Method and apparatus for cleaning and filling an aquarium

A method and apparatus for use in cleaning and refilling an aquarium tank and including an elongated flexible hose, a gravel tube including an upper end connected to one end of the flexible hose, and a lower end adapted to be immersed in the aquarium tank such that the lower end is adjacent the bottom of the aquarium tank. The gravel tube has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the elongated flexible hose. A faucet pump is provided for connecting the other end of the elongated flexible hose to a faucet. The faucet pump functions to cause selective and alternative flow of water from the aquarium tank through the gravel tube and the elongated flexible hose to the drain wherein gravel is churned in the gravel tube and sediment is separated from the gravel and carried away with the water to the drain. The faucet pump can then cause a reverse flow of water from the faucet to the aquarium tank for refilling the aquarium tank.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for use in 
cleaning an aquarium and for draining and filling the aquarium. 
BACKGROUND PRIOR ART 
Large aquariums of the type for use in containing tropical fish and having 
a 20 to 50 gallon capacity commonly include an undergravel filter. 
Aquariums must be cleaned periodically to remove sediment from the gravel 
in the aquarium. It is also necessary to periodically remove water from 
the aquarium and add fresh water. If the aquarium is relatively large and 
has a capacity of 20 to 50 gallons or more, cleaning of the aquarium can 
be a difficult and time-consuming task, and changing of the aquarium water 
can require removal of a substantial quantity of water. For example, it is 
common that when aquarium water is drained and replaced, one-third of the 
water in the aquarium is removed and replaced. In the case of aquariums of 
50 gallons or more, this is a large quantity of water to carry by hand, 
and is very time-consuming. 
Prior art apparatus for use in cleaning an aquarium is shown in the 
Hutchinson U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,672,987 and 2,956,507. These devices each 
comprise a conduit having one end which is inserted into the aquarium and 
placed close to the bottom. An opposite end supports a mesh bag or filter. 
A bulb-type pump is mounted between the opposite ends of the conduit and 
functions to permit water to be manually pumped through the conduit. The 
lower end of the tube is placed adjacent the bottom of the aquarium and 
water is pumped through the conduit drawing sediment from the gravel up 
through the tube and through the conduit and through the filter. The 
filtered water is then allowed to drain back into the aquarium. 
The structures of the type shown in the Hutchinson patents have the 
drawback of producing insufficient flow of water to effectively clean the 
aquarium tank. The undergravel filters used in large aquariums tend to 
pull the sediment down into the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium tank. 
The apparatus of Hutchinson does not effectively clean the gravel nor the 
undergravel filter because it produces insufficient water flow. 
The prior art apparatus of Hutchinson is also intended merely to provide a 
means for filtering the aquarium water. The water in the aquarium commonly 
includes not only sediment and other solid contaminants, but also includes 
liquid and dissolved contaminants. The liquid and dissolved contaminants 
should be removed from the aquarium in the same manner that solid 
contaminants are removed. While the Hutchinson structure strains the water 
and thereby removes some of the solid materials, since the water is 
returned to the aquarium, the liquid contaminants and dissolved solids are 
not removed from the aquarium water. 
Attention is also directed to the Parker U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,997, issued 
Apr. 17, 1956; the Holland U.S. Pat. No. 2,112,290, issued Mar. 29, 1938; 
the Gavaza U.S. Pat. No. 1,950,172, issued Mar. 6, 1934; the Reedy et al. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,930,284, issued Oct. 10, 1933 and the Scott U.S. Pat. No. 
1,826,829, issued Oct. 13, 1931. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for use in cleaning 
an aquarium tank and also for use in draining and fillng an aquarium tank. 
The apparatus of the invention provides an improved means for draining 
water from the aquarium, and during the step of draining water from the 
tank, the apparatus embodying the invention draws sufficient volume of 
water from the bottom of the tank that sediment in the undergravel filter 
and in the gravel is removed, and the gravel is churned with water to 
facilitate removal of the sediment from the gravel. The amount of water 
drawn from the aquarium is controlled, however, such that while the gravel 
is churned and sediment and other relatively light solids are removed from 
the aquarium, the heavier gravel will fall back to the bottom of the 
aquarium. 
