CHAPTER SEVEN 



Aquarium. Appliances 





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Nets. The most important tool in aquarium work is a net with which 

 to catch the fish, yet in most instances it is of faulty construction. The 

 scales of a fish are easily knocked off by the hard knots in the coarse 

 threads composing nets usually sold. This is very bad for the fish. A 

 far better material is Brussels netting, such as is used on window curtains. 



When fishes have to be caught from a globe, a round net is con- 

 venient, but for a straight-side aquarium, a square or oblong net is very 

 much better. Usually these cannot be purchased, but to make one is a 



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Fig. 96. Proper Nets for Goldfishes and Young Tropicals 



simple matter and well repays for the effort. Perhaps the easiest way 

 is to purchase a round net, remove netting, bend wires to an oblong form 

 and re-cover with Brussels netting. The larger kind shown is bent from 

 a single piece of >£-inch galvanized wire, the ends beveled and soldered 

 together at the handle. The two strands of wire are tied together at 

 intervals by fine copper wire, secured by a little solder. A net about 

 5 inches wide with a handle about 16 inches long is generally satisfactory. 

 Nets 9 or more inches square are almost indispensable for catching 

 small, active tropicals in large aquaria. Stout aluminum frames with 

 short handles are on the market. They are excellent. Net should be 

 somewhat shallow. 



Dip Tube. Sometimes particles of food remain too long after feed- 

 ing. Also dirt collects in spots. Such places can easily be cleaned by 

 use of a dip tube. Any tube of from one-quarter to three-eighths inch 

 inside diameter and about six inches longer than the depth of the aquarium 

 will do. Glass is preferable. Hold the thumb firmly over one end, place 

 other end near particles to be lifted. Remove thumb, allowing water 



