Abstract:
An inexpensive, complete integrated aquaponic aquarium system that uses air pressure to pump water and waste from the bottom of an aquarium into a planter where terrestrial plants are grown. Included in this system is an aquarium lighting system, unique undergravel funnel filter system, grow lights, aquarium heater, and a power regulation system that turns the grow light on and off in regular intervals.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/598,244 filed on Feb. 13, 2012 entitled “A small scale aquaponic planter and aquarium system for use at the home or office”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0005]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0007]    This invention relates generally to the field of aquaponics and/or hydroponic planters for growing traditional soil-grown plants such as herbs and flowers in a soil-less environment. 
         [0008]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0009]    Aquaponics is the symbiotic technology of growing plants hydroponically (without organic growing material such as dirt) using aquatic animal waste as the primary nutrient source. Traditional hydroponic systems use a full spectrum of plant macro and micro nutrients derived from natural or unnatural sources which are dissolved in water in a nutrient reservoir which is then pumped or poured over the roots of plants. High concentrations of nutrients and large amounts of gas exchange allow hydroponic plants to achieve extremely efficient growth rates. Aquatic animals such as fish naturally produce waste as they metabolize food and oxygen. This waste is then degraded by microorganisms into macro and micro nutrients that make nearly complete plant fertilizer. Fish produce liquid waste in the form of ammonia and solid waste that is degraded by microorganisms into ammonia and other nitrogenous wastes. These ammonia waste products are poisonous to aquatic animals and converted via biological filtration first into nitrite, another poisonous waste product, and then into relatively non-poisonous nitrate by Nitrosoma and Nitrobacter communities of naturally occurring bacteria. An aquaponic system with established bacterial communities and a steady stream offish waste can generate plant growth equal to or greater than that of traditional hydroponic technologies. 
         [0010]    Hydroponic systems are related to aquaponic systems in that they use neutral or inert growth media such as gravel, pearlite, expanded clay, etc. as a means to support plant roots and maintain, moisture levels for the roots. Hydroponic systems generally use liquid nutrients derived from natural or un-natural sources, which are broken down into their purest forms before being added to a hydroponic growth system. There are generally no solid or liquid waste particles that need to be degraded by microorganisms in a hydroponic system. 
         [0011]    Prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,590 describes one such small personal hydroponic system. In this system, a nutrient solution is added to the bottom reservoir which is then intermittently pumped into a bed of inert media on top, which then drips back into the lower reservoir through simple flat drainage holes. While this system works fine with dissolved hydroponic nutrients, waste from fish or other aquatic animals contains waste particles of various sizes that need to be captured and degraded naturally to maintain a clean and healthy aquarium environment. In the same system, roots from the terrestrial plants tend to find flat drainage holes and grow down into the nutrient reservoir. Over time these roots can clog the drainage holes, which can drown the plant due to a flooded planter. The roots can also become unsightly in the case of an aquaponic system, as they fill the aquarium and choke out aquatic life. 
         [0012]    Traditional aquaponic systems cycle water from a fish reservoir to a separate plant reservoir indefinitely. Plant roots absorb waste nutrients from the water and turn the nutrients into organic plant material, cleaning the water for recirculation into the fish reservoir. Aquaponic systems are usually composed of many components including large fish tanks, soil-free plant growth beds and neutral media, natural or artificial lighting sources, mineralization tanks, sump tanks, electric pumps and solid waste filtering mechanisms. These systems have the ability to produce large quantities of harvestable fish and plants but can cost many thousands of dollars in material costs, require a large area for growth, and require many hours of labor and know-how for installation and maintenance. 