More particularly, the apparatus comprises an elongated flexible hose and a 
gravel tube having one end connected to one end of the flexible hose. The 
opposite end of the gravel tube is adapted to be immersed in the aquarium 
tank such that the lower end of the gravel tube is adjacent the bottom of 
the aquarium tank. An opposite end of the elongated flexible hose is 
connected to a faucet by a faucet pump arrangement including means for 
causing selective and alternative flow of water from the aquarium tank 
through the gravel tube and the elongated flexible hose to the drain, and 
alternatively, flow of water from the faucet to the aquarium tank for 
refilling the aquarium tank. In a preferred form of the invention the 
faucet pump arrangement causes sufficient flow of water through the gravel 
tube that gravel adjacent the bottom of the aquarium tank will be churned 
in the gravel tube, and sediment at the bottom of the tank adjacent the 
lower end of the gravel tube will be drawn into the gravel tube and 
discharged through the elongated flexible hose to the drain. 
In one embodiment of the invention the faucet pump comprises a tube having 
opposite ends, one end being adapted to be threaded onto the faucet and an 
opposite end adapted to discharge water into the drain. The tube includes 
a venturi section intermediate its opposite ends, and the elongated 
flexible hose is connected to the venturi section of the tube whereby 
water flow from the faucet through the tube causes water to be drawn 
through the elongated flexible hose and discharged into the drain. 
In one embodiment of the invention a valve is also provided for controlling 
flow of water through the water discharge end of the tube, the valve 
including a valve member moveable between a first position wherin water 
flow to the discharge end of the tube is obstructed and water from the 
faucet is forced through the elongated flexible hose, and a second positon 
wherein water can flow from the faucet through the discharge end of the 
tube to the drain. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus also includes a 
valve intermediate the opposite ends of the elongated flexible hose and 
for controlling the flow of water through the elongated flexible hose. 
One of the principal features of the invention is that the apparatus 
embodying the invention functions to remove a portion of the water from 
the aquarium tank and also functions to clean the tank at the same time as 
water is being removed. Dissovled impurities in the water in the aquarium 
tend to settle to the bottom of the aquarium. The present invention 
provides a method and apparatus for cleaning an aquarium tank which 
functions to remove water from the bottom of the aquarium and therby to 
remove that water containing the highest concentration of dissolved 
impurities or liquid contaminants. The apparatus of the invention also 
functions to remove sediment from the gravel and to clean the undergravel 
filter. As water is pulled from the bottom of the aquarium, the water 
draws gravel and sediment up into the gravel tube where the gravel is 
churned and sediment is discharged with the water drained from the tank. 
The gravel will settle back to the floor of the aquarium. In a preferred 
form of the invention, the flow of water through the gravel tube will also 
be strong enough that sediment collected in the undergravel filter will 
also be removed from the filter and discharged with the waste water. In 
the normal operation of the apparatus embodying the invention, ater about 
one-third of the water from the aquarium has been removed, the valve can 
be switched to then cause flow of water from the faucet through the 
conduit or hose into the aquarium to refill the aquarium. 
The apparatus of the invention thus provides a convenient means for 
draining a portion of the water from the aquarium while simultaneously 
cleaning the gravel and undergravel filter of sediment while also 
providing a means for conveniently filling the aquarium. This method and 
apparatus substantially reduces the amount of time and effort otherwise 
required for changing the water in the aquarium. It also insures that the 
water removed from the aquarium is that containing the highest 
concentration of impurities. 
Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent by 
reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment, from the 
drawings and from the claims.

Before describing a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is 
to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to 
the details of construction nor to the arrangement of components set forth 
in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention 
is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in 
various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and 
terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should 
not be regarded as limiting. 
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Illustrated in FIG. 1 is an apparatus embodying the invention and adapted 
for use in cleaning sediment from an aquarium 10 and also for use in 
draining and filling the aquarium. In the illustrated arrangement the 
aquarium 10 is shown as comprising a large glass tank having a floor 
covered with a layer of gravel 12. The aquarium 10 may also include a 
conventional undergravel filter (not shown) supported by the floor of the 
aquarium tank and covered with the layer of gravel 12. 
During operation of a conventional undergravel filter, the water in the 
aquarium 10 is pulled downwardly through the gravel 12. This flow of water 
through the filter causes and accumulation of impurities and solids in the 
filter and also causes sediment to be pulled down into the gravel 12. 
