provides a surface for bacteria to colonise thus water passing through the shapes is biologically filtered. The filling may also provide simple mechanical filtering of the water. To provide active filtering of the water the shapes may be connected to a water pump or power filter.

Description

ARTIFICIAL BIOLOGICAL REEF SYSTEM FOR AQUARIUMS This invention relates to an artificial biological reef system for use in an aquarium setting.

Natural corals and"living rock"have been used for the decoration of tropical marine, and indeed freshwater aquaria for many years. The coral and other rocks are encrusted with a wide variety of living organisms and principally provide an aesthetic attraction to the aquarium. As well as being ornamental, they also provide food and habitat for fish and invertebrates and enable some degree of biological filtration, by providing sites within the rock for aerobic and anaerobic nitrifying bacteria. The two existing sources of ornamental living rock are samples collected direct from the wild, which is often environmentally damaging, or using a variety of rock media which is allowed to be colonised within an aquarium environment.

Unfortunately, although attractive in appearance, the problems with using rock and coral are that: 1) it displaces and replaces a significant proportion of aquarium water that would otherwise be used to provide water for fish, 2) the living rock is heavy and transportation, particularly by air, is very expensive, and 3) the amount of biological filtration is limited, particularly if the rock is relatively dense with little pore space in which to cultivate nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. The purpose of the artificial reef system is to artificially mimic natural living rock and coral, to provide a surface on which to cultivate marine algae, invertebrates and corals, whilst being able to be transported cheaper, provide improved biological filtration and reduce the amount of displaced water within an aquarium.

Specifically, the invention consists of hollow, formed shapes, shaped, coloured and textured to resemble natural coral or rock, in order to mimic natural aquarium reef material, for use in tropical aquaria. The individual formed shapes will be composed of ceramic, plastic or other similar mouldable material and a variety of different shapes will be produced.

The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1-shows a general view of the outside of the formed shape (designed to all intents and purposes to resemble natural coral and rock).

Figure 2-shows a cross section through one of the formed shapes (showing the hollow form and excluding the optional rear cover and foam insert) Figure 3-shows the rear cover assembly (optional use) Figures 4,5, 6 and 7-show the main options for how to use the formed artificial reef system shapes.

Figure 4 allows free movement of aquarium water within and around the formed shape; Figure 5 incorporates a simple foam insert to provide a site for bacterial growth; Figure 6 facilitates active biological filtration, by increasing water movement with the use of a water pump or power filter, and Figure 7 is similar to Figure 6 but shows the flow in reverse.

Referring to the drawings, the artificial biological reef system comprises of formed ceramic, plastic or similar mouldable material 1, shaped to resemble, to all outward appearances, natural reef coral/rock.

Each formed shape consists of a relatively thin but durable"shell"2, which is hollow.

The primary purposes of the formed shapes are to mimic natural corals/rock within tropical aquaria and allow the colonisation of the outer surface by algae, coral, invertebrates and the like. They are also designed to provide habitat for fish, invertebrates and other aquarium inhabitants.

In addition however, the formed shapes are designed to provide increased biological filtration within the aquarium. To provide biological filtration, the artificial biological reef shapes can be formed with perforations through the"shell"6 and/or an opening 3 through the formed shape in which to insert foam or other biological filter media. An optional cover 4 incorporating a perforated tube 5 can also be used to close of the opening 3 and provide the option for active biological filtration as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and expanded upon in detail below.

The artificial biological reef system has been designed to be flexible in its function. The formed shapes can be used with the opening 3 open-see Figure 4. This allows free movement of the aquarium water within the formed shapes and does not incorporate biological filtration. Alternatively, the formed shapes can be filled with a shaped foam insert 7 or other biological filter media, the purpose of which is to provide a high surface area for biological activity and therefore biological filtration. For this option (see Figure 5) the rear cover can be used or omitted, dependant on the type of biological filtration required, i. e. aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The most biologically efficient use of the system is to attach the system to a water pump or additional filtration system i. e. power filter, to actively encourage flow through the perforations 8 and through the foam insert-see Figure 6. This increases biological activity within the foam. All pumped aquarium water is then returned to the aquarium through a return. As an additional benefit, some degree of physical filtration is also provided. Alternatively, flow can be reversed-see Figure 7 to enable the system to be used in conjunction with an external physical prefilter which has the benefit of limiting clogging of the foam media.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An artificial biological reef system consisting of hollow formed shapes, coloured, shaped and textured to resemble natural coral or rock, to mimic natural aquarium reef material, for use in tropical aquaria. The individual formed shapes will be composed of ceramic, plastic or other similar mouldable material and a variety of different shapes will be produced.
2. An artificial biological reef system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the hollow formed shapes are perforated to facilitate flow of water into or out of the formed"shell".
3. An artificial biological reef system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein an opening is present within the formed shape to allow the insertion, if required, of biological filter media, foam or other high surface area biological filter media.
4. An artificial biological reef system as claimed in Claim 3 wherein a foam insert or other biological filter media are present within the formed shape to facilitate biological filtration.
5. An artificial biological reef system as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein an attachment (Figure 3) is provided to close of the opening and to facilitate active biological filtration (Figures 6 and 7).
6. An artificial biological reef system substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawing.