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Aquarium. The aquarium as here understood is a glass tank for live fish, plants, and the like, for the dwelling-house or other suitable place.

Aquarium. The aquarium as here understood is a glass tank for live fish, plants, and the like, for the dwelling-house or other suitable place.

The aquarium should be in a place where it may receive light, but direct sunlight is not necessary; and to keep an aquarium in a healthy condition, living plants in the water are absolutely necessary and plants will not thrive in dark rooms; neither will fish retain then- bright coloring. The square or rectangular aquarium with open top affords a large breathing- space or air for the fish—which is another requisite, and the fish will be healthier and live longer than in a glass globe with small neck and orifice. Another and very important factor in the aquarium is sand and small pebbles. These should be washed clean of all soil before placing in the aquarium. About 2 inches over the bottom is sufficient. The plants should be planted before filling the aquarium with water. Figs. 285-287 show useful window aquaria.

The aquarium should be in a place where it may receive light, but direct sunlight is not necessary; and to keep an aquarium in a healthy condition, living plants in the water are absolutely necessary and plants will not thrive in dark rooms; neither will fish retain then- bright coloring. The square or rectangular aquarium with open top affords a large breathing- space or air for the fish—which is another requisite, and the fish will be healthier and live longer than in a glass globe with small neck and orifice. Another and very important factor in the aquarium is sand and small pebbles. These should be washed clean of all soil before placing in the aquarium. About 2 inches over the bottom is sufficient. The plants should be planted before filling the aquarium with water. Figs. 285-287 show useful window aquaria.

Aquariums are rapidly increasing in popularity for home use, and are of great service in nature-study. A permanent aquarium need not be an expensive affair. The rectangular ones are best if large fishes are to be kept, but they are not essential. A simple homemade aquarium of glass and wood (Fig. 287) is described in Jackman's "Nature Study," as follows (the dimensions being slightly altered): "Use an inch board 11½ inches wide and 12 inches long for the bottom, and two boards of the same thickness and length, 10¾ inches high, for the ends. Three-eighths of an inch from the edge on either side, with a saw, make a groove ¼ inch deep and wide enough to receive loosely double- strength glass. Groove the end boards and fasten them to the bottom with screws, so that the grooves will exactly match. Partially fill the grooves with soft putty, or, better, aquarium cement, and press into each side a pane of glass. By making the bottom board 11½ inches long, an ordinary 10 x 12 window pane will be the proper size. When the glass is pressed to the bottom of the groove, draw the two ends in at the top until the glass is held firmly and then fasten them in place by narrow strips of wood, one on each side of the tank, placed on top of the glass and screwed to the end pieces. These strips also protect the hands from injury while working with the specimens in the aquarium. Before filling with water, the inner surface of the bottom and ends should be well rubbed with oil or paraffin and the grooves inside the glass well packed with putty." After the box is made it would be well to let it stand in water for a day or two. The wooden sides will swell and tighten the joints, and leakage will be less probable.

Aquariums are rapidly increasing in popularity for home use, and are of great service in nature-study. A permanent aquarium need not be an expensive affair. The rectangular ones are best if large fishes are to be kept, but they are not essential. A simple homemade aquarium of glass and wood (Fig. 287) is described in Jackman's "Nature Study," as follows (the dimensions being slightly altered): "Use an inch board 11½ inches wide and 12 inches long for the bottom, and two boards of the same thickness and length, 10¾ inches high, for the ends. Three-eighths of an inch from the edge on either side, with a saw, make a groove ¼ inch deep and wide enough to receive loosely double- strength glass. Groove the end boards and fasten them to the bottom with screws, so that the grooves will exactly match. Partially fill the grooves with soft putty, or, better, aquarium cement, and press into each side a pane of glass. By making the bottom board 11½ inches long, an ordinary 10 x 12 window pane will be the proper size. When the glass is pressed to the bottom of the groove, draw the two ends in at the top until the glass is held firmly and then fasten them in place by narrow strips of wood, one on each side of the tank, placed on top of the glass and screwed to the end pieces. These strips also protect the hands from injury while working with the specimens in the aquarium. Before filling with water, the inner surface of the bottom and ends should be well rubbed with oil or paraffin and the grooves inside the glass well packed with putty." After the box is made it would be well to let it stand in water for a day or two. The wooden sides will swell and tighten the joints, and leakage will be less probable.

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