Substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates

Abstract

The present invention provides an attachment base for sessile aquatic invertebrates that improves the structure of conventional coral attachment plugs and facilitates the promotion of growth and breeding management of sessile aquatic invertebrates in general. [Solution] The attachment substrate 10 for sessile aquatic invertebrates serves as a base for attaching sessile aquatic invertebrates, and includes a frame 1, an alkaline mineral plate 2 which is a member containing alkaline minerals and is placed on and near the attachment surface to which the sessile aquatic invertebrates attach, an internal magnet 3 which is a first magnetic piece and is placed inside the alkaline mineral plate 2, and an external magnet 4 which is a fixing member. The attachment substrate 10 for sessile aquatic invertebrates is fixed onto an in-aquarium shelf 7 which is a non-magnetic object placed between the frame 1 and the external magnet 4 via the attractive force between the internal magnet 3 and the external magnet 4.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates that improves on the structure of conventional coral attachment plugs and facilitates the growth and rearing and management of sessile aquatic invertebrates in general. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, supports called plugs, which have the structure described in Patent Document 1, have been used as substrates for dividing corals, but most of the ones currently on the market are exclusively used for dividing corals. Furthermore, while these are sufficient for practical use as substrates for easily dividing baby corals, further advances are needed.

[0003] Furthermore, in order to enable inexpensive mass production, materials are limited to ceramic or acrylic resin, so the rearing method remains dependent solely on lighting and water quality. Furthermore, it is not possible to meet a variety of needs, such as vertical fixation for vertically living stony coral species (gorgonians, xanthorrhododendrons, etc.) and soft coral species (alcyonids, gorgonians, etc.), or the rearing of sessile aquatic invertebrates other than corals (giants, tridacnas, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-6655 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem that this invention aims to solve is that conventional plugs are simply a base for dividing plants that is dependent on the environment when breeding, and are unstable unless the plug's fixing shaft is fixed to the hole in a dedicated holder or rack. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a substrate for attachment of sessile aquatic invertebrates, which serves as a base for the attachment of sessile aquatic invertebrates, and which comprises a substrate body having an attachment surface to which the sessile aquatic invertebrates are attached and a material containing alkaline minerals arranged in the vicinity thereof, and a first magnetic piece arranged inside or on its outer surface excluding the attachment surface, and a fixing member having one or more second magnetic pieces arranged inside or on its surface, wherein one or both of the first and second magnetic pieces are magnets, and the substrate body is configured to be fixed to the fixing member or to an object made of a non-magnetic material arranged between the substrate body and the fixing member through the attractive force between the first and second magnetic pieces. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The attachment substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates of this invention, which includes an alkaline mineral-containing material on and near the attachment surface, allows sessile aquatic invertebrates to ingest minerals and trace elements such as calcium and carbonate contained in the alkaline minerals directly through the attachment surface or by absorbing these components dissolved in the aquarium water, thereby promoting growth that is not dependent solely on the environment. Furthermore, magnetic pieces are embedded in the interior or exterior surface of the substrate itself and the fixing member, allowing the substrate to be fixed via the attractive force between the two. This eliminates the need for dedicated holders or racks, and also allows for vertical attachment and curing, such as to the wall of an aquarium. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates in one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the attachment substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates is fixed to a vertical surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, a substrate 10 for sessile aquatic invertebrates (hereinafter, sometimes abbreviated as "substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates" or "substrate") according to one embodiment of the present invention serves as a base for attaching sessile aquatic invertebrates. The substrate includes a frame 1, an alkaline mineral plate 2 (an example of a member containing alkaline minerals) disposed on and near the attachment surface to which the sessile aquatic invertebrates (e.g., coral C) are attached, an internal magnet 3 (an example of a first magnetic piece) disposed within the alkaline mineral plate 2, and an external magnet 4 (an example of a fixing member). The substrate 10 for sessile aquatic invertebrates is secured to an in-aquarium shelf 7 (an example of a non-magnetic object) disposed between the frame 1 and the external magnet 4 via the attractive force between the internal magnet 3 and the external magnet 4.

[0010] The material of the frame 1 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably made of a strong material such as acrylic resin to prevent cracking or chipping of the alkaline mineral plate 2 placed on the attachment surface side. The size of the frame 1 is not particularly limited and is selected appropriately depending on the type and size of the sessile aquatic invertebrate to be attached. The shape of the frame 1 can be selected from any shape suitable for the installation environment, such as a polygonal prism such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylinder, or an elliptical cylinder. In addition, a recess is formed on the attachment surface side to hold the alkaline mineral plate 2.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the back side of the frame 1 (opposite the adhered surface) may have a back hole 5 provided so that a portion of the back surface of the alkaline mineral plate 2 (the surface opposite the adhered surface) is exposed, and the alkaline mineral plate 2 may be extruded by a rod or the like inserted through the back hole 5. In addition, a management name tag 6 is detachably attached to the frame 1 for recording management information such as the scientific name and division date of the adhered sessile aquatic invertebrate.

