THE AQUARIUM BULLETIN 



37 



had a desirable effect on the fishes. 

 At the end of the month of October 

 when he had to remove the fishes he 

 was astonished at the result. The 

 bodies were round as a ball, tails short 

 and all out of proportion to the size 

 of the body. They were as large as 

 any three year old fish and most 

 comical in appearance. 



Unfortunately these fish could not 

 withstand the change from the pool to 

 the aquarium in the warm room. 

 Thev died after the third day and on 



cutting them open he discovered that 

 although these fish were but 6 months 

 old, the bodies were filled with 

 well developed spawn. 



The above statements are taken 

 principally from the experiences of 

 European fanciers. A number of 

 American fanciers report that gold- 

 fish do not take this food very well. 

 Perhaps our American Tubifex is of 

 a different kind. In any event it 

 makes a splendid food for tropical 

 fishes. 



A Sanitary Balanced Aquarium 



By C. B 



For many years it was not believed 

 that an aquarium could be properly 

 set up or that its inhabitants could 

 thrive unless it was arranged with soil 

 or gravel spread over the entire 

 bottom, in which growing plants 

 might thrive to oxygenate the water. 

 There is no doubt that such an 

 aquarium is a beautiful piece of work, 

 and, properly cared for, will produce 

 most excellent results. It further 

 requires frequent attention and where 

 this attention is lacking there is bound 

 to be unsatisfactory results, because 

 of foulness which will result when 

 excrement and other debris collect. 



In syphoning this off, as must be 

 regularly done, one frequently disturbs 

 the gravel bottom, and many of the 

 particles of food, etc. which are bound 

 to lodge between or underneath the 

 pebbles, will decay, causing gases to 

 form and the tank will naturally go 

 out of balance. 



Many very clever schemes have 

 been adopted to overcome this, such as 

 an introduction of air by force, run- 

 ning water with overflows, but one of 

 the most clever and efficient methods 



Norman. 

 discovered is that which has been 

 introduced by a Brooklyn fancier. 



The ordinary tank can be used and 

 the introduction of sanitary con- 

 tainers, many styles of which may be 

 prepared. The earth or gravel is 

 placed in these containers, and the 

 plants will thrive therein beautifully. 

 Because the bottom of the aquarium 

 is perfectly smooth, all waste matter 

 can be quickly syphoned without dis- 

 turbing any of the plant life; if 

 desirable, the containers with the 

 plants therein may be removed and 

 the entire aquarium flushed and re- 

 placed with fresh water. 



Fanciers have lost many fine fish by 

 ignoring the most essential require- 

 ment — cleanliness — and those who 

 have kept fish in the usual balanced 

 aquarium have vivid recollections, 

 when the occasion called for the clean- 

 ing of the aquarium, of the foul odor 

 caused by the waste matter which 

 polluted the home of the fish, saturat- 

 ing deeply into the sand and gravel. 



A little thought would quickly show 

 what would happen to other creatures 

 (Continued on Page 39) 



