AQUARIUM CONSTRUCTION, TOOLS AND APPLIANCES 



to allow of the slight expansion and contraction. Second, a harder drying 

 cement may be made of 2 parts by weight of red lead, i part of litharge 

 and 16 parts of glazier's putty, mixed and applied similarly to the fore- 

 going. Third, equal parts, by measure, of litharge, red lead, plaster of 

 paris, powdered resin, boiled linseed oil and Japan drier; mixed and used 

 at once. Fourth, one gill each of litharge, powdered resin, fine white sand 

 and plaster of paris; mixed and cooked to a paste with boiled linseed oil 

 and a little Japan varnish. 



Should any of these cements not set| sufficiently hard, as may happen 

 in warm weather, Portland cement will remedy the difficulty. The bright- 

 red color of these cements may be modified to any desired shade by the 

 addition of ivory black. 



Cements for Marine Aquaria. A cement composed of 2 parts 

 of litharge, 3 parts of Portland cement, 3 parts of fine sand, i part of 

 powdered resin, mixed to a thick putty with boiled linseed oil, is most 

 generally used. Another cement is composed of litharge made into a stiff 

 putty with glycerine and sets very hard. It may be also used to stop leaks. 



Cement for Frameless Aquaria. Powdered sulphur is added to 

 melted beeswax to form a very thick fluid, and poured into the corner 

 posts after the aquarium is assembled. Another cement for aquaria, 

 having the base grooved to dispense with a lower frame, consists of zinc 

 white, and spar varnish, to which any coloring substance may be added, 

 and made into a thick paste or putty. 



Cement for Rockwork and Tuftstone. Equal parts of Portland 

 cement and sharp white sand are the best for these uses. Mineral and 

 animal oils should never be used in aquarium construction. 



Aquarium Paints. Asphaltum varnish is the best coating for all 

 frames, over which oil paints of an desired color may be used; but not 

 where it will come into contact with the aquarium water. Bronze, silver 

 or aluminum powders in gold size make a handsome finish. Surfaces in 

 contact with the water, or in moist places, are best protected with asphal- 

 tum varnish. Decalcomania decorations on the frames, covered with 

 varnish, make handsome embellishments. 



Constructing Aquarium Frames. To facilitate comprehension of 

 the construction of angle-framed aquaria, the parts will be described as the 

 lower and upper frames and the corner posts. The greatest accuracy must be 

 observed to have all the parts of exactly the same size, true, plumb and at 

 right angles. The angle iron, which constitutes the upper and lower 

 frames, must be marked of exactly the right lengths and the mitre-pieces 

 sawed or filed out at the corners so that the frames when bent will be true 

 in all directions, prior to which the bolt holes in the lower frame should 



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