Filter assembly and methods for external filter for an aquarium

1. A filter assembly for an external filter for an aquarium; the filter assembly comprising:

(a) at least two stacked trays releasably secured together in series; each of the trays having: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and the interior volume defining a compartment for holding filter media within the interior volume for orientation on the porous holding grid; and

(i) wherein the trays are vertically stacked to provide a bottom tray; the open top face of the bottom tray is adjacent to and covered by the porous holding grid of the tray stacked above the bottom tray;

(ii) the bottom tray including a bottom wall extending from the outer surrounding wall and spaced from the bottom tray porous holding grid; the bottom wall having an open aperture therein; the bottom wall being at an end of the bottom tray opposite of the bottom tray open top face.

2. A filter assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays include an uppermost top tray in the stack; the uppermost top tray in the stack further including a porous grid covering its open top face.

3. A filter assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays includes at least a third tray releasably secured together in series with the at least two stacked trays; the third tray includes: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and filter media being within the interior volume oriented on the porous holding grid;

(i) the porous holding grid of the third tray being adjacent to and covering the open top face of one of the other trays in the stacked trays.

4. A filter assembly according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays includes at least a fourth tray releasably secured together in series with the at least two stacked trays and the third tray; the fourth tray includes: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and filter media being within the interior volume oriented on the porous holding grid;

(i) the porous holding grid of the fourth tray being adjacent to and covering the open top face of one of the other trays in the stacked trays.

5. A filter assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) each of the trays has filter media within the interior volume; the filter media being any one of: ceramic beads, plastic balls, black foam, or floss and carbon.

6. A filter assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the outer surrounding wall of each tray defines an upper rim, the open top face being surrounded by the upper rim; and

(i) the trays are vertically stacked so that each tray nests within the upper rim of the tray immediately below it.

7. A filter assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the outer surrounding wall of each tray has an exterior portion defining a pair of spaced grooves; each of the spaced grooves is in alignment with the spaced groove of the other trays when vertically stacked.

8. A filter assembly according to claim 7 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays are releasably connected together along the aligned spaced grooves;

(i) the pair of grooves for each tray includes a first vertical groove and a second vertical groove spaced about 180 degrees apart.

9. A filter assembly according to claim 8 wherein:

(a) each of the trays has a protrusion extending from each of the first and second grooves; the protrusions of each of the trays cooperating with the releasable connection.

10. A filter assembly according to claim 9 further comprising:

(a) a strap releasably securing the stack of trays together; the strap extending within the aligned first grooves and releasably engaging each of the protrusions; and the strap extending with the aligned second grooves and releasably engaging each of the protrusions.

11. A filter assembly according to claim 10 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays includes an uppermost top tray in the stack; the uppermost top tray in the stack further including an porous grid covering its open top face; and

(b) the strap extends over the porous grid of the uppermost top tray to provide a carrying handle.

12. A filter assembly according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) the porous grid of the uppermost top tray includes a concave portion;

(b) the strap extending over the concave portion, wherein the concave portion is sized to accommodate a portion of a human hand.

13. A filter assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the at least two stacked trays are releasably secured together with a selectively removable strap extending along at least one side of the stacked trays and forming a handle at a top portion of the stacked trays.

14. A filter assembly according to claim 13 wherein:

(a) the trays and the strap are releasably secured together through protrusions and apertures between the trays and the strap.

15. A filter assembly according to claim 13 wherein:

(a) the strap extends along only a single side of the stacked trays, and the trays are releasably secured together on an opposite side with a hook arrangement.

16. A filter assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the at least two stacked trays are releasably secured together with a releasable snap engagement between each of the trays.

17. A tray for a filter assembly for an external filter for an aquarium;

the tray comprising:

(a) an outer surrounding wall having an exterior portion and an interior portion; the interior portion defining an interior volume;

(b) an open top face;

(c) a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall;

(d) removable and replaceable filter media being within the interior volume oriented on the porous holding grid;

(e) attachment structure constructed and arranged to permit releasable attachment to other trays;

(i) the attachment structure including a first protrusion extending from the exterior portion of the outer surrounding wall; and a second protrusion extending from the exterior portion of the outer surrounding wall; the second protrusion spaced on an opposite side of the tray from the first protrusion; the first and second protrusions being sized to engage apertures in a strap, when the strap is used to connect to the tray.

18. A tray according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) the exterior portion of the outer surrounding wall has first and second spaced vertical grooves;

(i) the first protrusion being within the first groove; and

(ii) the second protrusion being within the second groove.

19. An external filter for an aquarium; the filter comprising:

(a) a canister filter having a canister housing body and a removable cover assembly;

(i) the cover assembly including a motor unit, a water inlet, and a water outlet;

(ii) the housing body having an open top closeable by the cover assembly, an interior, and a closed bottom; and

(b) a filter assembly removably oriented in the interior of the housing body; the filter assembly including:

(i) at least two stacked trays releasably secured together in series; each of the trays having: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and the interior volume defining a compartment for filter media for orientation on the porous holding grid; and

wherein the trays are vertically stacked to provide a bottom tray; the open top face of the bottom tray is adjacent to and covered by the porous holding grid of the tray stacked above the bottom tray;

(ii) the bottom tray including a bottom wall extending from the outer surrounding wall and spaced from the bottom tray porous holding grid; the bottom wall having an open aperture therein; the bottom wall being at an end of the bottom tray opposite of the bottom tray open top face; and the closed bottom of the housing body including a projection extending into the interior of the housing body; the open aperture of the bottom wall of the bottom tray being in sealing engagement with the projection of the closed bottom of the housing body.

