Manifold for aerating and circulating aquarium water

A manifold for use in aerating and circulating the aquarium water is composed of a main tube, at least one bypass tube extending from the main tube, and at least one aerating tube extending from the bypass tube such that the aerating tube is parallel to the main tube and that the top end of the aerating tube is in contact with atmospheric air and further that the bottom end of the aerating tube is submerged in the aquarium water. The main tube has a top end in communication with a filtration device of the aquarium, and a bottom end which is engaged with a water pump located at the bottom of the aquarium. The bypass tube forms an angle with the main tube such that the bypass tube is provided with an uphill segment contiguous to the main tube, and a downhill segment contiguous to the aerating tube.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to an aquarium and more 
particularly to a manifold for aerating and circulating water of the 
aquarium. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional aquarium is generally composed of a 
water tank 10, a water circulating and filtering device 11, and an 
aeration device 13. Such a prior art aquarium as described above is not 
cost-effective in view of the fact that the water circulating and 
filtering device 11 and the aeration device 13 are independent of each 
other. In addition, the devices 11 and 13 are relatively noisy and take up 
too much of the space of the water tank 10. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide 
an aquarium manifold capable of circulating and aerating water 
simultaneously. 
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an aquarium 
manifold which is simple in construction and is cost-effective. 
In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing 
objectives of the present invention are attained by the manifold, which 
consists of a water tube, a by-pass tube, and an aerating tube. The 
manifold is submerged such that the top end of the aerating tube is below 
the water surface. As the water flows through the water tube, the water is 
guided into the aerating tube via the by-pass tube so as to bring about 
the aeration of the aquarium water. 
The foregoing objectives, features and functions of the present invention 
will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the 
following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention 
with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, an aquarium manifold embodied in the present 
invention is composed of a water tube 20 of a plastic material, a by-pass 
tube 22, and an aerating tube 24. 
The by-pass tube 22 is branched out of the water tube 20 such that the 
by-pass tube 22 has an uphill segment 221 and a downhill segment 223. The 
aerating tube 24 is branched out of the downhill segment 223 of the 
by-pass tube 22 such that the aerating tube 24 is parallel to the water 
tube 20. 
The water tube 20 is submerged such that the bottom end 203 of the water 
tube 20 is connected with the outlet 303 of a pump 30, and that the top 
end 201 of the water tube 20 is in communication with a filtration device 
40 of the aquarium and further that the top end 241 of the aerating tube 
24 is below the water surface of the aquarium to remain in contact with 
the atmospheric air. 
As the pump 30 is started, the aquarium water is forced to flow through the 
water tube 20 in the direction indicated by an arrow "A" such that the 
aquarium water is discharged into the filtration device 40 via the top end 
201 of the water tube 20. The filtered water is then allowed to flow back 
into the aquarium via another end of the filtration device 40, as 
illustrated in FIG. 3. In the meantime, some of the water in the water 
tube 20 is forced to flow into the by-pass tube 22, as indicated by an 
arrow "B" in FIG. 3. The water in the by-pass tube 22 is discharged into 
the aquarium tank via the bottom end 243 of the aerating tube 24. 
As the aquarium water is forced into the by-pass tube 22, the flow rate of 
the water is reduced as soon as water enters the uphill segment 221 of the 
by-pass tube 22. However, before the water flows into the aerating tube 24 
from the by-pass tube 22, the flow rate of the water is increased as the 
water flows into the downhill segment 223 of the by-pass tube 22. The 
acceleration of the water flow in the downhill segment 223 brings about 
the water turbulence in the aerating tube 24, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As 
a result, a relatively low pressure area 245 is generated in the area 
where the by-pass tube 22 and the aerating tube 24 meet. It must be noted 
here that the low pressure area 245 has a pressure lower than the pressure 
of the atmospheric air surrounding the top end 241 of the aerating tube 
24. As a result, the atmospheric air is drawn into the low pressure area 
245 via the top end 241 of the aerating tube 24. The atmospheric air is 
mixed with the air of the low pressure area 245 before the atmospheric air 
is forced into the aquarium water via the bottom end 243 of the aerating 
tube 24. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the aquarium manifold of the second preferred 
embodiment of the present invention is composed of a water tube 60, two 
by-pass tubes 62, and two aerating tubes 64 parallel to the water tube 60. 
The manifold of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention 
is used as an example to illustrate the fact that the manifold of the 
present invention may consist of one or more by-pass tubes and the 
aerating tubes. In addition, the by-pass tubes 62 have an inner diameter 
which becomes gradually smaller in the direction towards the aerating tube 
64. As a result, the flow rate of the water is increased gradually in the 
by-pass tubes 62 so as to bring about effectively the water turbulence in 
the aerating tubes 64. Moreover, the water tube 60 of the second preferred 
embodiment of the present invention is provided with an extension tube 61 
which is fastened with the bottom end 603 of the water tube 60. The 
extension tube 61 has a predetermined length, which is dependent on the 
depth of the aquarium tank. 
In must be noted here that both water tubes 20 and 60 of the present 
invention have a top end that is bendable so as to remain in communication 
with the filtration device of the aquarium. 
The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be regarded 
in all respects as being merely illustrative and not restrictive. 
Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms 
without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is 
therefore to be limited only by the scopes of the following appended 
claims.