Patent ID: 8479441

Claim:
A light distribution apparatus for cultivation of phytoplankton and other autotrophic aquatic species in an aquatic medium, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of elongated baffles, each baffle having two generally parallel side walls and a bottom wall interconnecting said side walls, said side and bottom walls bounding a deep, trough-like enclosure, each side wall having an upper edge portion, the upper edge portions of the sides walls of each of said plurality of baffles spaced apart defining a plurality of elongated openings, a plurality of horizontally disposed bridge walls extending longitudinally along and joining the upper edge portions of the side walls of adjacent pairs of said baffles, each of said plurality of baffles freely suspended from at least one of said bridge walls such that each baffle is spaced apart from each adjacent baffle, a top chamber defined by a generally horizontal top panel, a pair of opposing side panels, and said plurality of bridge walls, said top panel vertically spaced from said plurality of bridge walls, each of said pair of side panels depending from said top panel, extending parallel to said baffles and affixed to the upper edge portion of one of the side walls of one of said baffles, said top chamber in communication with the enclosure of each of said plurality of baffles through said plurality of openings, each of said plurality of baffles and said top chamber having opposite ends, and a pair of transversely extending end walls affixed to and sealing the ends of said plurality of baffles and said top chamber thereby forming a completely integrated enclosure having a hollow interior.