Abstract: An aquarium filter having a housing unit which is adapted to be mounted onto a wall of an aquarium tank. The housing includes an inlet chamber for receiving contaminated water from the aquarium tank and a filter chamber for filtering the contaminated water from the inlet chamber. A motor unit is supported by the housing and includes stator laminations which can be energized by means of a coil. A removable unitary intake assembly is positioned in the housing. The intake assembly includes an intake tube for supplying the contaminated water from the aquarium tank to the inlet chamber. It also includes a rotor assembly having an impeller mounted on it. The rotor assembly extends into the intake storage chamber and is magnetically coupled to the stator laminations to thereby drive the impeller pump.

Abstract: An aquarium net assembly comprising an aquarium net including a frame mounted netting sack and an elongated wand extending from said frame, a suspension bracket mounted on said wand for movement along the longitudinal axis of said wand for rotation about the axis said suspension bracket, comprising a sleeve frictionally engaged about said wand and an arm extending from said sleeve, said arm terminating in a downwardly extending lip in combination with a flat bag-like enclosure for said assembly within which said frame mounted net and said bracket is received, said bracket being disposed adjacent to the frame and having its arm in alignment with the plane of the frame thus constituting a flat packaged fish net assembly.

Abstract: An artificial aquarium plant having a base member with a plurality of nestingly interfitting plant members supported by the base member. A coupling arrangement is provided for interconnecting the plant members with the base member. The plant members each include a body portion with branches upwardly extending from the body portion. Aligning members are included on the body portions for interfitting the body portions in an aligned orientation.

Abstract: An artificial aquarium plant having a base member and a plant member interfitting into the base member. The plant member is formed of a plurality of plant sections nestingly interfitting within each other. Preferably, the base member is formed with pivotal arms movable between a radially outwardly extending position and a contracted position when the arms are adjacent to and embracing the periphery of the base member. Preferably, the plant sections are formed of polystyrene and are secured together by applying a ketone material in order to solvent bond the parts together.

Abstract: An aquarium heater including a housing and a tube depending therefrom. An electric heating element is disposed in the bottom portion of the tube and a thermostatic control chassis is disposed in the upper portion of the tube. The control chassis includes two opposing housing sections matingly engaged in a nesting relationship to form a cylindrical housing unit which snugly fits into the tube and supports a bimetallic thermostatic switch together with associated circuitry and lead wires such that the thermostatic circuit elements are maintained securely positioned within the tube. The housing includes a gasket situated between a lip of the tube and the bottom wall of the housing, and a locking ring which clamps the rim of the tube in place. The tube is thereby held securely to the housing independently of the control chassis.

Abstract: A holding clamp for suspending an aquarium heater from the top of an aquarium frame. The clamp includes a bracket having a universal throat which can accommodate different sized frames. The clamp comprises an L-shaped bracket with a retaining member slidably associated with each of the legs of the bracket. Each retaining member defines an adjustable throat size with the opposing leg of the bracket. A locking device is situated on the clamp for securing the clamp to the frame with the retaining members positioned to accommodate the particular frame size. A holder connected to the bracket supports the aquarium heater from the frame and permits the aquarium heater to be suspended into the water.

Abstract: An external aquarium filter is disclosed, the filter including a filter receptacle having a filter chamber for receiving contaminated aquarium water and having a clean water chamber. The two chambers are separated by a filter bed, with the clean water chamber being located above the filter chamber, whereby the flow of water is upwardly through the filter bed. A siphon input tube supplies the aquarium water to the filter chamber, and an output conduit supplies the clean water from the clean water chamber back to the aquarium tank. A commercially available aquarium air pump provides compressed air into the output conduit in order to airlift the clean water from the siphon level into the aquarium tank. The filter bed can include a layer of open cell reticulated foam plastic material, such as polyurethane foam, and a layer of activated carbon.

Abstract: An aquarium heater including a housing and a tube depending therefrom. An electric heating element is disposed in the bottom portion of the tube and a thermostatic control chassis is disposed in the upper portion of the tube. The control chassis includes two opposing housing sections matingly engaged in a nesting relationship to form a cylindrical housing unit which snugly fits into the tube and supports a bimetallic thermostatic switch together with associated circuitry and lead wires such that the thermostatic circuit elements are maintained securely positioned within the tube. The housing includes a gasket situated between a lip of the tube and the bottom wall of the housing, and a locking ring which clamps the rim of the tube in place. The tube is thereby held securely to the housing independently of the control chassis.

Abstract: An aquarium device for use in an aquarium tank, the device includes two cylindrical airstones each having a nozzle with an end portion thereof secured within a bore of the airstone and an opposing stem portion thereof extending from the airstone. A T-shaped connector includes a tubular central portion for receiving the stem portions on the nozzles of the two airstones. A connecting stem portion extends from the central portion of the connector for coupling to an air hose. The stem portions on the nozzles of the airstones and the connecting stem portion on the connector are substantially identical in shape, whereby the airstones can be used as a pair in conjunction with the connector, or individually by directly connecting the airstone to the air hose.

Abstract: A bottom aquarium filter for an aquarium tank which includes a container having an inlet compartment which can receive contaminated water from the tank, and a filtration compartment which converts the contaminated water into decontaminated water. The filtration compartment contains a mass of filtering material with a restraining plate positioned in the filtration compartment to restrain the filtering material within one section thereof while maintaining another section substantially free of such filtration material, thereby providing a flow chamber which couples the inlet compartment to the section containing the filtering material. An air diffuser, attached by tubing to an air compressor located outside the aquarium tank, provides a stream of air bubbles to lift water from the decontaminated water compartment through an air lift tube.

Abstract: An artificial aquarium plant which includes an anchor in the shape of a narrow, elongated trough having a generally V-shaped cross section. The ends of the anchor are diverging downwardly to form scoops at the opposing ends. Transverse connecting walls define storage cells therebetween to receive the anchoring material, such as sand, for retaining the anchor at the bottom of an aquarium tank. A hollow tubular post provided in the anchor includes a restraining shoulder in its hollow portion. The plant member includes a bifurcated stem which can be inserted into the hollow post, and a ledge or lip section on the stem which engages the restraining shoulder to prevent removal of the plant member from the anchor. A package is designed to retain the artificial aquarium plant where the anchor acts in such a manner as to avoid crushing of the plant member.

Abstract: An undergravel aquarium filter having a housing assembly which can be positioned on an aquarium tank floor underneath the gravel bed and forms a water compartment between the housing and the floor. The housing assembly includes separable inner and outer sections in fluid flow communication with each other. An upwardly extending enclosure formed on the inner section includes air inlet and outlet members. An air stream supply is provided through the inlet member to a mixing chamber within the enclosure, thereby causing water from the tank to enter the water compartment after passing through the gravel bed, and therefrom the water and air can egress through the outlet member. Seats formed in the housing assembly can accommodate the feet supporting an air pump, whereby the air pump can be easily positioned on the housing assembly during packaging. A groove formed between the inner and outer sections accommodates passage therethrough of the pump line cord during storage of the line cord within the inner section.

Abstract: A vent valve of an air pump for charging air into a fish bowl which comprises a separator wall having an insertion vent hole, a valve body made of a silicone rubber and consisting of a disc-shaped tongue section having a semi-circular portion of a small diameter for closing said insertion vent hole and an annular disc-shaped fixed section of a large diameter connected to the base portion of said tongue section.