Patent ID: 7097046
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A filter assembly for an aquarium, comprising: a filter housing having an inlet connected to receive water from the aquarium and an outlet connected to return the water to the aquarium; a filter assembly disposed in said housing, said filter assembly including a rotatably supported fine mesh screen for filtering solid matter from the water and trapping the solid matter; a vacuum assembly having a vacuum head disposed to vacuum the solid matter from said fine mesh screen while said screen is rotated past said vacuum head; a bypass valve connected to temporarily divert a water flow between said inlet and said outlet and to bypass said filter screen while said screen vacuumed by said vacuum assembly; and a control unit connected to said vacuum assembly and to said bypass valve, said control unit selectively turning said bypass valve to a bypass position, causing said vacuum assembly to vacuum the solid matter from said screen, and, upon finishing the vacuuming operation, turning said bypass valve to a normal position in which the water flows from said inlet through said filter screen and to said outlet.