A vivarium including an aquarium, and terrarium separated by an expansion chamber for refilling and circulating aquarium water. The expansion chamber is formed by a shield which surrounds the terrarium. A number of spouts may lead from the chamber to guide water from the aquarium inlet to the aquarium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a novel vivarium for aquatic and 
terrestrial life. 
Aquariums have been placed in homes for centuries. Likewise, terrariums 
have graced abodes in order to conveniently view plants and animals of 
exotic origin. Many problems arise in the maintenance and care of 
aquariums which preclude their usage in many places. For example, water 
must be circulated to supply dissolved oxygen for support of aquatic life. 
Also, sufficient food and heat must be obtained of the species of aquatic 
animals are to survive. 
Fish have a tendency to attempt escapes from aquariums by simply jumping 
from the body of water and perishing, unless discovered and returned to 
the water. Similarly, items placed in aquariums above the water surface 
are often dangerous to fish, since they may become stranded on such items 
out of the water. 
Equipment necessary for the sustaining of aquatic life is often scattered 
about the aquarium which presents a cumbersome and unaesthetic situation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention a novel vivarium for the 
sustenance of terrestrial and aquatic life is provided. 
The vivarium utilizes an aquarium having a water inlet and a water outlet. 
The aquarium may be constructed of translucent material on the sides and 
bottom. A terrarium positions within the aquarium partially or in whole. 
The terrarium has walls which enclose a space for retaining soil or other 
solids, thus providing an area for terrestrial plant and animal life. 
A chamber separates the terrarium and aquarium by the employment of a 
shield which surrounds the walls of the terrarium and spaces outwardly 
therefrom. The inlet to the aquarium enters the chamber which functions as 
a surge tank. The chamber may also be used as a holding tank for new or 
incompatable aquatic life, as well as presenting a barrier against fish 
jumping into the terrarium. Access between the chamber and aquarium is 
provided by the shield, and could take the form of a multiplicity of 
spouts directing water from the chamber to the aquarium. In general, the 
access would be at a higher level than the aquarium outlet to allow the 
accumulation of a body of water in the aquarium. 
The vivarium may also include pump means to circulate the aquarium-water as 
well as an air pump for oxygenation and filtering of the water. 
The aquarium and terrarium may be mounted on a stand which provides an 
enclosed shelf space for the various life supporting components such as an 
air pump, heating mechanism and the like. 
The aquarium, shield and terrarium may be built of translucent material, 
including a common bottom portion. A light source placed beneath such a 
structure would illuminate and heat the vivarium above. Finally, the 
moisture evaporating from the circulating water and the surface of the 
aquarium water would be retained by a transparent top. The proximity of 
the aquarium to the terrarium permits healthy and rapid growth of moisture 
loving plants such as ferns, moss and the like. 
The stand and aquarium and terrarium may be detachably connected for ease 
of movement. A variety of valves and fittings could be included to adapt 
the vivarium for this purpose. 
As may be apparent a novel and useful vivarium has been described and it is 
therefore thought to be an object of the present invention to provide a 
vivarium for terrestrial and aquatic life which overcomes the 
incompatabilities inherent in each. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vivarium which 
may easily be illuminated without obstruction of the inhabitants by the 
lighting mechanism. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vivarium which 
aerates an aquarium and mists terrestrial plants simultaneously. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vivarium as 
is a compact unit which is aesthetically pleasing and quiet. 
The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns 
particular features and characteristics thereof which will become apparent 
as the specification continues.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The invention as a whole is shown by reference character 10 and includes as 
one of its elements and aquarium 12 with a water outlet 14 and a water 
inlet 16, FIGS. 1 and 3. The aquarium fills with water or liquid to a 
certain level and may contain gravel or sand 18 on the aquarium bottom 20. 
