Aquatic 
Lite 133 
a non-hardening cement mixed to the 
consistency of stiff putty. Set the side 
glasses first, making sure they fit before 
It will be neces- 
sary to chip a little off the lower corners 
of the glasses in order to clear the bolts 
welded to the corner irons—watch this 
carefully, as the glass must clear the ob- 
struction. Now lift out the glass and fill 
the groove in the base about half full of 
cement, and with a putty knife lay a little 
on the inside edge of the corner uprights 
from tcp to bottom. None will be needed 
on the top frame. 
spreading the cement. 
Place the lower edge 
of glass into the groove and press down 
hard. This will imbed it securely and 
squeeze the cement up on either side. 
If necessary a light stick may be used as 
a lever against the top frame. Force 
downward until it will go under the top 
frame, then press against the cement on 
the corner uprights and the glass is set. 
Set the other long side in like manner. 
Now measure, cut 
and set the end 
Details, Flat and Cross Sec- 
Figure 3. 
tion, of Corner of Slate, Marble and Cement 
Base. 
These fit between the long sides 
and should set snug. 
the water when the tank is filled will 
press out the sides and give room for 
their expansion. 
When all the glass is set, tamp the 
cement thoroughly into the base grooves 
on the inside. Don’t bother about the 
outside now. I have found that a leaf 
of an old automobile spring, with end 
glasses. 
The pressure of 
ground square, is best for this purpose, 
but you can use a piece of wood with 
thin end—blunt, not chisel-edged. As an 
added precaution against leakage, roll 
cement into long pieces, a little thicker 
than a lead pencil, and press firmly from 
top to bottom in each corner where the 
sides and ends meet. 
The aquarium is now ready for water. 
Let it fill slowly. It will be noticed that 
the pressure of the water against the 
glasses forces them tighter to the frame, 
the cement being forced up from the 
groove in the base and from the iron 
uprights. The cement in the groove on 
the inside has receded. Let the aquarium 
stand filled for an hour, then with a 
putty knife cut away the surplus cement 
from the outside even with the base, this 
coming away in a long string. Empty 
the aquarium and lay this string of ce- 
ment in the depression in the groove on 
the inside of the glass. It will just about 
fill it. TTamp down thoroughly, so that 
the groove is full and the cement flush 
with the surface of the base inside, and 
then smooth with a putty knife. Should 
cement have been squeezed over the 
glasses from beneath the upright corners 
iron, trim it off even and smooth. Fill 
the aquarium and go to bed! 
If an aquarium with a cement base is 
desired, a form in which to mould it is 
needed. In constructing it the bottom 
must receive first consideration. It must 
be smooth and rigid, as it must not sag 
with the weight of the cement. A simple 
plan is to use two pieces of dressed pine, 
2 by 4 inches, and 4 feet long. Lay them 
flat and parallel, about 18 inches apart, 
and nail across them 7 by 6-inch 
tongued and grooved flooring, which has 
been cut into lengths of 28 inches. This 
makes a strong, smooth base 28 by 48 
inches. Select two straight pieces, 2 by 2 
inches by 4 feet for the sides, and two 
