Abstract: An animal habitat for housing animals which allows the animals to move between two or more modules or chambers. The animal habitat comprises a plurality of lower tier modules having passageways therebetween for allowing animals to move from a lower tier module to an adjacent lower tier module and a plurality of upper tier modules having passageways therebetween for allowing animals to move from one upper tier module to an adjacent upper tier module.

Abstract: The present invention of a Bubbling Liquid Display includes a variable-pressure air source which injects air into a liquid within a panel at variable flow rates into an number of individual chambers to create a unique bubbling pattern for each chamber which includes large bubbles which move upwards within the fluid in the display, and smaller bubbles which move downwards within the fluid in the display. The display may be drained a single chamber at a time, eliminating the need to completely drain the display for maintenance, and also is substantially leak-proof, despite being tipped or knocked over. The display incorporates a fluid which resists evaporation, corrosion, and algae formation, despite being constantly bubbled or exposed to sunlight or other sources of heat, and which may be effectively recirculated through the display. The display is also adaptable to retrofit vending machines, as well as a variety of other useful items, such as point-of-purchase displays and wall-hangings.

Abstract: A fluid surge assembly for treating aquarium water and other fluids includes a treatment unit for receiving fluid, treating the fluid and depositing the fluid along a flow path to a body of fluid and a weir assembly disposed in the flow path between the treatment unit and the body of fluid. The weir assembly includes a lower weir blocking a portion of the flow path and an upper weir. The lower edge of the upper weir is offset from the crest of the lower weir to define a first fountain path. The crest of the upper weir defines a portion of a second fountain path. The second fountain path intersects the first fountain path to increase the velocity and distance traveled of the fluid. The invention also includes aquarium systems employing the fluid surge assembly. In some embodiments, the aquarium systems provide an opaque decorative member to block the treatment unit from view. In some embodiments, the decorative member is live rock.

Abstract: A reptile cage and a process for comfortably housing reptiles. The cage is fabricated from a polymeric foam and preferably has the shape of a hollow rectangular solid having one side open and the other sides formed from a polymeric foam. The cage preferably has a smooth plastic inner liner. The cage is preferably closed by sliding transparent door and has a screen vent along a portion of the front.

Abstract: A mobile aquarium includes a display tank mounted on a wheeled cart and a system for lowering the center of gravity of the aquarium. In one embodiment, the system for lowering the center of gravity uses a storage tank that is lower than the display tank. The system transfers water from the display tank to the storage tank for moving. The lower water level in the display tank is kept high enough to provide a livable habitat for fish in the display tank. A background lighting system for the aquarium includes a light source and a semi-opaque sheet with a first image on a first side and a second image on a second side. The light source illuminates the sheet so that the second image shows through the first side of the sheet and appears behind the first image. In one embodiment, the first image has a graduate color that is lighter at one end than the other.

Abstract: A terrarium representative of a geographical area is provided including a base and an enclosed housing constructed from a transparent material. Such housing includes a planar front face, a planar rear face and a periphery formed therebetween taking the shape of a border of the geographical area. The housing has an interior space with soil, rocks, and foliage situated therein which are commonly found in the geographical area.

Abstract: A float actuated water level control valve has a sliding valve tube depending from a float to meter the amount of water flow through the valve proportionally in response to the position of the float. The valve is especially useful for controlling the water level in an aquarium overflow filter system. The valve inlet has an adjustable flow area which is defined as the area between a lower edge of the sliding valve tube and an upper edge of a drain. The configuration of the lower edge of the sliding valve tube and the upper edge of the drain are selected to provide increased flow area linear to the position of the float. The valve inlet is submerged, and drain gurgling sounds are thereby muffled. In addition, the valve maintains the water level within the reservoir at a height above the valve inlet, which is especially useful for reducing splashing sounds from water spilling over an overflow wall in an aquarium.

Abstract: A rotating aquarium for use with live fish and particularly live corals including a canopy with light fixtures, a tank having a central core, a turntable including an electric motor for rotating the tank and a base for supporting the tank. The central core includes an electrical conduit for transporting electrical wires to the light fixture in the canopy. The central core also includes a water pipe that is connected to a reservoir mounted within the base of the aquarium. The reservoir includes a pump that circulates water throughout the aquarium. The tank rotates about the central core via the turntable and the electric motor. As the tank rotates, the fish and living coral receive light at different angles and receive superior water circulation. The aquarium of this invention therefore provides an environment more like the ocean for the animals living therein.

Abstract: An aquarium/terrarium terraining system for providing at least two different terrain levels within the aquarium/terrarium. A substantially rectangular terraining partition of varying or adjustable height is securely inserted into the aquarium/terrarium and thereby creates a partition between front and back, or two sides or two other wall of the an aquarium or terrarium. The partition enables the creation of various terrain levels using gravel or other aquarium/terrarium fillers.

Abstract: A gravity vacuum system for a fish tank which will fit onto any standard fish tank and will get rid of waste through a gravitational system. The top of the system is a false bottom for the upper portion of the fish tank. The false bottom features openings small enough to allow the waste to pass. A solid pyramid directly in the middle of the lower one third supports the false bottom. At the right and left foot of the pyramid are drainage valve areas enclosed in boxes. When the drainage valves are opened, the waste flows through the false bottom and into the triangular areas and left of the pyramid. The waste then flows down through the triangular spaces and into the drainage valve areas. The owner then hooks connective tubing to the drainage valves for easy drainage.

Abstract: An animal habitat for housing animals which allows the animals to move between two or more modules or chambers. The animal habitat comprises a plurality of lower tier modules having passageways therebetween for allowing animals to move from a lower tier module to an adjacent lower tier module and a plurality of upper tier modules having passageways therebetween for allowing animals to move from one upper tier module to an adjacent upper tier module.

