Water changing and cleaning system and device for bowl, aquarium or pond kept pet fish

A water changing and cleaning system and device for bowl, aquarium or pond kept pet fish is disclosed. You can pour the fish directly from a bowl into this invention, (capacity is unlimited due to flow through design). Device comprises a container within a container, the inner container features a gill port, running horizontally and flush with the bottom of the container, water flows through the inner container and rises in the space between the two containers, until it overflows from the provided outlet on the outer container, carrying unwanted matter with it. Using a source of clean water to flush through the device, once a satisfactory level of cleanliness is observed the inner container is removed and the fish is returned to its cleaned Bowl. The fish was never out of water during the process. Device can be used to capture fish, so no nets required.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Problem Solved: Returning a pet fish to its bowl, pond or aquarium, without transferring old or dirty water or detritus back into your cleaned fishbowl, pond or aquarium.

Containers and nets: you place the fish in a container of water, usually with the aid of a net. In the efforts to catch the fish you can damage/injure the fish especially exotic varieties, and stir up dirt and sediment, which will be transferred with the captured fish into the container.

You can introduce the fish in water directly into this invention, (capacity is unlimited due to flow through design). Device can be used to capture fish, so no net required.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention makes it possible to change the water in a fishbowl, without the pet fish being out of its water.

It accomplishes this by means of two containers one placed inside the other.

The inner container has a gill port flush with the bottom of the inner container.

The port facilitates the evacuation of unwanted substances from the fishbowl during water changes.

It holds the fish in clean water while the bowl is cleaned.

And the end result is a cleaner fishbowl as no unwanted substances are reintroduced to the cleaned bowl.

The fish did not need to be netted and spent no time out of water, Minimizing damage and stress to the fish.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. Outer receptacle/container with outlet/overflow, made from injection molded BPA free acrylic2. Inner receptacle/container, made from injection molded acrylic. With contoured radiused interior, and a Gill port on one side3. Gill port intended to produce a more natural flow of liquid.4. Source or container of fresh clean conditioned water5. Closed cell urethane foam flotation collar to provide flotation option for inner receptacle2

Relationship Between the Components:

Container2fits inside container1and container2is keyed to1(FIGS. 5-6). there is also standoffs or ribbing8inside container1to maintain clearance for water W to flow through the device (FIG. 6). In this example a bowl containing fish in their water10is poured into and flows through the device, using a Gill port3, at the bottom of container2(FIG. 1). and on the opposite side to overflow outlet4of container1As the water is introduced it begins to flow into the space between the inner and outer containers1-2, when the water reaches the outlet4on the outer container1it pours out, the water remains at an equal level in both containers1-2, regardless of whether water is being introduced or not, once the device is filled. The water level in container2is always sufficient to cover and sustain the fish within it (FIGS. 1-2).

The cleaning element of this system requires a source or container of clean conditioned fresh or salt water10. The assembled device can be placed into a sink, covering the sink drain8or alternatively on the edge of a sink with the outlet4orientated to allow the device to empty into the sink. This water W is then carefully poured into container2, and flushes the old or dirty water, by displacement and dilution from the container2the water will flow through the gill port3and into the space between containers1-2, exiting at the outlet5, the water10then flows through the drainage channels7in the base of the outer container1and into the sink drain8(FIG. 1).

The cleaning action is further enhanced by lifting container2from container1(FIGS. 2-4), this will impart a slight suction on the water in container2through the gill port3, as the containers2-1are separated. As the inner container2is lifted, the water having a self-leveling nature will flow through the gill port3into container1. This also enhances the cleaning action. As the user lifts container2, the clean water10from source or container will continue to be carefully poured into container2, maintaining a sufficient water level until the water in container2is clean and free from detritus.

At this point the user will tilt the inner container2to one side until water no longer flows from the gill port3. The fish will be contained in the clean water W remaining in the vee of container2(FIG. 4). Fish can now be returned to bowl, pond or aquarium by carefully pouring from or immersing tilted container2into bowl, pond or aquarium.

The Inner container2can also be used as a nursery or isolation tank, with the ability to float at differing levels with the use of the closed cell urethane foam collar6(FIG. 3), which is adjustable for height due to its interference fit on container2, this has the advantage of allowing differing water levels within container2making it suitable for a wider range of aquatic species.

The assembled device (FIG. 8) can also be used to minimize loss of fish, when siphoning water from an aquarium, the siphon tube outlet would be placed into the assembled device and would catch any animal unfortunate enough to be drawn into the siphon tube and would reduce the risk of losing the fish down a sink drain for example.