212 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
AQUARIUM CONSTRUCTION 
The amateur aquarist with a. little talent for things mechanical can 
find profit as well as pleasure in making an aquarium according to his 
own ideas and requirements. The few necessary tools either are, or ought 
to be, a part of every household equipment. 
Naturally the first consideration is that of the space to be occupied 
by the aquarium. In determining this it is well to be influenced, as far 
as conditions will permit, by the needs of the aquarium inmates. As to 
proportions, it will be found that most aquarium fishes do best in shallow 
aquaria with plenty of water surface. However, for artistic arrange- 
ment and symmetrical plant growth we must have a certain amount of 
depth. Twenty inches deep is sufficient even for large aquaria. In the 
smaller sizes, plants of suitable height can be secured. For all-round 
purposes, bearing in mind both the artistic and the useful, a good general 
rule is to make the aquarium in the form of a double cube. That is, the 
width and height identical, and the length twice that of either. Unless an 
aquarium is to be viewed only from the top, it is not advisable to make 
the width over 25 inches, as even a slight cloudiness of the water con- 
siderably obscures the fishes when there is so much of it to look through. 
Within reason, make the aquarium as large as possible, but nothing over 
a 70-gallon size is to be recommended for the household. An accidental 
breaking of the glass, even at this size, is too great a catastrophe to con- 
template with composure. Since it is very little more trouble to keep a 
large-sized aquarium than a small one, and the results are so much better, 
at least with goldfishes, we would unhesitatingly say to those weighing 
the merits of two sizes, take the larger. 
For a large variety of tropical fishes, a number of small aquaria will 
be found preferable. These will be treated of hereafter in the present 
chapter. 
After the considerations of size and proportions, which we have 
already touched upon, we will now take up in order the points of con- 
struction, laying particular emphasis on the factor of safety. 
Bases. The best material for general use in aquarium bases is slate. 
It is inexpensive, durable, easily worked, free from cleavage cracks, and 
in every way reliable. The requirements for thickness are from 34 inch 
for sizes up to 30 gallons, to 114 inches for 130 gallons. Polished Ten- 
nessee marble makes a handsome and durable base. White marble is too 
glaring and besides is easily chipped in moving an aquarium about. Also 
