AQUARIUM. 



397 



For wooden tanks some general rules 

 can be given. The best width for bot- 

 tom boards is eight inches. This spaces 

 just right for five nails or screws and 

 is a width kept in stock by lumber mer- 

 chants ; it is a trifle less than eight 

 inches when planed. The bottom 

 boards should be put on crosswise so 

 as to have the shortest possible length 

 exposed to warping. If the bottom is 

 over thirty inches wide it is advisable 

 to run a two-inch batten down the 

 centre. In putting on the bottom boards 

 do not force them together too tightly; 

 all that is required is to get out the 

 surplus cement and have the edges 



very large tanks. For boxes of little 

 depth angles cut out of tin-plate answer 

 very well when painted. 



All tanks that remain out in winter 

 should have sloping sides to resist the 

 action of ice, and the sides of all tanks 

 with a greater depth than twelve inches 

 are better sloped for the facility it af- 

 fords for inspection ; a slope of one and 

 one-half inches to the foot is about 

 right. Invariably in all nailing bore 

 holes in the upper board for the nails, 

 taking care when working on slop- 

 ing sides to make the holes at the 

 proper angle. These holes not only 

 prevent splits but also help correct 



])R. BURGIN AT THE TANK AND TITS AQUARIA IX THE 



ACK YARD. 



parallel. When the water gets in it 

 will swell up tight enough. The end 

 pieces should never be fastened on the 

 ends of the sides, but always be set 

 between the sides. If the reverse plan 

 is followed the swelling of the bottom 

 will force the ends loose and leaks 

 will invariably occur at the lower cor- 

 ners. Flat angle irons should al- 

 ways be adjusted on the upper cor- 

 ners. If sufficiently heavy and securely 

 fastened these will obviate the use of 

 rods and similar stays, excepting on 



driving of the nails and assist materi- 

 ally to align when putting together. 

 It is well to make all the requisite holes 

 in each piece before starting to put it 

 in place. 



For fastening, nails, if used in sizes 

 proportionate to the lumber, will be 

 found secure enough, and whenever 

 reference is made to nails they are al- 

 ways understood to be ordinary wire 

 nails unless otherwise specified. For 

 inch stuff eight penny "box" wire nails 

 are long and heavy enough excepting 



