Patent ID: 7601259
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
1. An aquarium filter assembly comprising a housing having mounting structure for mounting to an aquarium tank, a filter cartridge in said housing, said housing having an inlet receiving dirty aquarium water, and an outlet returning clean filtered water to said tank, said housing defining a flow path therethrough from upstream to downstream from said inlet to said outlet including a flow path portion through said filter cartridge, said filter cartridge comprising a filter element supported in a holster, said holster having a plurality of water flow openings therethrough providing water flow along said flow path portion, said holster having a plurality of biological reactant surface area protrusions extending horizontally therefrom along said flow path portion adjacent said water flow openings, said biological reactant surface area protrusions alternating with said openings, said assembly further comprising a removable insert downstream of said holster, said insert comprising a vertical wall comprising a plurality of transfer openings, said insert further comprising rows of canopies extending horizontally as cantilevers from said transfer openings on one side of said vertical wall, said rows of canopies being offset, said insert further comprising a horizontal wall on an opposite side of said vertical wall from said canopies and below said transfer openings, said horizontal wall comprising a plurality of discharge openings, wherein water falls in cascade manner along said canopies through said transfer openings to said horizontal wall and through said discharge openings back to said tank.