20. A filter according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the at least two stacked trays are releasably secured together with a selectively removable strap extending along opposite sides of the stacked trays and forming a handle at a top portion of the stacked trays.

21. A filter according to claim 20 wherein:

(a) each of the trays in the stack includes at least two protrusions on opposite sides of the tray; the protrusions releasably engaging the strap.

22. A filter according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the at least two stacked trays are releasably secured together with at least one of a hook and catch arrangement, or a snap arrangement.

23. A filter assembly for an external filter for an aquarium; the filter assembly comprising:

(a) at least two stacked trays releasably secured together in series; each of the trays having: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and the interior volume defining a compartment for holding filter media within the interior volume for orientation on the porous holding grid; and

(i) wherein the trays are vertically stacked to provide a bottom tray; the open top face of the bottom tray is adjacent to and covered by the porous holding grid of the tray stacked above the bottom tray;

(ii) the outer surrounding wall of each tray having an exterior portion defining a pair of spaced grooves; each of the spaced grooves is in alignment with the spaced groove of the other trays when vertically stacked.

24. A filter assembly according to claim 23 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays are releasably connected together along the aligned spaced grooves;

(i) the pair of grooves for each tray includes a first vertical groove and a second vertical groove spaced about 180 degrees apart.

25. A filter assembly according to claim 24 wherein:

(a) each of the trays has a protrusion extending from each of the first and second grooves; the protrusions of each of the trays cooperating with the releasable connection.

26. A filter assembly according to claim 25 further comprising:

(a) a strap releasably securing the stack of trays together; the strap extending within the aligned first grooves and releasably engaging each of the protrusions; and the strap extending with the aligned second grooves and releasably engaging each of the protrusions.

27. A filter assembly according to claim 26 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays includes an uppermost top tray in the stack; the uppermost top tray in the stack further including an porous grid covering its open top face; and

(b) the strap extends over the porous grid of the uppermost top tray to provide a carrying handle.

28. A filter assembly according to claim 27 wherein:

(a) the porous grid of the uppermost top tray includes a concave portion;

(b) the strap extending over the concave portion, wherein the concave portion is sized to accommodate a portion of a human hand.

29. A filter assembly for an external filter for an aquarium; the filter assembly comprising:

(a) at least two stacked trays releasably secured together in series; each of the trays having: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and the interior volume defining a compartment for holding filter media within the interior volume for orientation on the porous holding grid; and

(i) wherein the trays are vertically stacked to provide a bottom tray; the open top face of the bottom tray is adjacent to and covered by the porous holding grid of the tray stacked above the bottom tray;

(ii) the at least two stacked trays being releasably secured together with a selectively removable strap extending along at least one side of the stacked trays and forming a handle at a top portion of the stacked trays.

30. A filter assembly according to claim 29 wherein:

(a) the trays and the strap are releasably secured together through protrusions and apertures between the trays and the strap.

31. A filter assembly according to claim 29 wherein:

(a) the strap extends along only a single side of the stacked trays, and the trays are releasably secured together on an opposite side with a hook arrangement.

32. A filter assembly for an external filter for an aquarium; the filter assembly comprising:

(a) at least two stacked trays releasably secured together in series; each of the trays having: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and the interior volume defining a compartment for holding filter media within the interior volume for orientation on the porous holding grid; and

(i) wherein the trays are vertically stacked to provide a bottom tray; the open top face of the bottom tray is adjacent to and covered by the porous holding grid of the tray stacked above the bottom tray;

(ii) the at least two stacked trays are releasably secured together with a releasable snap engagement between each of the trays.

33. A filter assembly according to claim 32 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays includes at least a third tray releasably secured together in series with the at least two stacked trays; the third tray includes: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and filter media being within the interior volume oriented on the porous holding grid;

(i) the porous holding grid of the third tray being adjacent to and covering the open top face of one of the other trays in the stacked trays.

34. A filter assembly according to claim 33 wherein:

(a) the stacked trays includes at least a fourth tray releasably secured together in series with the at least two stacked trays and the third tray; the fourth tray includes: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and filter media being within the interior volume oriented on the porous holding grid;

(i) the porous holding grid of the fourth tray being adjacent to and covering the open top face of one of the other trays in the stacked trays.

35. A filter assembly according to claim 32 wherein:

(a) each of the trays has filter media within the interior volume; the filter media being any one of: ceramic beads, plastic balls, black foam, or floss and carbon.

36. A filter assembly according to claim 32 wherein:

(a) the outer surrounding wall of each tray defines an upper rim, the open top face being surrounded by the upper rim; and

(i) the trays are vertically stacked so that each tray nests within the upper rim of the tray immediately below it.