         [0013]    Aquaponic technology is scalable and can be applied to small scale aquarium systems. Hobby aquarists use mechanical, biological and chemical filtration in their aquariums to make healthy and clean environments for aquatic organisms such as fish to live. These systems often employ the use of rotary impellor or air powered airlift pumps to suck dirty water from the aquarium, clean it by means of filtration, and then return the water back to the aquarium. Over time solid waste accumulates in the bottom of the fish tank, requiring the aquarium substrate to be vacuumed on a regular basis. This solid waste also creates a great deal of ammonia as it decomposes, which is converted via nitrification into nitrate and leads to high levels of nitrate in the aquarium water. At low levels nitrate is non-toxic to aquatic organisms but becomes toxic at high levels and can lead to unsightly and potentially deadly algae blooms in an aquarium. Aquarists therefore need to perform weekly water changes of around 25% total volume to lower overall nitrate levels in the aquarium. Chemical filtration in the form of activated carbon and zeolite is also used by aquarists to adsorb nitrogenous waste, but needs to be removed and replaced on a regular basis as the adsorptive capacity of these particles become saturated over time. Aquaponic technology uses plants to lower this nitrate level naturally by turning excess waste into plant material, thereby reducing the need to perform water changes, replace chemical filtration materials, and also greatly decreasing the amount of algae growing in the aquarium. 
         [0014]    Another downfall of current aquarium filtration mechanisms is the inability to gather solid waste, or mulm, that accumulates on the bottom of the aquarium. Undergravel filters use airlift pumps or impellor pumps to create a low pressure zone under the aquarium substrate, creating a constant flow of oxygenated water through the aquarium substrate at the bottom of a tank. This oxygenated water allows nitrifying bacteria to partially decompose this solid waste, but vacuuming of the aquarium substrate at the bottom of the tank is often necessary to remove large waste particles. Without occasional vacuuming, these undergravel filters tend to compact and become plugged with solid waste, having a detrimental effect on the aquarium chemistry and health of the system. 
         [0015]    Related small aquaponic and hydroponic systems use external air pumps to power filter systems along with accessory lighting systems to create healthy plant growth. Combining these external systems into one easy to use integrated unit with push-button electronic controls and a single electrical output would be attractive to users who are looking for an easy to use aquaponic aquarium system. 
         [0016]    It is therefore an object of this invention to create an attractive, fully integrated, affordable, and easy to use aquaponic aquarium system that keeps pet fish or other aquatic organisms healthy while growing terrestrial plants as a part of the aquarium filter mechanism. It is also an object of this invention to create a unique undergravel filtration system to decrease aquarium cleaning requirements by sending aquarium waste directly to the roots of growing plants. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view from the front of the invention 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view from the side of this invention, showing only the planter and grow light section of the present invention 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a close up view of the connection wiring in the light shaft of the grow light for the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    In accordance with the invention, a contained aquaponic aquarium system is provided that uses compressed air from an air pump hidden in the base of the aquarium to pump liquid and solid fish waste (also known as mulm) through a riser tube into a planter resting on top of the tank. The bottom of this planter contains layers of filamentous material embedded with activated carbon, zeolite and calcium carbonate granules to provide biological and chemical filtration for the aquarium. A riser tube runs from the bottom of the aquarium into the center of the planter, where it connects to a watering tube with holes cut out of it that allows the waste-laden water to be pumped evenly over the filamentous material embedded with chemical filtration components such as activated carbon and zeolite. Solid waste particles are trapped in this filamentous material and are degraded by communities of bacteria that aid with the reduction of this waste into nitrates that can be absorbed by plant roots. This water then drains through the bottom of the planter through raised drainage holes and back into the aquarium cleaned and oxygenated for the aquatic organisms living within. Plants grow in grow plugs that fit into net baskets within the planter, and the roots exit the net baskets and enter the filamentous layer to absorb waste from the filter. The bottom of the aquarium contains a screen over a funnel that functions to concentrate the solid waste toward an opening at the bottom of the riser tube. Air released from the air pump outlet rises within the riser tube, taking solid and liquid waste with it from the bottom of the aquarium into the planter located above the tank. 
         [0022]    Embedded in the bottom of the planter is an aquarium lighting system used to light the aquarium that can be controlled by a button on the base of the aquarium system. This aquarium lighting system has a gasket around the edges of it that allow the light housing to stay dry and lower the risk of electric shock. An electric cord runs out through the back of the aquarium lighting compartment on the outside of the aquarium and plugs into a port in the base of the aquarium which then connects to a power regulator hidden in the aquarium base, and then to a push button control panel at the front of said aquarium base. 
