40 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 
The first thing to be considered when about to construct a 
tank is the space or location which it is to occupy. As a rule, 
amateurs make their tanks too large. A large tank, when pro- 
portionately stocked, makes a grand effect; this I admit, but 
its size and weight make it inconvenient at certain seasons of 
the year, and the cleaning and refilling involves a great deal of 
labor and time which everybody has not at his disposal at the 
required time. I advise always the building of one medium 
sized or two small tanks; in the latter case one can have 
more variety. 
The medium-sized tank, which I find best suited for a par- 
lor, sitting- or dining-room, has a capacity of about eighteen 
gallons. The inside dimensions, from glass to glass (the 
proper way to measure an aquarium tank), is twenty-four by 
‘twelve inches (24x12), by fifteen (15) inches in height. This 
tank sets on a stand, the top of which is on a level with the 
windowssill. 
To make such a tank, get an iron-worker to make you a 
simple iron frame out of one-inch angle iron (see illustration) 
to correspond with above dimensions, and at perfect right an- 
gles at the corners. The top and bottom frames are each made 
of one piece. At the proper distances triangular pieces are 
cut out (Fig. a), and af- 
aS Se SS terwards they are bent 
to form a right angle 
b | (Fig. b). The uprights 
ad are cut off at right an- 
gles, set flush between 
top and bottom frames and held in place by corner plates 
(Fig. c), secured with four small screws to the angle iron. 
Care should be taken that all the parts of the frame “face 
