Evening star., 1934-06-05
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

matter from the standpoint of his
fishes, and then he sees that If he will
not or cannot buy more tanks, or has
not room for them, then the only
thing for him to do is to introduce
air into those he has.
Since there are many electric pumps
on the market, this might seem no
more difficult problem than the
usual one of where to get the money
to pay for them.
1t is really more complicated than
that, especially when ones tanks are
kept in the living quarters, and are
placed at various points in the rooms.
The installation of an electric pump,
with hose lines, Is not easily achieved
without wrecking the appearance of
these rooms. Such things do not "go"
with modern interior decoration, even
in rudimentary form. Unless ones
tanks are all in one room, where rub
ber hose lines and the like are not
out Of place, this best form Of giving
much-needed air to home aquarium
fishes will not be used. There Is an
other objection, too; the air is sent
up through pieces Of porous stone, In
order to break it up into many bubbles,
OF very fine character, thus getting
more sweeping power. The water Is
"air cleaned" Since these stones are
hitched to pipe lines, however, it is
not feasible to remove them from the
tanks. But many aquarists do not like
such articles to remain constantly in
their tanks. They feel that there
should be nothing in an aquarium
except water, fishes, plants and sand,
and they are right.
**x
He who believes In aeration, how
ever, is not lost, but can have re-
course to small individual electric
pumps which supply one tank, or to
hand-operated buffers" as some call
them. The latter require personal
operation, Of course, but an amazing
amount of good may be achieved
through their constant use. They
have the good feature of being re-
movable, so that after use they are
stored away out of sight.
1t may be stated that these small
hand aerators are not generally given
the credit they deserve, since they
require personal attention, something
which mankind more and more resents
as civilization overtakes him. It will
be realized, therefore, that such CAD
gets as these small hand buffers
serve two purposes, they oxygenate
water and they help bring the mind
and heart OF the operator back into
line with the eternal verify of "in the
sweat of thy brow" etc.
1t is one Of the sights to gladden.
an aquariSt's eye, to watch the gasp
ings of a given aquarium full of fishes
give way to placid breathing again
quiet gill operation, closed mouths.
Aquarium fish should never be fed
when they are showing signs of oxy-
| gen distress
They will eat, of course. but not
so we'll, and they will not digest theil
food well.
1t is tremendous, the difference in
| appetite air makes for them.
They will eat twice as much, un-
doubtedly enjoy 1t much more, and
digest 1t better, Immediately after a
good current of air bubbles has beer
run through their water for 10 to 2C
minutes. according to tank size.
Air Is air, however put through the
| tank. Just a few puffs won't do, but
a steady putting with hand aera-
tor for the length of time given above
will work wonders, as any one viii
find out who trys it and who sticks tc
it. The beauty of these devices is that
they may be put away. after use, anG
the tank is free from rubber hose
stone. etc.
Fishes in home tanks should bt
given some sort Of aeration all Sum-
mer long, preferably in the morning
just after daylight. and again in the
evening before dark. This is the min-
imum requirement, but more is better