98 Aquatic Lite 
On the Care of 
the Aquarium: An Exception 
ERNEST LEITHOLF 
While I enjoyed the article on the 
“Care of Aquaria,” by George A. Schenk 
(January number), | consider the weekly 
addition of one and one-quarter tea- 
spoonfuls of salt to each ten gallons of 
water excessive. Salt should be held in 
reserve and only used when really needed 
in treating a sick fish or when parasites 
are present in a tank. Fishes become 
accustomed to it when continually pres- 
ent, and fail to respond to its influence 
when diseased. Experience has con- 
vinced me that the excessive use of salt 
“on general principles” is detrimental to 
fishes, plants and snails. A few grains 
of salt dropped on a red snail will kill it, 
while plants will succumb when sprinkled 
with the saline solution. 
In a heated aquarium holding ten gal- 
lons there will be a weekly loss of one 
to two quarts of water through evapora- 
tion, which further increases the salinity. 
This, however, is slight. But when we 
add one and one-quarter teaspoonfuls 
weekly, and only replace half of the 
water with fresh, it can readily be under- 
stood that the salinity of the water is 
growing denser by weekly steps, and it is 
not impossible for it to eventually be 
transformed from a fresh water aqua- 
rium to one of brackish or salt water. 
Leaving the salt question aside, the 
weekly removal of one-third to one-half 
of the water in a balanced aquarium, and 
its replacement with new, raw water is 
a mistake and may work more harm than 
good. Such recommendations fail to 
take into consideration that water sup- 
plied towns for domestic purposes is of 
many kinds and degrees of purity and 
impurity, chemical and otherwise. Few 
cities are favored with uniformity—if 
any! Not a few aquarians have at times 
suffered serious losses resulting from 
water changes. This is manifestly the 
cause of the death of apparently healthy 
fish when taken from the establishment 
of one aquarian to another. 
When the aquarium is doing nicely, 
the wise plan is to let well enough alone. 
All that is necessary is the removal of 
the accumulated sediment by means of 
a dip-tube or siphon or rubber hose, 
which can be accomplished with little 
loss of water, only sufficient new water 
being added to bring the water back to 
its former level. 
ee SS 
Keen competition ruled the March 
show of the West Philadelphia Goldfish 
Fanciers’ Association, held on the Ist, at 
5909 Market street. Some remarkably 
fine telescopes less than a year old were 
entered. The judges, Joseph E. Bausman 
and William J. Christy, made decisions 
as follows: 
Novicr Ciass: Blue ribbon on a Black 
Broadtail to E. Weinrich; blue ribbon 
for a Calico Broadtail to B. Fogel. 
PROFESSIONAL Crass: Black Broad- 
tails—blue and yellow ribbons, J. A. 
Krause; red, M. Moylan. Transparent- 
scaled Broadtails—blue, Charles Hinkel: 
red, H. FE. Demuth; yellow, G. Arm- 
bruster.—C. C. VOWINKEL, Secretary. 
——— > 
Broadtail Telescopes, more than one 
year old, engaged the attention of the 
Kensington Goldfish Society at the Feb- 
ruary meeting. Ribbons were won by 
following : 
ScaLED: Blue ribbon, Gus Armbrus- 
ter; red, W. J. Christy; wiite, Charles 
Harris. 
TRANSPARENT-SCALED: Blue ribbon, 
H. Kempner; red, M. Moylan; white, 
H. Kempner. 
The Society holds its meeting and ex- 
hibitions in Tyler’s Hall, 2824 Kensing- 
ton avenue, Philadelphia, on the fourth 
Wednesday of the month. An invitation 
to attend is extended to all aquarists.— 
CHARLES Harrts, Secretary. 