         [0023]    In the center of the planter is a grow light adaptor. A grow light can be plugged into this adaptor to provide light for efficient plant growth. An electric cord runs from the bottom of the grow light adaptor, through a water proof tube and out through a port in the back of the planter, then runs down the outside of the aquarium and connects to the base of the aquarium in a similar fashion as the aquarium lighting system. Finally, an aquarium heater also exists within the planter that is powered by an electrical cord that exits the planter just below the grow light cord and connects to the aquarium base as well through the same plug system described previously. 
         [0024]    A push button control panel exists at the front of the base on the bottom of the aquarium that is connected to the power regulator and regulates the amount of time the grow lights are turned on. In this embodiment, pre-programmed cycles are used to operate the grow lights so that they turn on and off in an ideal cycle for vegetative plant growth or flowering. Another button is shown in this embodiment that functions in turning the aquarium lighting system on and off manually by the user. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention, although different, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described herein in connection with one embodiment may be implemented within other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, it is to be understood that the location or arrangement of individual elements within each disclosed embodiment may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the specification and drawings, appropriately interpreted, along with the full range of equivalents to which the specification and drawings are entitled. 
         [0026]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the terms “embodiment(s) of the invention”, “alternative embodiment(s)”, and “exemplary embodiment(s)” do not require that all embodiments of the method, system, and apparatus include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or use. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4  of the present invention, an aquarium  10  has aquatic organisms such as fish F and water W therein. An air pump  22  is concealed inside an aquarium base  23 , which is connected via an electrical cord  24  to power regulator  33 . Power regulator  33  is connected to an external power source such as a standard wall outlet or equivalent via electrical cord  35  and plug  34 . An airline  43  runs from air pump  22  to a one way valve  45 , and then on to elbow airline connector  47  entering through a hole in the bottom of aquarium  31 . Elbow airline connector  47  leads to air output  25 , which releases air as bubbles into lower riser tube section  14 . Riser tube section  14  has an opening  13  that sits at the bottom of a solid waste capture funnel  11  at the bottom of aquarium  31 . On top of the solid waste capture funnel  11  sits an undergravel filter screen  12 . On top of undergravel filter screen  12  sits aquarium substrate  60 . Lower riser tube section  14  is connected to riser tube junction IS through the bottom, while riser tube  16  connects to the top. Riser tube  16  then connects to planter  10  via planter opening  17 , and its advance into watering tube adaptor  19  is arrested by ring structure  18 . Watering tube adaptor  19  aids with the attachment of watering tube  20 . Watering tube  20  has a plurality of watering holes  21  in its structure that water pumped from riser tube  16  escapes out of. 
         [0028]    At the bottom of planter  10  exists a mat of filamentous material  26  that is embedded with granules of activated carbon  27 , zeolite  28 , and calcium carbonate  29 . Poking through this filamentous material  26  are raised drainage holes  30 . Water drains back into aquarium  31  via these raised drainage holes  30  and is directed into the tank via drainage lips  32 . At the front of planter  10  exists a cutout portion  39  that acts as a portal to the inside of the aquarium. Fitting inside planter  10  is a planter insert  40  that contains net baskets  41 . These net baskets sit in holes  42  within the filamentous material  26 , allowing the baskets to sit on the bottom of planter  10 . Plant growth plugs (not shown) or equivalent hydroponic media are placed within each net basket for plants to grow in. 
         [0029]    Being a complete contained aquaponic system, there are many wiring and lighting systems used in this system that will be described now. In the center of planter  10  exists a lower light shaft  49  with female plug  50  embedded in its top and grow light wires  53  connected to this plug. An upper light shaft  51  contains male plugs  52  that fit together with female plugs  50 , that connect grow light wires  53  from the upper and lower light shaft creating a removable light attachment. Upper light shaft  51  contains grow light wires  53  that connect to grow light sockets  37 . Within the grow light sockets  37  grow light bulbs  54  are inserted. These grow light bulbs are contained within a grow light hood  36  that directs light toward the planter. Grow light hood  36  is supported by grow light hood support  44 , which is attached to the top of upper light shaft  5 . Lower light shaft  49  contains the bottom half of grow light wires  53  that continue down the shaft until being encased in a waterproof tube  55  that runs just underneath planter insert  40  and then out of the planter via hole  56   a . These electrical wires run down the side of aquarium  31  and plug into a port on aquarium base  23  (not shown) that in turn connects to power regulator  33  at  53   x . Embedded within the bottom of planter  10  is an aquarium lighting system  57  that consists of a detachable outer wall  58 , a light bulb  59 , a waterproof gasket system  62 , and aquarium light electrical wires  63 . These electrical wires exit the planter via hole  56   b  and plug into a port on aquarium base  23  that in turn connects to power regulator  33  at  63   x . Resting in the very bottom of planter  10  is an aquarium heater  64 . This heater has electrical cord  65  that runs along the bottom of planter  10  and out through hole  56   c , which then plugs into aquarium base  23  that in turn connects to power regulator  33  at  65   x.    
