212 GOLDFISH VAEIETIES AXD 



AQUARIUM CONSTRUCTION 



The amateur aquarist with a little talent for things mechanical can 

 find profit as well as pleasure in making an aquarium according to his 

 own ideas and requirements. The few necessary tools either are, or ought 

 to be, a part of every household equipment. 



Naturally the first consideration is that of the space to be occupied 

 by the aquarium. In determining this it is well to be influenced, as far 

 as conditions will permit, by the needs of the aquarium inmates. As to 

 proportions, it will be found that most aquarium fishes do best in shallow- 

 aquaria with plenty of water surface. However, for artistic arrange- 

 ment and symmetrical plant growth we must have a certain amount of 

 depth. Twenty inches deep is sufficient even for large aquaria. In the 

 smaller sizes, plants of suitable height can be secured. For all-round 

 purposes, bearing in mind both the artistic and the useful, a good general 

 rule is to make the aquarium in the form of a double cube. That is, the 

 width and height identical, and the length twice that of either. Unless an 

 aquarium is to be viewed only from the top, it is not advisable to make 

 the width over 25 inches, as even a slight cloudiness of the water con- 

 siderably obscures the fishes when there is so much of it to look through. 

 Within reason, make the aquarium as large as possible, but nothing over 

 a 70-gallon size is to be recommended for the household. An accidental 

 breaking of the glass, even at this size, is too great a catastrophe to con- 

 template with composure. Since it is very little more trouble to keep a 

 large-sized aquarium than a small one, and the results are so much better, 

 at least with goldfishes, we would unhesitatingly say to those weighing 

 the merits of two sizes, take the larger. 



For a large variety of tropical fishes, a number of small aquaria will 

 be found preferable. These will be treated of hereafter in the present 

 chapter. 



After the considerations of size and proportions, which we have 

 already touched upon, we will now take up in order the points of con- 

 struction, laying particular emphasis on the factor of safety. 



Bases. The best material for general use in aquarium bases is slate. 

 It is inexpensive, durable, easily worked, free from cleavage cracks, and 

 in every way reliable. The requirements for thickness are from ^ inch 

 for sizes up to 30 gallons, to 1^ inches for 130 gallons. Polished Ten- 

 nessee marble makes a handsome and durable base. White marble is too 

 glaring and besides is easily chipped in moving an aquarium about. Also 



