The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-11
EQUlPPING AN AQUARIUM.
A Household Feature That May Af-
ford Much Entertainment.
The Humane Alliance.

The Humane Alliance.
The aquarium is one of the most orna-
mental entertaining and instructive tea-
lures of the home, and It's management
when understood is perfectly simple as the
self-sustaining aquarium is arranged SO the
water need be changed but once month
or once in two months. Some people sue
coed in keeping the aquarium in good condi-
ton changing the water only twice a year.
Anv transparent vessel capable of securely
holding water will answer the purpose, ex-
cepting the common fish globe. the shape of
which is all wrong for properly displaying
the specimens. The aperture is much too
small to admit sufficient amount of air
to the surface of the water, besides many
other Objectionable features. The most de-
sirable form of aquarium is the one rectan-
eular in shape and about eleven and a half
inches long, eight and a half inches wide
and about thirteen inches high.
A self-sustaining aquarium may be fitted
for either marine or fresh water, but this
article is confined to fresh water, as 1t Is
easier to maintain We breathe air, so do
fishes. our lungs enable us to inhale the
oxygen around us The gills of fishes are
adapted to utilize the oxygen contained in
water.
If a fish is placed in water which has
previously been boiled to exhaust the
oxygen and allowed to cool the fish in
few moments will be very uncomfortable
and try to jump out to avoid suffocation.
At this time if the water is dipped up with
a cup and allowed to splash back from
height of ten or twelve inches fifty or sixty
times the fish will soon revive and remain
contented in the same water until the oxy-
gen absorbed in falling through the air is
again exhausted. This experiment indicates
very clearly that the thing to be done is to
supply air to the water III the aquarium as
rapidly as the fishes exhaust it. This does
not require pumps AMI complicated APP
paratus.
only without tide, but sometimes destitute
even of springs or other source OF supply.
So there must be some other reason why
they thrive so we'll and if we seek below
the surface (this is a good motto for boys
and girls to remember) we will discover II
in the aquatic plants
light give off oxygen and absorb carDOnlc
acid (poisonous) gas exhaled by the crea-
lures i'm the pond This is fact Wen known
to botanists, and Ii is equally true OF every
plant that grows. The grazing cattle thus
nourish with their breath the very plants
which they consume for food, and plants
growing in the house in winter are hene-
fetal for this same reason-purlfylng the air
which we breathe. :.
In few words then, a self-sustaining
AQUARIUM simply means balancing the an
inaaI and vegetable life, with the addition
of certain little water creatures 70 act as
scayengers The first step with the aquar-
irIm is to clean the inside thoroughly, Wip-
ing with a soft cloth, free from lint and
polish with tissue paper or cTumpieu news
paper that will not scratch the glass
Place the aquarium on STEADY taDie OPP
posite a northern exposure, il possible, or
near a window having the least direct sum
upht. the main point being to obtain Sufn-
cienf light to stimulate the growth OF the
AQUATIC plants without allowing the sun 10
shine directly on the water.
Wash enough fine, white sand IN Dish
nan or some clean tin dish 10 spread over
the bottom of the aquarium 70 an even
depth of two inches. Irregularly-shaped
stones NAV be prettily piled up so as 70
form a series of arches. through when the
fish like TO dart and screen themselves. at
times from the bright daylight. The stones
soon become oyergrown with eonferVae.
small rnoss-like plants which softly coat
them and add greatly to their beauty.
If you live near pond you can probably
find plenty of water plants and the follow
inn-aaued plants may be purchased of deal
ers an the year round Cabomha Carolini-
ana green fanwort) will grow whether they
are rooted or not. Remove the leaves so rs
"a leave two inches of the base of the stalks
bare group them and place them In a groove
IN the sand under stone In a corner of the
aquarium. Mirophyllum SEicatum tspiked
water milfoiI) may also be arranged 50 the
foliage will slightly droop over the r0ciS
IN another place use little bunch q fosl-