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MAINTAINING FISHES
Tanks
FRAMELESS GLASS AQUARIA: A number of
"fish-bowl" type aquaria are available in capacities up
to two-gallons. These are inexpensive, durable, and a
good choice for a small, nonflushing aquarium.
METAL-FRAME GLASS AQUARIA: In appearance glass aquaria are certainly the most attractive
and for tanks up to 50 gallons in capacity they are
generally the most satisfactory. Glass is chemically
quite stable and hence does not contaminate the
aquarium water. But glass tanks are expensive, approximately a dollar per gallon of capacity. With frequent draining and cleaning they develop leaks and
must be disassembled and recemented. However, this
problem can be greatly reduced by keeping water in
the tanks even when they are not in use and by
handling them only by the metal frame.
Some glass tanks have slate bottoms in which holes
may easily be cut for overflows and drains. Frames
may be of various metals and designs. The metal in
some frames is made more rigid by fluting while some
others are not fluted but are of heavier gauge metal.
The latter type of aluminum or stainless steel is preferred since it is usually more easily repaired.
SOAPSTONE AQUARIA WITH GLASS FRONTS:
Stone aquaria are attractive, durable and can be conveniently made much larger than metal-frame, glass
tanks. Stone aquaria are expensive and suited primarily for permanent installations. The glass front of
stone aquaria should be so installed as to allow for