CHAPTER III. 



r R S PARING THE TANK. 



Seasoning the Tank— The Bottom or Soil— Silver-sand not to be recommended— 

 Pebbles— Kind of Soil used important- The Amateur not always to be governed 

 by Books— Shell and Coral Bottoms— Uockwork— Cement for uniting Kockwork— 

 Kockwork to be simply formed— Aspect— East aspect best— Morning sun bene- 

 ficial— Some Blah can bear warmer Water than others— A Northern Aspect never 

 favorable— Banger of letting the Water freeze— Minnows beneath Ice— Marine 

 Aquaria not needing much Light a mistake— Mr. Warrington's Tank— Water to 

 be introduced carefully. 



WHEN we have procured the vessel that \vc intend to turn 

 into an Aquarium, and have ascertained that it is perfectly 

 water-tight, and has been well "seasoned" (that is to say, 

 the cement has been allowed sufficient time to harden, and 

 '.he tank several times fdlcd with water and emptied, after 

 letting the water stand in it some hours to dissolve out 

 all soluble matter which may have been in the cement 

 ;ised, and which, if allowed to remain, would endanger the 

 lives of the animals, if any were introduced before this 

 was made certain), we then proceed to prepare it for the 

 "eccption of the animals, and to do so, we must begin 

 with : 



The bottom. — This is to be made by placing well washed 

 - iver sand, or fine gravel, upon the slate, glass or - other 

 •jaso of the tank. Silver-sand, such as is sold in shops, 



