THE AQUARIUM AND WATER PLANTS. 275 



The best vessel for an aquarium is, doubtless, a tank of 

 a rectangular form, constructed of glass, with a slate bot- 

 tom, and mounted on a stand made for the purpose. 



The simpler the outline the better, because, where we 

 have but a few broad sheets of glass, the view is less ob- 

 structed, and light, the great essential of success, can pen- 

 etrate to every exposed part of the collection. 



In Figure 1 , the dimensions are as follows : Back and 

 front, three feet ; ends, one foot four inches ; depth, one 

 foot six inches. The bottom is of slate, and the four 

 sides are of plate glass. Four turned wooden pillars unite 

 the four sides, and four similar pieces bind the whole along 

 the top edge. 



FIG. 2. 



If shallower water is required, a square tank, say two 

 feet four by two feet four, and one foot deep, would be 

 suitable, as shown in Figure 2. 



