16 



THE AQUAKIUM, OCTOBER, 1895. 



Queries. 



For the small sum of one dollar in ad- 

 vance, which pays for a year's subscription 

 to The Aqtjakiitm, you are entitled to ask 

 information on any point regarding the 

 aquarium or the window garden. We offer 

 no other premium to our subscribers than 

 than that of putting over 25 years of prac- 

 tical experience in these branches at their 

 disposal. Ask as many questions as you 

 please, but please to enclose postage for 

 reply. All questions are answered by mail, 

 and we publish only such in these columns 

 as are of general interest. 



Mrs. C. — Muddy water is to aquatic 

 plants what dusty air (dust) is to terrestrial 

 ones. The sediment stops up the pores of 

 their leaves and consequently smothers the 

 plant. Thus it is essential that the water 

 which is used to fill an aquarium should be 

 as clear as possible. When clear water 

 cannot be obtained from the hydrant it is 

 preferable to clear it by allowing it to settle 

 in some tin or earthen vessel, or to filter it 

 through a primitive bag filter, than to clear 

 it with chemicals or the modern improved 

 filters. 



M. G. B. — For this season of the year we 

 would advise the following list of plants, 

 for an aquarium measuring 28 x 28 x 40 

 inches : sixteen Sagittaria New Era, four 

 Ludwigia Mttii, and two strong Cabomba 

 Caroliniana. If the tank is favorably 

 placed, regarding light, these plants will 

 supply sufficient oxygen for about seventy- 

 five fish. 



Mrs. B.— The glass of an aquarium should 

 be fastened with regular aquarium cement, 

 as sold by all first-class dealers in aquarium 

 supplies. This cement should not be used 

 in the same manner, however, as the glazier 

 uses putty when he puts in a new pane of 

 glass in a window frame. It should be used 

 like glue, the cement being between the 

 frame work and the glass. No cement, or 

 at least very little, shoixld come in contact 



with the water. The bottom of the tank, if 

 of metal, should be painted with our water- 

 proof cement paint ; still better than such 

 a coat of paint, however, is a glass bottom, 

 which is easily laid over the metal one. 

 The pane or panes of glass, for it is advisable 

 to make the bottom in sections, as this avoids 

 breaking by the weight of the water, that 

 are to form the lining of the bottom, are 

 imbedded in the fame kind of cement and 

 on the same principle as the side and end 

 glasses. 



Miss D. K. B. — What you read in our 

 book, "The Goldfish and its Culture," in 

 regard to the coloring of goldfish, is our 

 opinion yet. When the young goldfish are 

 about the size of a squash or pumpkin seed, 

 it is safe to put them in the aquarium to- 

 gether with the old ones, provided that 

 these are not too large ; in that case they 

 would swallow the little ones alive. Don't 

 be in too great a hurry to put them with the 

 old fish; they will not add greatly to the 

 attractiveness of your aquarium, but will 

 be in great danger of their lives. Why not 

 keep them by themselves until they are 

 about an inch in length ? It affords a great 

 deal of pleasure to raise young fish in a 

 nursery tank. They will have to be fed 

 regularly, to be sure, but just such little 

 duties make fish-keeping so interesting. 

 Their tank should be supplied with aquatic 

 plants, etc., just as carefully as a tank in- 

 tended for larger fish. 



Mrs. K. — Ferns that have been grown in 

 pots can be best kept by plunging in a cold 

 frame or pit ; a frame sunk below the sur- 

 face in a shady or partly shady spot is best 

 suited for this purpose. After severe cold 

 sets in they should be covered with leaves 

 or some other light material, which cover- 

 ing must be removed as soon as severe frost 

 is over to prevent too soft a growth, as there 

 is more danger from that source than from 

 actual freezing. 



Plants in rockeries can be left undis- 

 turbed if slightly covered with leaves. The 

 protection must be carefully removed as 

 soon as hard frost is over. 



The Title page and Contents for 

 Vol. III. accompanies this number as 

 a supplement. 