The present invention includes an elongated flexible plastic hose 14 having 
one end adapted to be connected to a water faucet 16 and an opposite end 
connected to a gravel tube 18 adapted to be immersed in the aquarium 10. 
While the flexible plastic hose 14 could have other constructions, in the 
illustrated arrangement it comprises a long flexible transparent hose 
having an inside diameter of approximately 1/2 inch. 
The cylindrical gravel tube 18 has opposite ends, one of these ends being 
fixed to one end 20 of the elongated hose 14 and in fluid communication 
with the elongated hose such that water in the gravel tube 18 will flow 
into the elongated hose 14. More specifically, means are provided for 
forming a fluid tight connection between the end of the gravel tube 18 and 
the end 20 of the elongated hose 14. In the illustrated arrangement that 
means includes a molded plastic cap 22 fitting over the upper end of the 
cylindrical gravel tube 18 in fluid tight relation and including a 
coupling 24 adapted to be inserted into the end of the elongated hose in 
fluid tight engagement. While the gravel tube 18 could be constructed in 
other ways, in the illustrated arrangement it comprises a transparent 
plastic tube or cylinder having an inside diameter of approximately two 
inches, and the gravel tube 18 is constructed of relatively rigid plastic. 
The gravel tube 18 is adapted to be placed in an aquarium with the lower 
end of the gravel tube adjacent the gravel 12. 
Means are also provided for connecting the opposite end 26 of the elongated 
flexible plastic hose 14 to the water faucet 16, this means including 
means for alternatively and selectively causing flow of water from the 
faucet 16 to a drain 28, and thereby causing water to be drawn out of the 
aquarium 10 by suction through the elongated hose 14 and into the drain 
28, and alternatively causing flow of water from the faucet 16 through the 
elongated hose 14 into the aquarium 10. In a preferred form of the 
invention, the means for connecting the elongated hose 14 to the faucet 16 
comprises a faucet pump 30 including a first tube 32 including an upper 
end adapted to be connected by a coupling or adaptor 34 to the faucet 16 
and a lower end adapted to discharge the water from the faucet 16 into the 
drain 28. The first tube 32 includes a venturi section 36 (FIG. 4) 
intermediate its opposite ends. While the upper end of the tube 32 could 
be connected to the faucet in various ways, in the illustrated 
construction, the coupling 34 includes a threaded upper end 38 adapted to 
be threaded into the threaded end of the faucet 16 and a threaded lower 
end 40 adapted to be threaded into the upper end of the first tube 32. The 
faucet pump 30 also includes a second tube portion 44 having one end 
intersecting the first tube 32 at the venturi section and the opposite end 
adapted to be connected to the end 26 of the elongated hose 14. 
Means are also provided for controlling flow of water through the lower or 
discharge end of the first tube portion 32. In the particular arrangement 
illustrated, the faucet pump 30 includes a valve 45 at the lower or 
discharge end of the first tube and functional to provide means for 
selectively closing the lower end of the first tube. When the valve 45 is 
open, water can flow through the venturi section 36 to the drain 28 
thereby causing suction of water from the elongated hose 14. When the 
valve 45 is closed, water from the faucet 16 will be forced through the 
elongated hose 14 to the aquarium 10. While the valve 45 could have other 
conventional constructions, in the illustrated arrangement, it includes a 
valve bell 47 surrounding the lower end of the tube 32 and including a 
valve member 49 movable between a position shown in FIG. 4 wherein water 
can flow freely from the end of the tube, to a position shown in FIG. 5 
wherein the valve member engages to lower end of the tube 32 to seal that 
open end. 
Means are also provided for supporting the valve bell 47 for shiftable 
movement between the position shown in FIG. 4, wherein water can flow 
through the tube 32 to the drain, and the closed position shown in FIG. 5 
wherein water flow through the tube 32 is precluded. While this means 
could have various constructions, in the illustrated arrangement it 
includes a pair of screws 51 supported by the upper end of the valve bell 
47 and extending inwardly. The periphery of the tube includes a pair of 
slots 53 for selectively housing the screws 51 for slideable movement in 
the direction of the length of the tube. A pair of spaced apart flanges 55 
extend outwardly from opposite sides of the tube. When the valve bell 47 
is in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the valve bell 47 can be moved 
slideably upwardly with respect to the tube until the valve member 49 
engages the lower end of the tube 32. The valve bell 47 can then be 
rotated until the screws engage the upper surfaces of the flanges 55 
wherein the valve member 49 will be secured against the lower end of tube 
32. 