         [0030]    Aquarium base  23  is hollow and contains air pump  22 , power regulator  33 . At the back of aquarium base  23  are input ports (not shown) that allow the electrical cords from the grow lights, aquarium light, and aquarium heater to attach. At the front of aquarium base  23  is a touch pad  66 , that is connected to power regulator  33  via wires  38 , that controls the aquarium light and grow light cycles for the plants via the power regulator  33 . Button  67   a  is for vegetative growth, button  67   b  is used to activate or deactivate the aquarium light and  67   c  activates a pre-programmed flowering lighting schedule. 
         [0031]    In the operation of this aquaponic invention, lower riser tube section  14  is inserted into the bottom of riser tube junction  15  (which is connected to undergravel filter screen  12 ) and then placed above solid waste capture funnel  12  in the bottom of aquarium  31  so that opening  13  is centered over air output  25 . Solid waste capture funnel  11  concentrates waste towards opening  13  so that when bubbles are released from air output  25 , suction occurs and pumps waste laden water up through lower riser tube section  14 , then up through riser tube  16  and then into planter  10 . Air pump  22  provides air to air output  25  which powers the airlift through riser tube sections  14  and  16 , respectively. Air pump  22  pumps air through airline  43 , which travels through one way valve  45  and then to elbow connector  47 , which is attached to air output  25 . One way valve  45  is necessary to stop the flow of water from the aquarium into the air pump and creating a risk for electrical shock. Aquarium substrate  60  is placed on top of undergravel filter screen  12  to weigh down the undergravel filter screen, provide surface area for biological filtration, and aids in the re-creation of a natural environment for the aquatic organisms. Riser tube  16  attaches to planter  10  via planter opening  17  and is pushed into planter  10  until it reaches ring structure  18  which stops its movement into watering tube  20 . Watering tube adaptor  19  acts as a juncture for watering tube  20  to attach to planter  10 , while a plurality of watering holes  21  within watering tube  20  allow water and waste to exit the tube evenly in both halves of the planter. Filamentous material  26  captures solid waste and also creates a suitable environment for beneficial bacterial communities to grow and become part of the biofilter in the system. Activated carbon  27  and zeolite  28  embedded within filamentous material  26  aids in chemical filtration of the tank by adsorbing nitrogenous waste in the system. Calcium carbonate  29  is also embedded in filamentous mat  26  as a pH buffering system. Once water and waste exit watering tube  20  it pools on the bottom of planter  10  and then drips back into aquarium  31  through raised drainage holes  30 . These raised drainage holes  30  function to create a pool of water in the bottom of the planter that aids in small particle settling, increases the adsorption time for the activated carbon  27  and zeolite  28  particles, and are resistant to roots growing through them and into the aquarium below. Drainage lips  32  aid in the drainage of water into aquarium  31  so the water does not run along the bottom of planter  10 . At the front of planter  10  is a cutout portion  39  that allows the user to access the inside of the aquarium to feed the fish, add water to the aquarium, or take water samples. Resting inside of planter  10  is planter insert  40  that holds net baskets  41  so they sit within holes  42  within the fibrous mat. Within net baskets  41  plant growth plugs or other plant growth media is inserted (not shown) that create an area for plants  48  to germinate and grow. These plant growth plugs can be embedded with organic fertilizer and pH buffering constituents such as lime to supplement the nutrients needed to grow healthy plants efficiently. 
