Evening star., 1934-10-08

Common sense in home aquarium
management is as uncommon as it is
in other lines of endeavor.
By its application good results can
be attained at minimum expense.
Consider the matter of water test
ing. From a scientific standpoint it
is well to know the precise degree OF
alkalinity or acidity of aquarium
water.
Few amateur fish keepers, however
wish to bother with such testing, and
the use of chemicals to correct the
condition of the water.
When there is such a pure supply
Of neutral water as is enjoyed in
Washington and vicinity, it is well to
keep all chemicals out of the aquarium
Amy tank may be kept in good
condition by the adding Of a small
amount of fresh water of the same
temperature, at least once every two
weeks. 1t is well to strive for a
balanced aquarium, in which the water
need never be changed. theoretically,
but if this is attained the water tends
to become either too acid or too
alkaline, depending upon the sort OF
fishes kept, foods used, and many
other factors.
The common sense thing to do is
to add water, preferably after using
a siphon to go over the bottom to
remove excess debris. 1t is more
natural to add some water than never
to add any, since one cannot imagine,
in Nature, any such small amount
of water as one finds in the average
aquarium kept in the home.
A great pow-wow has gone up dur
ing the past two years about the
aquarium beautiful. and one of the
precepts handed down is that putting
the tank squarely in front of window
tencs to place the fishes in position
rendering them inartistic to the dis
eliminating viewer.
The position squarely in front Of
a window. however, is by far the best
from every practical standpoint, es-
pecially for the proper growth of the
plants. without which tropical fishes
cannot keep at their best. So it is
as artistic as any, really.
East, south and west exposures are
best, with north a poor fourth There
are practical disadvantages to han
ding tank either in the center of
room, or against wall, even if a
long burning of an electric light with
in 10 inches of the water does give
the same results as sunshine, as is
claimed.
~, 20, <NF& &C.,
The ayes" have it; common sense
says that no light is better than sun
shine, provided common sense also is
used in preventing too much Of a
good thing.
X X y
Then there is the question of heat
for the small exotic fishes, which
ought to have an unvarying water
temperature 2f between "A to Is de-
grees. It is said that the tropical
waters from which most of them come
seldom if ever go below II degrees.
A tank placed in front Of hot water
heating system radiator, not on top
of it. will do very we'll during the
daytime. At night the blind should
be pulled down, and if the radiator
is permitted TO become cold a covering
Of some sort should be placed COM
pletely over the tank, which already
is covered with sheet of glass, as all
enthusiasts know.
Some auxiliary heat may be needed
during changeable weather. Good
electric immersion heaters are expen.
sive, and some aquarists feel that
they spoil the appearance Of tank.
Common sense comes to the rescue.
A small metal lamp using so or so
watt bulb, placed so that the bulb
comes alongside the tank near the
bottom of one end, will do the trick
acceptably, and without damage to
plants or fish, with good, indeed. in
all ways. 1t is, of course, necessary