
AQUARIUM CONSTRUCTION, TOOLS AND APPLIANCES 

to allow of the slight expansion and contraction. Second, a harder drying 
cement may be made of 2 parts by weight of red lead, 1 part of litharge 
and 16 parts of glazier’s putty, mixed and applied similarly to the fore- 
going. Third, equal parts, by measure, of litharge, red lead, plaster of 
paris, powdered resin, boiled linseed oil and Japan drier; mixed and used 
at once. Fourth, one gill each of litharge, powdered resin, fine white sand 
and plaster of paris; mixed and cooked to a paste with boiled linseed oil 
and a little Japan varnish. 
Should any of these cements not set sufficiently hard, as may happen 
in warm weather, Portland cement will remedy the difficulty. The bright- 
red color of these cements may be modified to any desired shade by the 
addition of ivory black. 
CEMENTS FOR Marine Aquarra. A cement composed of 2 parts 
of litharge, 3 parts of Portland cement, 3 parts of fine sand, 1 part of 
powdered resin, mixed to a thick putty with boiled linseed oil, is most 
generally used. Another cement is composed of litharge made into a stiff 
putty with glycerine and sets very hard. It may bealso used to stop leaks. 
CEMENT FOR FRAMELESS AQuaRIA. Powdered sulphur is added to 
melted beeswax to form a very thick fluid, and poured into the corner 
posts after the aquarium is assembled. Another cement for aquaria, 
having the base grooved to dispense with a lower frame, consists of zinc 
white, and spar varnish, to which any coloring substance may be added, 
and made into a thick paste or putty. 
CEMENT FOR Rockwork AND TurTstone. Equal parts of Portland 
cement and sharp white sand are the best for these uses. Mineral and 
animal oils should never be used in aquarium construction. 
Aquarium Paints. Asphaltum varnish is the best coating for all 
frames, over which oil paints of an desired color may be used; but not 
where it will come into contact with the aquarium water. Bronze, silver 
or aluminum powders in gold size make a handsome finish. Surfaces in 
contact with the water, or in moist places, are best protected with asphal- 
tum varnish. Decalcomania decorations on the frames, covered with 
varnish, make handsome embellishments. 
ConstructinGc AguariuM Frames. To facilitate comprehension of 
the construction of angle-framed aquaria, the parts will be described as the 
lower and upper frames and the corner posts. The greatest accuracy must be 
observed to have all the parts of exactly the same size, true, plumb and at 
right angles. The angle iron, which constitutes the upper and lower 
frames, must be marked of exactly the right lengths and the mitre-pieces 
sawed or filed out at the corners so that the frames when bent will be true 
in all directions, prior to which the bolt holes in the lower frame should 
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