Popular Science Monthly 



925 



A peculiar and very beau- 

 tiful variety of gold fish 



One requirement of a balanced aquarium 

 is a rich alluvial soil in which the plants may 

 flourish. A few rootless aquatic plants, as 

 Fontinalis or Ceratophyllum, grow in clean 

 sand. The best soil for the aquarium is a 

 mixture of top 

 soil loam and 

 sand. Before 

 placing the soil 

 in the aquari- 

 um, a small 

 piece of glass 

 should be put- 

 tied in one cor- 

 ner. On this all 

 refuse will ac- 

 cumulate so it 

 can be easily re- 

 moved. Arrange the soil in the aquarium 

 so that it slopes gently toward the refuse 

 corner. The highest part of the soil is 

 placed diagonally opposite it. Place marsh 

 plants in the highest part. Of all marsh 

 plants Cyperus Alta nifolius is recom- 

 mended, although it is often cultivated as a 

 pot plant. If the Cyperus has been used as 

 a pot plant it must first be inured to the 

 water by placing it in a pail of water with 

 the water flush with the top of the pot. 

 Later the water is gradually raised. After 

 several weeks of this treatment the Cyperus 

 will be inured to the water and may be 

 transplanted into the aquarium. The soil is 

 then packed down firmly and evenly. 

 Over this a layer of sand which has been 

 washed perfectly clean is placed to prevent 

 the water from becoming muddy. 



Plants, however, are placed in only one 

 half of the aquarium. Draw an imaginary 

 diagonal from corner to corner. That half 

 of the aquarium containing the Cyperus is 

 used for planting, while the other half 

 holding the refuse corner remains free for 

 the fish. 



It is comparatively easy to plant water 

 weeds. Bore a hole in the sand with the 

 finger and place the roots of Vallisneria and 

 Sagittaria natans in it. Then cover the 

 hole with sand. The Cabomba, and similar 

 small plants are treated differently. Only 

 the tips of these plants are used for cultiva- 

 tion. They are almost buried in the sand, 

 the tips only peep forth, for only that part 

 of the plant which has grown in the 

 aquarium remains green. These shoots, a 

 few of which are usually placed in one hole, 

 root very rapidly. 



When the aquarium is completely planted 

 it must be filled with water. To prevent 



the water from stirring up the sand, lay a 

 piece of paper over the refuse corner. Pour 

 the water carefully on the paper until the 

 aquarium is about a quarter full. The rest 

 should be siphoned in with a small rubber 

 hose. 



The aquarium should be placed in a well 

 lighted window so that the plants may 

 receive a sufficient quantity of light. When 

 the plants have grown sufficiently, fish may 

 be procured and placed in the aquarium. A 

 convenient method of computing the num- 

 ber of fish an aquarium will hold is to allow 

 a quart of water for every fish 2 in. in length. 



Such a balanced aquarium shows the 

 family life of the fish. The Paradise fish 

 builds a foamy nest on the surface of the 

 water, plays at love making, lays its spawn 

 and cares for its young. The peculiar and 

 odd varieties of gold fish lay their spawn on 

 delicate aquatic vegetation. The Chan- 

 chito digs a small ditch in which the young 

 are" taken care of. The stickleback builds 

 a delicate nest for its spawn from plant 

 fibers. This nest is a work of art rivaling 

 many bird-nests. Mention may be also 

 made of the mouth breeders, the female of 

 which carries the spawn in her mouth 

 until it matures. — Dr. E. Bade. 



Making A Sprinkler Hoze Nozzle 

 for the Boiler Room 



THE illustration shows the details of an 

 easily constructed sprinkler hose noz- 

 zle. The deflector plate is cut from 1/16- 

 in. sheet or galvanized iron, and soldered to 

 the pipe used as a tube. The angle of the 



Deflector 



A deflector for a 

 hose nozzle to 

 make a sprinkler 



spray is adjusted and governed by bending 

 the neck of the plate. The whole arrange- 

 ment is quickly and easily made and it is 

 conveniently handled. It will be found very 

 useful for many purposes, especially around 

 the boiler room. — F. W. Bentley. 



