AQUARIUM CONSTRUCTION, TOOLS AND APPLIANCES 
A number of methods have been devised to construct aquaria without 
frames, some of which have been successful and of handsome appearance; 
but a neat frame appears more structural, and for sizes over 24 inches is 
essential to both strength and safety. 
AQUARIUM TOOLS AND APPLIANCES. 
The experienced aquariist avails himself of a number of simple tools 
and appliances to facilitate the manipulation of the aquarium. Of these a 
brief description follows: 
Nets. The knotted-mesh twine nets sold by dealers are usually of 
poor form and too rough for handling goldfishes. It is preferable to em- 
ploy very shallow ones of Brussels netting. The simplest construction 
of frame is one piece of wire, first turned into the circle and the end 
twisted upon the shank. A neater one may be made of a wire ring 
soldered into the head of a brass wood-screw, and fastened to a light 
wooden rod. ‘The most practical size for the aquarium is about 4% to 5 
inches in diameter, rounded in form at the back and straight in front; and 
for the tank a solid brass wire-framed rectangular net about 8 by 12 inches. 
Forceps. One of the handiest aquarium tools is the forceps. The 
simplest construction is of one piece of brass wire bent into equal legs, 
crossed and slightly flattened at the rivet holes and the ends serrated. 
Pressure applied anywhere above the rivet closes the jaws and even the 
smallest particles can be removed or plants forced into the pebbles by 
grasping the roots. Another form may be made of two straight pieces 
of wood screwed to a light block and long enough to be operated without 
putting the hand into the water. A spring clothespin to which two 
slender pieces of wood are fastened is another approved form of forceps. 
Hawnpy Sticks. What have been appropriately called ‘handy sticks” 
consist of two light wooden rods, having one end notched like an inverted 
V and the other cut toa chisel edge. They may be applied to many uses; 
making holes in the pebbles for planting, forcing down plants, cutting off 
runners, and straightening the leaves. 
Piant Scissors. The leaves and blades of aquatic plants should not 
be torn off, even cutting them with the finger nails so bruises them that 
further decay results. A scissors only should be used and to avoid put- 
ting the hand into the water, they should have long shanks. These may 
be made of a pair of round-end scissors from which the finger holes have 
been removed and replaced by long brass rods with finger holes bent 
at the ends. In using them two hands will be necessary. The clean cut 
affects the plant the least and insures a neat and tidy appearance. 
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