Patent ID: 7179373

Claim:
Apparatus for removing foreign matter from water at selected levels in an aquarium, the water being contained within the aquarium between a lower bottom of the aquarium and an upper surface of the water, the apparatus comprising: an upper member for placement at an upper level adjacent the upper surface of the water and having an inflow gate for admitting water adjacent the upper surface together with foreign matter entrained within the water admitted through the inflow gate; a lower member for placement at a lower level adjacent the lower bottom and having a lower inlet for admitting water adjacent the bottom of the aquarium together with foreign matter entrained within the water admitted through the lower inlet; a valving mechanism placed intermediate the upper member and the lower member, the valving mechanism including an upper valve member communicating with the inflow gate, a lower valve member communicating with the lower inlet, a valve chamber communicating with the upper valve member and with the lower valve member, and an intermediate valve member selectively movable between a position wherein the intermediate valve member is juxtaposed with the upper valve member to close communication between the valve chamber and the inflow gate and thereby preclude the flow of water from the inflow gate through the upper valve member and into the valve chamber while the flow of water from the lower inlet through the lower valve member and into the valve chamber is permitted, and another position wherein the intermediate valve member is placed intermediate the upper valve member and the lower valve member to open communication between the valve chamber and the inflow gate and to open communication between the valve chamber and the lower inlet, thereby permitting the flow of water from the inflow gate through the upper valve member and into the valve chamber, and the flow of water from the lower inlet through the lower valve member and into the valve chamber; and a withdrawal conduit communicating with the valving mechanism for the continuous withdrawal of water from the aquarium, together with entrained foreign matter, passed through either one or both the upper valve member and the lower valve member to remove foreign matter from selected levels in the aquarium.