In a preferred form of the invention the faucet pump 30 can comprise a 
superpump model faucet pump manufactured by Blue Magic Corporation, 
Stockton, California and can be of the type commonly used for filling and 
emptying a conventional waterbed. Such a faucet pump produces an efficient 
means for drawing water from the aquarium 10 and is capable of removing a 
large quantity of water from the aquarium 10 in response to flow of water 
from the faucet 16 through the venturi 36. 
Means are further provided for controlling the water flow through the 
elongated hose 14. In the preferred form of the invention this means 
includes a flow control valve 50 in the elongated hose 14 adjacent the end 
20 of the hose 14 connected to the gravel tube 18. While various manually 
operable valves could be used, in the illustrated arrangement the valve 50 
comprises a butterfly valve including a body 52 and a valve member 54 
shiftable between an open position and a closed position. In a preferred 
form of the invention, the valve 50 is located relatively close to the end 
20 of the elongated flexible hose 14 supporting the gravel tube in order 
to permit the operator to control the water flow through the gravel tube 
18 and the hose 14 while holding the gravel tue 18. 
In operation of the apparatus embodying the invention, the adaptor 34 is 
threaded onto the water faucet 16 to connect the faucet pump 30 to the 
faucet 16. The control valve 50 is closed to preclude water flow through 
the hose 14. The valve 46 controlling flow of water through the water pump 
30 is open to permit flow of water through the first tube 32. The faucet 
16 is then turned on to cause flow of water through the venturi section 36 
of the tube 32. The gravel tube 18 can then be immersed in the water of 
the aquarium with the lower open end of the gravel tube 18 positioned 
adjacent the gravel 12 at the bottom of the aquarium 10. The operator can 
then open the valve 50. The flow of water through the venturi 36 generates 
a substantial suction in the elongated hose 14 to cause water flow from 
the aquarium into the gravel tube 18. This water flow into the gravel tube 
18 will cause sediment and gravel to be pulled up into the gravel tube 18 
and cause the gravel to be churned. The gravel is sufficiently heavy that 
it will fall back to the floor of the aquarium while sediment is carried 
away with the water discharged through the elongated hose 14. The flow of 
water into the lower end of the gravel tube 18 is also sufficient to pull 
sediment away from the undergravel filter to thereby clean the filter. 
In a preferred form of the invention, the valve 50 is constructed such that 
when the valve 50 is closed, and when the valve 46 is in a position to 
cause water to flow from the faucet 16 through the elongated hose 14, the 
valve 50 prohibits flow of water into the aquarium 10. On the other hand, 
when the valve 46 is in a position to cause suction in the elongated hose 
14 tending to draw water from the aquarium, the valve 50 permits a 
controlled flow of water from the aquarium and through the elongated hose. 
During operation of the aquarium cleaning apparatus, when a sufficient 
quantity of water has been removed from the aquarium 10 and the valve 50 
is closed, there will be sediment contained in the gravel tube 18. Even 
when the valve 50 is close, the valve 50 permits a sufficient flow of 
water from the gravel tube 18 into the elongated hose 14 that sediment 
contained in the gravel tube 18 will be pulled from the gravel tube 18 
into the elongated hose 14 and will not be permitted to precipitate to the 
bottom of the aquarium 10. 
In the illustrated construction the valve body 52 is comprised of a 
relatively rigid material, and the shiftable valve mamber 54 is comprised 
of a resilient plastic material such as polypropylene. When the valve 50 
is close, water pressure from the faucet 16 will force the valve member 54 
against the valve seat 56 to thereby provide a fluid tight seal. If the 
valve of the faucet pump 30 is moved to the FIG. 4 position wherein water 
is drawn through the elongated hose to the drain 28, the water pressure in 
the hose 14 will tend to force the valve member 54 away from the valve 
seat 56 such that there will be limited flow of water through the valve 50 
toward the drain. 
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.