Aquarium Filtration with Diatom Photobioreactor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aquarium filtration systems fail to effectively prevent undesirable algae growth on tank surfaces while maintaining healthy water conditions for fish, as they often lead to nitrate buildup which promotes algae growth and is difficult to manage.

Innovation Solution

An aquarium filtration system with a growth chamber featuring photocontactor walls and a high-intensity light source, promoting diatom algae growth by maintaining silica dominance in the water, creating a swirling vortex, and utilizing a drain assembly for easy algae harvesting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional biological filtration systems are used to convert ammonia to nitrates, then fish health is improved, but nitrate buildup occurs which promotes algae growth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefish healthVSAvoidalgae growth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful effect of nitrates (which promote unwanted algae growth) into a beneficial effect by using nitrates as nutrients for cultivating desirable diatom algae in a controlled photobioractor. The nitrates that would otherwise harm the aquarium ecosystem are instead utilized as fertilizer for the photobioractor's algae culture, transforming a waste product into a useful resource.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The filtration system is divided into separate functional zones: a conventional biological filtration section for ammonia conversion, and a photobioractor section for diatom cultivation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function - the biological filter maintains fish health while the photobioractor removes nitrates and produces beneficial algae, preventing the harmful effects of nitrate accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If partial water changes are performed to remove nitrates, then nitrate levels are reduced, but time and effort are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrate concentrationVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The photobioractor operates autonomously to remove nitrates from the aquarium water through continuous diatom cultivation. The system self-regulates by using the aquarium's own nitrate levels as nutrients for the algae, eliminating the need for manual water changes. The diatoms continuously consume nitrates as they grow, providing automatic nitrate removal without requiring hobbyist intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Unlike periodic water changes, the photobioractor provides continuous nitrate removal through ongoing diatom growth and photosynthesis. The system operates continuously as long as light and nutrients are available, maintaining constantly low nitrate levels rather than allowing them to accumulate between maintenance intervals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If high intensity light is applied to promote diatom growth in the photobioractor, then algae cultivation is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediatom growth rateVSAvoidlight energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes light parameters (intensity, spectrum, duration) specifically for diatom photosynthesis rather than using maximum intensity continuously. By adjusting these parameters to match diatom physiological requirements, the system achieves high productivity with minimized energy consumption, extracting the most efficient growth rate per unit of energy input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents undesirable algae growth on aquarium surfaces by promoting diatom algae dominance within the filtration system, removing harmful nitrates, and maintaining healthy water conditions for fish, even under high bio-load conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The growth chamber includes at least two cells separated by at least one photocontactor wall. Each cell and each photocontactor wall is illuminated by a high intensity light source to promote diatom algae growth within the growth chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotosynthesis: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 2

Water from the aquarium is sprayed into each cell to create circuitous high velocity water flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex flow: Vortex Ring

Data Source

PatentUS10085430B1Aquarium filtration and algae control system

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 GONZALEZ ERNEST

AI summary

An aquarium filtration and algae control system, for use with an aquarium containing a quantity of water, having a housing having a growth chamber and an overflow part. The growth chamber includes at least two cells separated by at least one photocontactor wall. Water from the aquarium is sprayed into each of the cells to create circuitous high velocity water flow and each cell and each photocontactor wall is illuminated by a high intensity light source to promote diatom algae growth within the growth chamber and thereby prevent undesirable algae growth elsewhere in the aquarium.