[0012] The size and shape of the alkaline mineral plate 2, like the frame 1, are not particularly limited and may be selected appropriately depending on the size and shape of the frame 1. The alkaline mineral plate 2 is formed from a member containing an alkaline mineral (such as, but not limited to, magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, bentonite, aragonite, and any combination of two or more thereof). The attachment surface does not necessarily have to be flat; the surface may have regular or irregular irregularities or depressions.

[0013] There are no particular limitations on the material and shape of the internal magnet 3. Specific examples of the internal magnet 3 include alloy magnets whose main component is iron, ferrite magnets, and rare earth magnets such as neodymium magnets.

[0014] The external magnet 4 has the same material and shape as the internal magnet 3 and is a member for fixing the attachment substrate 10 for sessile aquatic invertebrates to the wall surface of the aquarium (an example of a non-magnetic material) sandwiched between the internal magnet 3 and the frame 1 as shown in Figure 1 via the attractive force acting between them. The external magnet 4 may be embedded inside a substrate such as resin, or placed on the surface of the substrate. The substrate may also have a predetermined structure such as a rack, and multiple external magnets 4 may be placed inside or on its surface. Because the internal magnet 3 and external magnet 4 are used in an environment exposed to saltwater, they are preferably made of or coated with a salt-resistant material.

[0015] The sessile aquatic invertebrates to which this invention can be applied include cnidarians such as corals, mollusks such as shellfish, marine sponges, annelids such as thornworms and fanworms, and chordates such as sea squirts. This makes it possible to promote the growth of a variety of aquatic organisms.

[0016] Figure 2 shows the state in which the attachment substrate 10 for sessile aquatic invertebrates is fixed to the vertical surface of the aquarium wall 8. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the attachment substrate 10 for sessile aquatic invertebrates does not require any dedicated holders or fixing devices, so it has a high degree of freedom in installation, is easy to change its position, and requires a small area for installation, making intensive aquaculture possible. Therefore, it is easy to improve aquaculture efficiency and ease of maintenance.

[0017] One embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2. However, the above description is merely an example, and additions and modifications of components can be made as appropriate, and it goes without saying that the present invention also encompasses such modifications.

[0018] For example, Figure 1 illustrates an example in which a management name tag 6 for recording management information such as the scientific name of the attached sessile aquatic invertebrate and the date of division is detachably attached to the frame 1, but the management name tag may also be placed on a different part or component of the attachment substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates.

[0019] In addition, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an example in which an alkaline mineral plate 2 is arranged on a frame 1 as a component containing an alkaline mineral that is arranged on the attachment surface and in its vicinity in the base body.However, instead of this, a layer of alkaline mineral may be formed on the attachment surface side of the base body, or the entire base body may be formed of alkaline mineral.

[0020] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an example in which an internal magnet 3 is placed inside an alkaline mineral plate 2 as a first magnetic piece, but the magnet may also be placed on a surface other than the attachment surface of the alkaline mineral plate or alkaline mineral layer, or inside the base body other than the alkaline mineral plate or alkaline mineral layer.

[0021] In addition, instead of one of the internal magnet 3 and the external magnet 4 in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, a ferromagnetic material made of any material selected appropriately from ferromagnetic metal materials such as iron, nickel, and cobalt, and ferromagnetic non-metallic materials such as plastic magnets and rubber magnets may be used as the first and second magnetic pieces. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 1 frame 2 alkaline mineral plates 3 Internal Magnets 4 External Magnets 5 Back hole 6 Name tag for management purposes 7. Shelf installed inside the aquarium 8 Aquarium wall 10. Substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates C. Coral

Claims

[Claim 1] A substrate for sessile aquatic invertebrates that serves as a base for the attachment of sessile aquatic invertebrates, comprising: a substrate body having an attachment surface to which the sessile aquatic invertebrates are attached and a material containing alkaline minerals arranged in the vicinity thereof, and a first magnetic piece arranged inside or on the outer surface excluding the attachment surface; and a fixing member having one or more second magnetic pieces arranged inside or on the surface thereof, wherein one or both of the first and second magnetic pieces are magnets, and the substrate body is configured to be fixed onto the fixing member or an object made of a non-magnetic material arranged between the substrate body and the fixing member through the attractive force between the first and second magnetic pieces.

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