HOW TO MAKE IT. 



can be no objection to it ; on the contrary, it is beneficial, 

 as helping to purify the water, though if there is a suffi- 

 cient quantity of growing vegetation, it is not needed 

 except as an ornament. But if the fountain be adopted 

 it must be arranged on the Hnes laid down in the previ- 

 ous chapter, viz. — the zvater should never be changed. Fig. 

 2 will explain how a fountain may be obtained without 

 violating this rule. (7 is a small cistern placed at a proper 

 height to give the requisite fall to the water. To the 

 cistern is attached the feed-pipe {ff) which supplies 

 the fountain. is the 

 overflow pipe, which emp- 

 ties into a pail or other 

 vessel placed beneath the 

 aquarium stand. Now, in 

 starting the aquarium, it 

 should be filled with water 

 up to the top of the over- 

 flow, and the cistern should 

 also be filled, and the foun- 

 tain turned on. As the fig. 2. 

 water rises it will flow over 



into the pail beneath, which should be emptied again 

 into the cistern, not thrown away. By this plan, 

 although the water is in constant circulation, it is never 

 changed. 



And now that we have got our aquarium, with what 

 water shall we fill it ? Not that supplied by the water 

 companies. Water taken from a stream or river is the 

 best, or rain-water will do if it has been caught in a clean 

 vessel. Pond water is also good. Having filled up the 

 aquarium with water, the plants should be placed in it, 

 and then left for a week at least, before placing the animals 



