Evening star., 1935-05-29

No good tank without Anacharis,
and no bad one with 1t.
Hence wise keepers of tropical fishes
put in a few punches of this interest
ing plant, no matter what other
aquatic vegetation they include.
This Is not just out OF superstition,
or for the sake of magic. but because
this plant collects floating particles
of dirt.
An aquarium with much Anacharis
in it seldom goes green or is
clouded with white particles.
There is a slightly sticky quality
to the stalks sand leaves which tends
to hold such floating matter as will
be found il the best of tanks.
This plant also Is voracious feeder.
This means that the roots will man
age to absorb more fertilizer from the
sand.
Fish droppings are all the fertilizer
most aquatic plants need. Attempts
to put chemical fertilizer in the sand
beneath plants usually ends disas-
trously, with spoiled water and sick
or dying fish. Often the keeper does
not realize that none such is needed.
While it is true that practically all
aquatic plants use their roots more for
anchorage than for feeding, there can
be little doubt that certain plants,
such as Anacharis. eel grass wallis
neria). and the various sagittarias also
feed from their roots.
Sometimes this may be seen in a
we'll established tank Sand which In
the course of time has become partly
darkened by matter filtering through
it, probably pushed into it by cat
fishes and the like. in their roofing
for food, will show definite band of
showing that the foreign matter has
been absorbed thereabouts.
Anacharis is particularly valuable
at the first setting up of an aquarium
At such times various biological and
chemical factors come into play which
will not be met with after the tank
has settled down.
Water in which too many fishes and
too much food are placed all at once
almost always shows a tendency to be-
come cloudy.
Often this is manifested in a milk
appearance, the bane of the beginning
fish fancier. Even older hands who
become careless meet this disconcert-
ing whitening of the water
Sometimes the tank will seem filled
with tiny white particles.
At this stage the beginner almost
always wants to tear the whole thing
down and start all over again.
Since this water appearance is
mostly caused by bacterial action,
Usually it disappears if left alone
Plants of Anacharis, literally used
in the new tank, will tend to break
down and absorb some of these par
ticles. The belief of some users is
that they will do this far better and
more efficiently than any other plant
Since they are growers. in the best
sense, taking hold quickly, they set
up the processes of plant growth at
the very time they are needed most
While aquarium plants may be
healthy and ornamental without
growth in some instances. such plants
seldom help the fishes any.
Anacharis. by its quick adaptability
anG growth, tends to give forth oxy-
gen, at the same time to absorb more
than its share of the carbon dioxide
given out by the animals present
The tendency Of the modern fish
fancier is to discount. to some extent,
II. L. Gzl-
and to depend more and more upon
artificial aeration. or the spraying of
air bubbles through the water.
Even here. however, Anacharis is
better than most plants, owing TO the