         [0032]    Located in the center of planter  10  is a lower light shaft  49  that has female plugs  50  embedded in its top. This lower light shaft allows upper light shaft  51  to plug into the embedded female plugs  50  with its male plugs  52  ( FIG. 4 ). The upper shaft is also expandable, allowing the light to be raised or lowered depending on the growth of the plants. Having two shafts that connect via a male and female plug allows the light to be removable for ease of shipping and assembly for the user, although a detachable shaft is not necessarily needed to create a suitable grow light system and is therefore not intended to be included in a limiting sense. At the top of upper light shaft  51  are grow light sockets  37  that have grow light wiring  53  leading down through shaft  51  and connecting to male plug  52 . An electrical connection is made when male plug  52  and female plug  50  are connected, completing a circuit for grow light wires  53 , which travel from grow light socket  37  down through upper light shaft  51 , through the electrical junction formed between male plug  52  and female plug  50 , then through waterproof tube  55  and out through hole  56   a  within the side of planter  10 . The grow light wires  53  then travel on the outside of aquarium  31  and attach to a port on the back of aquarium base  23 , which then attach to power regulator  33  via wires  53   x . Grow light bulbs  54  are inserted into grow light sockets  37 . In this embodiment compact fluorescent bulbs are shown but any lighting source able to generate plant growth could be used in this arrangement. At the top of upper grow light shaft  51  is a grow light hood support  44  that supports grow light hood  36  and aids in directing the grow light toward the plants  48  growing in planter  10 . 
         [0033]    In addition to a grow light, planter  10  in this embodiment contains an aquarium lighting system  57  which is formed in the bottom of planter  10 . This aquarium lighting system  57  contains a detachable outer wall  58  that is fitted with a waterproof gasket system  62  that keeps water and moisture out of the lighting system. The aquarium light bulb  59  has aquarium light electrical wires  63  that provide electricity to the bulb, and exit the planter through hole  56   b  and then plug into aquarium base  23 , which is connected through wires to power regulator  33  at  63   x . A flat circular aquarium heater  64  is also included in this invention that rests at the bottom of planter  10  and is used to heat the water of the tank. Aquarium heater electrical cord  65  powers the aquarium heater with electricity and exits planter  10  through hole  56   c  and then attaches to aquarium base  23 , which then connects to power regulator  33  via wires  65   x.    
         [0034]    Focusing now on the operation of the base of the aquarium  23 , its design is hollow and acts to support aquarium  31  while housing and protecting components such as an air pump  22 , power regulator  33  and their associated wires. Air pump  22  is powered by an electrical cord  24  that is connected to power regulator  33 . Electrical wires from the grow light socket  37 , the aquarium lighting system  57 , the aquarium heater  64  and air pump  22  all connect to aquarium base  23  (not shown) and then their respective wires connect to power regulator  33 , which is in turn controlled by touch pad  66 . Touch pad  66  connects to power regulator via wires  38  and contains three buttons in this embodiment. Button  67   a  turns the grow light on for vegetative plant growth,  67   b  turns the aquarium light on and off, and  67   c  turns the grow light on for flowering plant growth cycle. A person skilled in the art could potentially program and install a vast array of control buttons for touch pad  66 , and those buttons described in this embodiment are not used to limit the scope of this invention, but are merely one embodiment used in this invention. Power regulator  33  supplies all the power to each of the systems described and has pre-programmed lighting schedules within it that turn the grow light off and on at the appropriate times. An electrical cord  35  and plug  34  lead from the power regulator  33  to an external power source such as an electrical outlet (not shown) or perhaps a solar panel system to provide electrical power to the regulator. 
         [0035]    Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, an aquaponic system for use with aquatic organisms in aquariums that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. Although certain example methods, functions, features, components, and abilities have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this invention covers all methods, functions, features, components, and abilities fairly falling within the scope of the description either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 
         [0036]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum methods, functions, features, components, and operation of the aquaponic planter are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those described in the description are intended to be encompassed by the aquaponic planter. 
         [0037]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the aquaponic planter. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the aquaponic planter to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the aquaponic planter. While the above description describes various embodiments of the present invention, it will be clear that the present invention may be otherwise easily adapted to fit any configuration where an aquaponic planter for use in the home, office, or school is desired or required. 
         [0038]    As various changes could be made in the above methods, functions, features, components, and abilities without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.