Evening star., 1934-11-08
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL,

Dear Sir: am - years old and
one Of the readers OF your articles on
the fish aquarium. 1 think your
articles are very interesting and help
full In the caring for my fish. l am
very much interested In tropical
aquarium fish. having 80 Guppies
S swordtails and 2 gold crescent tail
plates OF my own. l have q five
gallon tank. supplied with hairgrass
anachsris and cabomba plants. and
scavengers such as red and japanese
snails and tadpcles. A few evenings
ago. In your article about the aquarium
l read that an enthusiast in a survey
In this city found but one home
aquarium in window. have my fish
near sunny window.
Il had IL japanese snails and 2
Guppies born yesterday. / am now
waiting for my PLATES 10 have some
babies. l bought this pair last July,
and l still have just two Plates. l
would appreciate 1t If you would send
me any suggestions you may have for
the care Of my tropicsis.
Sincerely yours, S. s."
Most home aQuariums properly are
placed In windows: the point is that
they will not show from the street
unless they are Illuminated.
The point this column made, or al
least tried TO make, maybe we didn {
bring 1t out very well, was that in a
survey OF eight miles this aquarium
was the only one which really showed
from the street.
This, II was stated, was not enough
because there is no prettier winoow
ornament than o well planted. well
stocked and well lighted aquarium.
There ought 10 be more OF them
visible.
The only way 10 make them really
visible, OF course. is 10 keep them
lighted by electricity, and this has It's
drawbacks
The comparative darkness Of the
room prevents the aquarium from
showing from the street. A careful
observer may see the frame. and the
plants. but that is about all. The
usual method OF planting, with most
OF the plants along the back. or ia
this case. closest TO the window mostly
prevents the fish from showing.
Indeed. II one plans an aquarium as
q window ornament. q different mode
of planting should be worked out. one
which would give the fishes the anne
benefits as under the standard ar
rsngement but one which would per-
nit q better view from outside
This would necessitate sparser
planting along a line drawn squarely
through the center OF the aquarium
DottoEa from end TO end, that is, halt
way from front TO back.
This planting would make both sides
front" both the inner, OF room side
and the outer. OF street side.
This would permit the fishes to
swim freely in ell parts Of the tank
owing 10 the median position Of the
plant material
The customary method Of placing
plants usually results In maSSeo
growth at the back. keeping the fishes
in the front half OF the tank, where
there is plenty of free swimming space
This permits easier care, especially
in feeding and cleaning.
The planting We have suggested here
would be appropriate only II one de-
sired 10 place tank 50 that 1t might
De easily visible 10 passersby.
1t would need 10 be well lighted from
the top, even In da ytime IL 1t were TO
appear at its best from outside. This
amount of extra light. in addition TO
that supplied by Nature, in all prob
ability would be too much. resulting
in the much disliked green water"