An aquarium filtering and purifying system includes an upper display tank and a lower filter tank. The water from the upper tank can be delivered to the lower tank to a filter, such as within a surrounding filter fabric or membrane, such as a filter sock. An air tube can also be inserted into the filter tank to an unfiltered side of the filter, such as within the filter sock, to deliver air bubbles into the filter tank. The air tube can have an air stone at the end thereof to diffuse the air bubbles. Further air stones can be provided on an outside of the sock in the first compartment. Filtered water is delivered to a second compartment in the filter tank. The next compartment can have sand, and/or rocks and/or algae and/or a clean-up crew to assist in purifying the water. Water from the second compartment then passes to a third compartment, through a bubble trap, and then is pumped back to the display tank. Alternatively, the first compartment can be provided with a macro algae bed instead of a filter sock.

An apparatus for removing impurities from water and/or wastewater and a method of installing a fluid distribution system in the apparatus. In the most preferred form of the invention, the fluid distribution system is an air scour system for directing air through the filter bed to assist in cleaning of the filter bed to remove impurities trapped in the filter bed during a service run. In the most preferred form, the method of installing the fluid distribution system in the filter bed is performed by imparting a force to the filter bed to permit the fluid distribution system to be installed in the filter bed without removing media. The fluid distribution system is preferably configured to permit the fluid distribution system to be readily installed in the filter bed and at an optimum orientation.

A tank assembly for a gravity-flow graywater filtration system includes a lower portion having a lower-portion sidewall with a port and an upper portion having an extension tank that includes a bottom, an extension-tank sidewall, a removable lid, and an inflow-pipe portion coupled to a first port in the extension-tank sidewall and including a part that extends through a port in the bottom of the extension tank. The tank assembly also includes a filter cartridge housed within the upper portion at a location beneath the extension tank, and a sump pump in the lower portion, the sump pump having an outflow-pipe portion coupled to the port in the lower-portion sidewall.

A water treatment filter backwash process control system, comprising a control system that receives filter level data and filter backwash turbidity data. The control system having a filter level set point, wherein the filter level set point corresponds to a desired filter media bed expansion. The control system having a filter backwash turbidity set point, wherein the control system controls the filter backwash process by, while monitoring the filter backwash turbidity, sending one or more output signals that are used to control a backwash inlet liquid flow in order to maintain a desired media bed expansion, and stop the backwash inlet liquid flow when the filter backwash turbidity set point is reached.

A water treatment filter backwash process control system, comprising a control system that receives filter level data and filter backwash turbidity data. The control system having a filter level set point, wherein the filter level set point corresponds to a desired filter media bed expansion. The control system having a filter backwash turbidity set point, wherein the control system controls the filter backwash process by, while monitoring the filter backwash turbidity, sending one or more output signals that are used to control a backwash inlet liquid flow in order to maintain a desired media bed expansion, and stop the backwash inlet liquid flow when the filter backwash turbidity set point is reached.

An aquarium skimmer device can include a filter body that attaches to a water pump, filter, or power head, wherein the filter body is configured to hold a filter medium for filtering water that passes through the filter body. The skimmer device can also include a funnel holder that attaches to a top of the filter body, and a funnel assembly comprising a funnel. The funnel assembly can be received by the funnel holder and configured to float up and down with respect to the funnel holder with changes in water level, and a wide opening of the funnel is positioned one inch or less below a surface of the water.

A water treatment filter backwash process control system, comprising a control system that receives filter level data and filter backwash turbidity data. The control system having a filter level set point, wherein the filter level set point corresponds to a desired filter media bed expansion. The control system having a filter backwash turbidity set point, wherein the control system controls the filter backwash process by, while monitoring the filter backwash turbidity, sending one or more output signals that are used to control a backwash inlet liquid flow in order to maintain a desired media bed expansion, and stop the backwash inlet liquid flow when the filter backwash turbidity set point is reached.

A water treatment filter backwash process control system, comprising a control system that receives filter level data and filter backwash turbidity data. The control system having a filter level set point, wherein the filter level set point corresponds to a desired filter media bed expansion. The control system having a filter backwash turbidity set point, wherein the control system controls the filter backwash process by, while monitoring the filter backwash turbidity, sending one or more output signals that are used to control a backwash inlet liquid flow in order to maintain a desired media bed expansion, and stop the backwash inlet liquid flow when the filter backwash turbidity set point is reached.

A support grid assembly for use in a vessel. The support grid assembly includes panels each including a first wall including a media-supporting screen and a second wall to be supported by the vessel wall inner surface. A manifold is coupled to the panels and is in hydraulic communication with vessel outlet. The manifold and the panels permit fluid to flow through the screen in each panel, through the panels, into the manifold, and through the manifold to the outlet of the vessel, as well as in the reverse direction. At least a portion of the first wall may slope downward toward the manifold, and at least a portion of the second wall may form a bottom surface that is curved to substantially conform to a curvature of the vessel wall inner surface. The panels may be arranged in a circular configuration extending radially from the manifold.

Devices and methods associated therewith for facilitating movement, removal and/or installation of components from treatment units (e.g., water treatment units and wastewater treatment units). The treatment unit can take the form of a granular media filter (e.g., upflow filter, downflow filter or bi-flow filter) or a sludge collection basin. One preferred device is one or more floats facilitating safe removal of components of a treatment unit. The float(s) can be operably associated with an air scour system of a water filter to remove the air scour system from a granular media filter bed. The float(s) can be operably associated with a collection grid of a sludge collection container facilitating safe removal of the collection grid from the sludge collection container. Another preferred device is a flexible piping/conduit operably connected to a pressurized air source and an air scour system to assist in removal/installation of the air scour system.