Chapter Fifteen 



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.quarium Appliances 





Nets. The most important device in aquarium work is a net with 

 which to catch the fish, yet in most instances it is of fauUy construc- 

 tion. The scales of a fish are easily knocked off by the hard knots in 

 the coarse threads composing nets usually sold. This is very bad for 

 the fish. A far better material is Brussels netting of a mesh such 

 as is used on window curtains — not too tine. 



When fish have to be caught from a globe, a round net is con- 

 venient, but for a straight-side aquarium, a square or oblong net is 

 very much better. Usually these cannot be purchased, but to make 



Fic. 211. Proper Nets tor Goldfishes and Young Tropicals 



one is a simple matter and well repays for the effort. Perhaps the 

 easiest way is to purchase a round net, remove netting, bend wires 

 to an oblong form and re-cover with Brussels netting. The larger 

 kind shown is bent from a single piece of J-'g-inch galvanized wire, the 

 ends beveled and soldered at the handle. The two strands of wire are 

 tied together at intervals by fine copper wire secured by a little solder. 

 A net about 5 inches wide and handle about 16 inches long is gen- 

 erally satisfactory. 



Glass Cleaners. The best device for cleaning the inside glass of 

 straight aquaria is a safety razor blade secured in a stick and riveted 

 through. First rivet or wrap end of stick with fine copper wire to 

 prevent splitting, place razor blade firmly in iron vise and drive down 