An air pump 22 supplies slightly compressed air to aeration means 24 and 
filter means 26. Air pump 22 rests on a shelf 28 within the pedestal 30 of 
the vivarium 10. Access door 32 permits maintenance and repair of the 
elements within pedestal 30, which will be further discussed as the 
specification continues. The aquarium wall 34 and bottom 20 may be formed 
of translucent material such as LUCITE or KAOLITE. A cover 36 fits over 
the upper edge of wall 34 and may be almost air tight, since oxygen and 
other life sustaining gases will be supplied by aeration means 24. Switch 
means 38, accessible to the exterior of pedestal 30 activates and 
deactivates air pump 22. 
The vivarium 10 also includes terrarium 40 having walls 42 forming a solids 
retaining space 44 for soil, fertilizer, crock, and the like. For example, 
space 44 may support plant 46 or other terrestrial life. The terrarium 
also has a bottom 48 of the same construction as bottom 20 of aquarium 12 
Shield 50 surrounds terrarium walls 42 to form a chamber 52 therebetween. 
Access to aquarium 12 is provided by spouts 54, which may be spaced at 
certain intervals. Water from the aquarium inlet 16 would enter chamber 
52, pass through spout 54 and flow into aquarium 12. Spacing spouts 54 
from the top of water inlet 14 would produce a degree of turbulence in the 
flow of the water entering aquarium 12, thus providing additional aeration 
of the aquarium water and misting of plant 46. Water to the chamber 52 is 
circulated by pump means 56 and conduits 58 and 60, via valve means 61. 
Chamber 52 functions as a surge tank for water entering from inlet 16. 
Also, chamber 52 may be employed to segregate species of aquatic life that 
are incompatable such as adult and newly born fish. The cover 36 and 
chamber 52 serve to prevent fish from leaping outside the aquarium area. 
Directly below the bottom 62 of chamber 52 may be placed a light source 64 
which may be a plurality of light bulbs 66 arranged below the bottom of 
chamber 52, FIG. 2 by brackets 65. The light from source 64 would radiate 
through the chamber 52 and illuminate the entire upper portion of the 
vivarium 10. Likewise, the light from source 64 could illuminate the 
pedestal 30 if it were constructed of translucent material, or light 
source 64 could be shielded from pedestal 30 illumination if desired. It 
should be noted that the bottoms 20, 48, and 62 of the aquarium 12, 
terrarium 40 and chamber 52 could be integrally molded to form a common 
bottom, but only bottom 62 of chamber 52 would be capable of transmitting 
the light from source 64. Light would be further carried by the internal 
reflection of wall 34 of aquarium 12 and the wall of pedestal 30. Light 
radiation entering chamber 52 would heat the water passing therethrough to 
aquarium 12. 
Pump means 56 may be a submerged pump as depicted in FIG. 3; thus the lower 
portion of pedestal 30 would fill with water. Access opening 70 would 
permit the installation of pump means 56 as well as the throttling of 
valve means 61 to balance the flow of water through the system. Pump means 
56 would also serve to heat the circulating water. Removable plug 72 would 
provide a drainage for the water within pedestal 30 in the course of 
maintenance and repair of pump means 56, conduits 58 and 60, and valve 
means 61. The termination 74 of conduit 58 may be positioned above the 
surface of the water within pedestal 30 to provide the sound of running 
water if desired. 
In operation, aquarium 12 is filled with water above the outlet 14. Valve 
61 is turned on to prime pump means 56. Terrarium life aw well as aquarium 
life are placed in their respective areas and pump means 56 is activated 
by plug 68 being inserted into an electrical outlet. Water is forced into 
chamber 52 and enters aquarium 12 through spouts 54. Aeration is provided 
by air pump 22 and aeration means 24. Cover 36 is placed over wall 34 to 
enclose aquarium 12 and terrarium 40. Light source 64 and bulbs 66 are 
turned on by switch means 38 to illuminate and heat the vivarium 10. 
While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been 
set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete 
disclosure of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing 
from the spirti and principles of the invention.