26 MAINTAINING FISHES 



Tanks 



FRAMELESS GLASS AQUARIA: A number of 

 "fish-bowl" type aquaria are available in capacities up 

 to two-gallons. These are inexpensive, durable, and a 

 good choice for a small, nonflushing aquarium. 



METAL-FRAME GLASS AQUARIA: In appear- 

 ance glass aquaria are certainly the most attractive 

 and for tanks up to 50 gallons in capacity they are 

 generally the most satisfactory. Glass is chemically 

 quite stable and hence does not contaminate the 

 aquarium water. But glass tanks are expensive, ap- 

 proximately a dollar per gallon of capacity. With fre- 

 quent draining and cleaning they develop leaks and 

 must be disassembled and recemented. However, this 

 problem can be greatly reduced by keeping water in 

 the tanks even when they are not in use and by 

 handling them only by the metal frame. 



Some glass tanks have slate bottoms in which holes 

 may easily be cut for overflows and drains. Frames 

 may be of various metals and designs. The metal in 

 some frames is made more rigid by fluting while some 

 others are not fluted but are of heavier gauge metal. 

 The latter type of aluminum or stainless steel is pre- 

 ferred since it is usually more easily repaired. 



SOAPSTONE AQUARIA WITH GLASS FRONTS: 



Stone aquaria are attractive, durable and can be con- 

 veniently made much larger than metal-frame, glass 

 tanks. Stone aquaria are expensive and suited pri- 

 marily for permanent installations. The glass front of 

 stone aquaria should be so installed as to allow for 