Abstract: A rotating aquarium for use with live fish and particularly live corals including a canopy with light fixtures, a tank having a central core, a turntable including an electric motor for rotating the tank and a base for supporting the tank. The central core includes an electrical conduit for transporting electrical wires to the light fixture in the canopy. The central core also includes a water pipe that is connected to a reservoir mounted within the base of the aquarium. The reservoir includes a pump that circulates water throughout the aquarium. The tank rotates about the central core via the turntable and the electric motor. As the tank rotates, the fish and living coral receive light at different angles and receive superior water circulation. The aquarium of this invention therefore provides an environment more like the ocean for the animals living therein.

Abstract: An aquarium includes a shelving unit. The shelving unit rests on the bottom of the aquarium. The shelves are made of louvered eggcrate to allow water to freely circulate. A post supports each shelf. The shelf is joined to the post by a fitting, which has two tapered ends. All pieces are bonded together.

Abstract: A planter for retaining gravel and landscaping effects in underwater settings such as an aquarium is disclosed. The invention comprises a plurality of retaining walls disposed in an upstanding spaced apart relationship for forming a plurality of landscaping sections with each section having a different height from every other section for defining a terrace relationship with the adjacent retaining walls. A plurality of elongated spacers are disposed in paired releasable communication with the retaining walls for maintaining the spaced apart relationship between the adjacent retaining walls. Each retaining wall further has a plurality of apertures adapted for urging water flow from one landscaping section to the next lowermost adjacent landscaping section, and a second plurality of apertures adapted for urging cooperative engagement between adjacent elongated spacers.

Abstract: A method of raising sea-water fish is performed by raising the sea-water fish in water in a display tank which includes a device for circulating the water in the tank, a filtering material supporting plate having a sand-like filtering material containing calcium therein. In this case, the grain size of the sand-like filtering material is set between 2.5-3.5 mm. Coral sand is preferably used as the sand-like material, since it promotes the propagation of aerobic bacteria and converts ammonia and nitric acid to harmless materials and the above grain size exhibits better effect.

Abstract: A raising control apparatus for living fish and water plants including a plurality of aquarium assemblies each including a frame having a plurality of partitions, a water quality stabilizing trough fitted in a lowest one of the partitions, a plurality of tanks each fitted in one of the remaining partitions, a pump having an inlet connected with the water quality stabilizing trough and an outlet connected with the tank at the uppermost one of the partitions of the frame, a horizontally disposed dripping pipe connected between lower ends of the tubes and having a plurality of perforations, a first downwardly depending pipe connected with an end of the dripping pipe, and a second downwardly depending pipe connected with another end of the dripping pipe; and a water supply device having a reservoir connected with the water collecting chamber of the water quality stabilizing trough via a float ball valve.

Abstract: An aquarium includes a water tank received in a picture-frame-shaped housing suitable for either mounting on a wall or being supported on a stand. The housing includes a hidden storage space for neatly storing an air pump. A vertical sheet or partition extending between the sides of the tank divides the tank into a full-width, but relatively thin and flat, bubble conduit behind the partition for carrying air bubbles, and a habitation compartment in from of it for keeping fish. The lower edge of the partition is spaced above the bottom of the tank to form a gap or water intake, and the upper edge of the partition is spaced below the water line to form a water return. An elongated air diffuser substantially extends between the side edges of the bubble conduit near its bottom. When supplied air by the pump, the diffuser emits a wide sheet of air bubbles that rise upwardly through the bubble conduit to aerate the water.

Abstract: A screen is used for an aquarium tank having a tank body, a filter unit disposed on the tank body, a case for the filter unit, and a pump mechanism having a water conducting section extending into the tank body from the underside of the case. The screen is configured so as to conceal the water conducting section at least from the front and opposite sides of the tank.

Abstract: An internally-situated filter assembly for an aquarium tank includes an upright tank partition wall mounted within the aquarium for dividing the aquarium into an aquarium compartment and a filter compartment, an inlet formed in the partition wall generally adjacent to the top end thereof for allowing tank water in the aquarium compartment to flow into the filter compartment and an outlet formed in the partition wall for allowing filtered tank water to flow from the filter compartment into the aquarium compartment. A filter is mounted in the filter compartment generally beneath the inlet so that tank water may be fed thereto under the influence of gravity from the aquarium compartment and a catch basin is formed beneath and adjacent the bottom end of the filter compartment for collecting filtered water from the filter. A pump returns filtered water collected in the catch basin to the aquarium compartment. The filter assembly is especially intended for small salt water reef tanks.

Abstract: An aquarium comprises a bifurcated pedestal and a cylindrical transparent viewing tank mounted within the arms of the pedestal. The pedestal contains a reservoir beneath the viewing tank, the volume of the reservoir being sufficient to hold the contents of the viewing tank. A secondary fish tank or drawer is mounted within the pedestal beneath the reservoir. The fish drawer contains gravel and aquarium plants, and fish can move freely between the viewing tank and fish drawer. The fish drawer is removable from the pedestal to replace the fish and/or aquarium plants during which time water from the viewing tank is stored in the reservoir. Water filters are provided within the pedestal with water conduits arranged so that when the viewing tank is filled with water, water flows under the influence of gravity from the fish drawer up to the filter and then back to the reservoir. Pumps within the reservoir pump the water into the viewing tank.

Abstract: A novel aquarium assembly includes a transparent fish tank that is made of integrally molded plastic. The fish tank confines large and small receiving spaces therein. A top cover is mounted removably on the open top of the fish tank and is formed with an opening to access the large receiving space. A U-shaped filter strip is disposed inside the small receiving space and divides the small receiving space into a first compartment and two second compartments on two sides of the first compartment. The second compartments are communicated directly with the large receiving space.