GB1495764A - Method of and apparatus for maintaining an ecological balance in a closed water system - Google Patents

Abstract

1495764 Biological water treatment P HAFSLUND and K HAGQUIST 23 April 1975 [25 April 1974] 16869/75 Heading C1C [Also in Divisions Al and B1] A closed water system, e.g. aquarium or swimming-pool, is maintained in ecological balance by passing the water through a layer 4 of material chosen according to the environment which is to be simulated, e.g. for a sea environment, sea-bed material is used. This layer 4 is supported on a perforated calcareous screening-plate 3 and it filters the water biochemically and converts nitrogenous waste to inorganic salts, any excess of which is removed in turn by green algae which are encouraged to grow by using lights 5. Thus no waste matter need be removed from the system. After passing through the material 4, some of the water then flows via a perforated pipe 9, through a heat exchanger coil 10 surrounded by a cooling medium 7, which is cooled by element 8, compressor 16 and radiator 17. The water may then pass around the radiator 17, depending on the watertemperature required in the tank 1. The water circulates either by slow mechanical pumps (not shown) or by introducing air, by a pump 13, into a chamber 12, thus raising the water into pipe 15 and aerating it, while this flow causes suction of water down through the material 4 and then up through a pipe 22 and into the pipe 15. Both methods for water circulation avoid mechanical destruction of plankton which further aids maintenance of an ecological balance. A panel 18 controls thermostats 19, 20, periodic switching of the lights 5 and provides automatic control means for the system. Several aquaria may be interconnected using level regulating pipes 23, so as to be served by a single master tank.