AQUARIUM CONSTRUCTION, TOOLS AND APPLIANCES 



A number of methods have been devised to construct aquaria without 

 frames, some of which have been successful and of handsome appearance; 

 but a neat frame appears more structural, and for sizes over 24 inches is 

 essential to both strength and safety. 



AQUARIUM TOOLS AND APPLIANCES. 



The experienced aquariist avails himself of a number of simple tools 

 and appliances to facilitate the manipulation of the aquarium. Of these a 

 brief description follows: 



Nets. The knotted-mesh twine nets sold by dealers are usually of 

 •poor form and too rough for handling goldfishes. It is preferable to em- 

 ploy very shallow ones of Brussels netting. The simplest construction 

 of frame is one piece of wire, first turned into the circle and the end 

 twisted upon the shank. A neater one may be made of a wire ring 

 soldered into the head of a brass wood-screw, and fastened to a light 

 wooden rod. The most practical size for the aquarium is about 4^^ to 5 

 inches in diameter, rounded in form at the back and straight in front; and 

 for the tank a solid brass wire-framed rectangular net about 8 by 1 2 inches. 



Forceps. One of the handiest aquarium tools is the forceps. The 

 simplest construction is of one piece of brass wire bent into equal legs, 

 crossed and slightly flattened at the rivet holes and the ends serrated. 

 Pressure applied anywhere above the rivet closes the jaws and even the 

 smallest particles can be removed or plants forced into the pebbles by 

 grasping the roots. Another form may be made of two straight pieces 

 of wood screwed to a light block and long enough to be operated without 

 putting the hand into the water. A spring clothespin to which two 

 slender pieces of wood are fastened is another approved form of forceps. 



Handy Sticks. What have been appropriately called "handy sticks" 

 consist of two light wooden rods, having one end notched like an inverted 

 V and the other cut to a chisel edge. They may be applied to many uses; 

 making holes in the pebbles for planting, forcing down plants, cutting off 

 runners, and straightening the leaves. 



Plant Scissors. The leaves and blades of aquatic plants should not 

 be torn off, even cutting them with the finger nails so bruises them that 

 further decay results. A scissors only should be used and to avoid put- 

 ting the hand into the water, they should have long shanks. These may 

 be made of a pair of round-end scissors from which the finger holes have 

 been removed and replaced by long brass rods with finger holes bent 

 at the ends. In using them two hands will be necessary. The clean cut 

 aflfects the plant the least and insures a neat and tidy appearance. 



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